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Salem, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
SRC § 102.200 - Towing of vehicles
Non-consent trigger
Arrest plus no permission to park on lot
Hearing request window
5 business days after notice
Hearing timing
Within two regular Municipal Court days
Low-value disposal threshold
$500 or less appraised, per ORS 819.215
Reclaim contact
Chief of Police, per SRC 102.220

Summary

A Salem police officer may order your car towed from private property without your consent if you're arrested there or the officer reasonably believes you lack permission to park, under SRC 102.200. The City contracts with towing firms under a set maximum-charge schedule, and the tow company holds a lien on your vehicle until all charges are paid.

(a)In addition to any other authority a police officer has to tow vehicles, a police officer is authorized to order a motor vehicle towed if the driver of the vehicle is arrested, the vehicle is parked unattended on private property, and the officer reasonably believes the driver lacks permission to allow the vehicle to remain parked on the property...(c)The City may contract the services of one or more competent towing service firms for the removal and storage of vehicles taken into the custody of the City for any reason. The contract shall provide for a schedule of maximum charges for towing and storage of such vehicles.(d)Unless otherwise provided by state law, a towing service company who, at the request of the City, takes a vehicle into custody shall have a lien on the vehicle and its contents for the just and reasonable towing and storage charges, and may retain possession of the vehicle and its contents until the charges are paid.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

200(a) gives officers towing authority beyond ordinary parking enforcement: if a driver is arrested and the vehicle sits unattended on private property, the officer may order a non-consent tow whenever there is reasonable belief the driver lacked permission to park there. 200(b) requires the enforcement officer to inventory the vehicle's condition and contents, both to protect the owner's property and to head off disputed damage claims later. 200(d) gives the contracted tow company a lien on the vehicle and its contents for those charges, letting the company hold the vehicle until payment.

180. 215, but the written request must reach the court within five business days (excluding weekends and holidays) of the notice being mailed or posted. The municipal judge must set the hearing within two regular court days, and can consider both whether the tow was valid and whether the towing and storage charges were reasonable; charges set by the City's contract are presumed reasonable. 220. 215 instead.

Violations & Fines

Tampering with or removing a City immobilizer, or moving a vehicle before the device is off, is separately unlawful under SRC 102.165 and 102.180. If the municipal judge finds the tow was invalid under SRC 102.215(f)(2), the City must release the vehicle, absorb the towing and storage charges, and reimburse whatever the owner already paid; new storage costs stop accruing 24 hours after release. A judge's decision on a hearing request is final and cannot be appealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Salem police tow my car from a private parking lot without asking me?
Yes. Under SRC 102.200(a), an officer can order a non-consent tow from private property if you're arrested there, or if the officer reasonably believes you lack the property owner's permission to park. The vehicle must first be inventoried under 102.200(b), and you're entitled to notice and a Municipal Court hearing under SRC 102.215 if you contest the tow.
How do I get my towed vehicle back in Salem?
Present proof of ownership or right to possession to the Chief of Police and pay the towing and storage charges, any unpaid fines or bail, and City fees, or post the security required under SRC 102.220. New storage charges stop building up 24 hours after the City actually releases the vehicle to you.
What happens if I don't request a hearing on my tow?
Under SRC 102.215(g), the municipal judge can order the vehicle held until all towing, storage, and City fees are paid, assess hearing costs against you, and apply any posted security to those costs. You generally aren't entitled to a second hearing unless you can show the court a satisfactory reason for missing the first one.
Can a Salem tow company keep my car until I pay?
Yes. SRC 102.200(d) gives a towing company that takes custody of your vehicle at the City's request a lien on the vehicle and its contents for the reasonable towing and storage charges, and lets the company keep possession until those charges are paid in full.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Salem

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All Salem rules

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