Salinas, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Franchise required
- For all police-ordered tows
- Franchise term
- 1 year, up to 4 renewals
- Franchise fee
- Due annually on July 1
- Selection process
- RFP after rotational-list opening
- Suspension appeal
- 10 days to city manager
Summary
Salinas won't let a tow company respond to police-ordered impounds without first winning one of the city's nonexclusive towing franchises under Article XV of Chapter 20. Operators must submit a sworn proposal, survive a public council hearing, carry council-set liability insurance, and pay an annual franchise fee due every July 1.
Sec. 20-177. - Activities that are unlawful unless authorized—Activities not covered. Except as specified in this article, it is unlawful for any person to solicit or perform the business of police towing in the city unless: (a)A franchise therefore has first been granted pursuant to the provisions of this article and such franchise is in full force and effect; and(b)A written franchise agreement therefore has been executed between such person and the city and such agreement is in full force and effect; or(c)This article shall not apply to towing, repair or storage services performed for or made available to members of the public by any person.
Full Breakdown
Salinas regulates who may perform 'police towing,' the towing and storage of vehicles ordered by the police department for impound or to clear traffic, through Article XV of Chapter 20. Sec. 20-177 makes it unlawful to solicit or perform police towing in the city unless a franchise has been granted under the article and a written franchise agreement is signed and in force; the prohibition does not reach ordinary towing, repair, or storage services offered directly to the public. The city council grants these nonexclusive franchises under Sec.
20-178 through a request-for-proposals process: when a spot opens on the rotational tow list, the city clerk publishes a notice, and each applicant files a verified proposal with the chief of police disclosing vehicle and license-plate lists, personnel and driver's license numbers, corporate ownership, and proof of insurance (Sec. 20-180). A public hearing follows with at least ten days' published and mailed notice (Sec. 20-181), and the council may attach any terms it deems necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare (Sec. 20-182). A granted franchise runs one year with up to four annual renewal options (Sec.
20-186); the chief of police can deny a renewal for noncompliance, appealable to the city council (Sec. 20-187). Franchisees pay an annual fee, adjusted to the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer Price Index and due every July 1 to the director of finance, on top of any ordinary business license tax (Sec. 20-191). The chief of police also issues binding written rules governing the rotational tow list itself (Sec. 20-192).
Violations & Fines
Operating as a police-tow contractor without a granted, signed franchise is unlawful under Sec. 20-177. The chief of police may temporarily suspend a franchise without a hearing for danger to public health, safety, or morals, lapsed insurance, or missed franchise-fee payments (Sec. 20-189); the city council can terminate a franchise outright after a noticed hearing for noncompliance (Sec. 20-188). Suspensions longer than 30 days may be appealed to the city manager within ten days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any tow company respond to a Salinas police impound call?
How does a towing company get on Salinas's police rotation list?
How long does a Salinas police-tow franchise last?
What can get a Salinas tow franchise suspended?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salinas
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