Raleigh, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Signage size
- At least 24 in. by 24 in., every entrance
- Report deadline
- Report tow to Raleigh PD within 1 hour
- Release response
- Acknowledge in 15 min, release within 45 min
- Weekday restriction
- No 10am-5pm tows without signed on-site authorization
- First violation penalty
- $200 civil penalty
- Repeat penalty ceiling
- $1,000 by fifth violation within 2 years
Summary
Raleigh regulates non-consent towing from private parking lots under City Code §12-7015. Lots must post 24-by-24-inch signs naming the towing company and its phone number before a tow is legal, tow operators must report every tow to Raleigh Police within an hour, and violations carry civil penalties starting at $200 and climbing to $1,000 for repeat offenders within two years.
(a)It is an offense of this ordinance to tow a motor vehicle from a parking space in a private parking lot unless the space and lot are clearly designated as such with signs no smaller than twenty-four (24) inches by twenty-four (24) inches prominently displayed at all entrances thereto, displaying the current name and current phone number of the towing service and storage facility, and, if individually owned or leased, the parking lot or spaces within the lot are clearly marked by signs of setting forth the name of each individual lessee or owner, as mandated by G.S. 20-219.2. ... (f)Violations of this section shall carry civil penalties as follow: First violation .....$200.00 Second violation within a two-year period of the first violation .....$300.00
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69).
Full Breakdown
S. 2; individually leased spaces must also be marked with the name of each lessee or owner. Towing services must accept cash, debit cards, and major credit cards, refusing card payment is a separate misdemeanor. Whoever tows or boots a vehicle at a private request, rather than a police officer's, must call the Raleigh Police Department within one hour to report the tow, the vehicle's description, tag number, and storage location. Towing companies must staff an attendant on call 24 hours a day who can acknowledge a release request within 15 minutes and release the vehicle within 45 minutes, and impound lots must be lit to at least two footcandles, fenced, accessible by public transit, and within 15 miles of the tow site if the lot is inside the City or 10 miles if outside it.
A tow truck that hasn't yet left the scene must release the vehicle if the driver returns, and the operator must let the owner retrieve personal property from the vehicle. additionally require a contemporaneous written authorization signed by the lot owner or agent, not a towing company employee, naming the reason for the tow and the vehicle's make, model, year, color, VIN and plate.
Violations & Fines
Violations of §12-7015 carry civil penalties on an escalating schedule within a two-year window: $200 for a first violation, $300 for a second, $400 for a third, $750 for a fourth, and $1,000 for a fifth. Refusing to accept debit or credit card payment for a release fee is charged separately as a misdemeanor rather than a civil penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What signage does a Raleigh lot need before it can tow me?
How fast must a Raleigh tow company release my car?
Can a lot tow my car on a weekday afternoon?
What are the penalties for an illegal tow in Raleigh?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Raleigh
Compare Raleigh to another location·View the North Carolina business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Towing Companies in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle towing companies.