Beaufort County, SC Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- County business license before towing (Sec. 70-72)
- Sheriff report deadline
- Within 1 hour of nonconsensual tow
- Release response time
- 45 minutes during off-hours
- Pre-hookup release fee cap
- $75.00 (Sec. 70-76(h))
- Post-hookup release fee cap
- $100.00 (Sec. 70-76(i))
- Storage fee delay
- 12 hours after lot entry
- Penalty
- $100 fine or 30 days jail (Sec. 70-79)
Summary
Beaufort County requires a county business license for every wrecker service and tightly regulates nonconsensual tows from private property in the unincorporated area, capping release fees, mandating signage, and requiring a Sheriff's Office report within one hour of any tow.
It shall be unlawful to remove any motor vehicle from private property without authorization from the owner of the motor vehicle, the county, or authorized law enforcement agencies, except under the following circumstances:(1)The property owner has proprietary ownership and discretion as to who is authorized to be on said property; and(2)If the property owner is a commercial entity or other like entity which has shared parking spaces, the following conditions have been met:a.The property owner, or designated manager, has posted the property with signs clearly stating that parking is prohibited or restricted;b.The posted signs were in place and clearly visible and legible to any driver approaching the property where parking is prohibited or restricted at the time the vehicle was parked; andc.The posted signs contain a clear warning that violators' vehicles will be towed, at the vehicle owner's expense, and contain the telephone number to call to obtain release of the towed vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Beaufort County Code of Ordinances ch. 70, art. IV governs wrecker services operating in the unincorporated county. Sec. 70-72 requires anyone in the business of recovering, towing, removing or storing vehicles to first obtain a county business license, filing an application with the county business license office that discloses ownership, business and storage lot locations and hours, vehicle identification for every truck, and proof of South Carolina liability insurance. Sec. 70-73 requires each wrecker to display the owner or company name and phone number in letters at least two inches high on both doors (temporary or magnetic lettering is strictly prohibited) and requires a storage lot near the business's principal location.
Sec. " Sec. 70-76 sets the core nonconsensual towing conditions: a commercial property owner must post signs stating parking is prohibited or restricted, visible to drivers before they park, warning that violators will be towed at their expense and listing a release phone number. Security, if present, must accompany the tow truck to the vehicle. Every nonconsensual tow requires a written authorization on file with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, and the wrecker service must telephone the Sheriff within one hour of the tow to report the vehicle's location.
An operator/attendant must be able to respond to a release request within 45 minutes, and no charges may accrue past that 45-minute mark. 00. Storage fees cannot begin until 12 hours after the vehicle enters the lot. Sec. 70-77 caps all towing charges to the county's posted fee schedule (Appendix A) and requires a placard at least 12 by 18 inches disclosing those fees, plus an itemized invoice for every customer.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of ch. 70, art. IV is a misdemeanor under Sec. 70-79, punishable by a fine of $100.00 or up to 30 days in jail. Under Sec. 70-76(c), a property owner who orders a tow without meeting the signage and posting requirements, or who has a legally parked vehicle towed, is guilty of a misdemeanor and a county magistrate may order the property owner to reimburse the vehicle owner for all towing and storage charges paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Beaufort County lot boot my car instead of towing it?
How fast must a wrecker company release my car after hours?
What can a Beaufort County property owner charge to stop a tow in progress?
Does a towing company have to report a nonconsensual tow to police?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaufort County
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