Snohomish County, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 10.36.140, Sheriff's appointment power
- Prerequisite
- State appointment under RCW 46.52.108
- Cancellation
- Sheriff may revoke for noncompliance
- Appeal path
- Board of county commissioners
- Operator lien cap
- $100 against last registered owner
- Chapter penalty
- Misdemeanor under SCC 10.36.230
Summary
Snohomish County does not run an open towing market for abandoned-vehicle work: SCC 10.36.140 lets the Sheriff appoint towing companies to remove and dispose of abandoned vehicles and hulks, conditioned on the operator's own state appointment under RCW 46.52.108. The Sheriff can cancel that appointment for noncompliance, appealable to the county council.
10.36.140 Appointment of tow truck operator. The sheriff may appoint any towing truck operator engaged in removing and storing abandoned motor vehicles for the purpose of disposing of abandoned vehicles and abandoned automobile hulks. Such appointment shall be contingent upon the towing truck operator receiving an appointment by the Department of Motor Vehicles and complying with the provisions of RCW 46.52.108... Any appointment of a towing truck operator may be cancelled by the sheriff upon evidence that the appointed tow truck operator has not complied with any law, rule or regulation relative to the handling and disposition of abandoned motor vehicles. Appeal upon the grounds that the cancellation was arbitrary and capricious may be taken to the board of county commissioners.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
108 and complying with rules set by the department director or the board of county commissioners. The Sheriff may cancel an appointment on evidence the operator failed to comply with any law, rule, or regulation on handling abandoned vehicles, and a cancelled operator can appeal to the board of county commissioners on the grounds the cancellation was arbitrary and capricious. 150 spells out the operator's duties: take custody of the vehicle at the sheriff's direction, tow it to the operator's established place of business, and hold a lien for towing and storage services, capped at $100 against the last registered owner.
The operator must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Washington State Patrol within five days of taking custody, then notify the registered owner by certified mail within five days of learning that owner's identity, including the amount due and the time and place of any public sale. 160 requires the operator to auction it publicly after newspaper notice at least three days ahead. 36 SCC; it does not license towing companies for private-property or non-consent tows generally.
Violations & Fines
Except where SCC 10.36.210 sets a specific penalty for willful vehicle abandonment, SCC 10.36.230 makes any other violation of Chapter 10.36 SCC, including an appointed operator's noncompliance, a misdemeanor punishable as provided in SCC 1.01.100. Beyond criminal exposure, the Sheriff's separate administrative remedy is cancellation of the operator's county appointment for noncompliance with abandoned-vehicle handling rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a towing company get authorized to handle abandoned vehicles for Snohomish County?
Can the county cancel a tow operator's appointment?
What can an appointed tow operator charge for an abandoned vehicle?
Does this rule cover private-property non-consent towing generally?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.