Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Stafford County

Stafford County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Application fee to join towing list: $100.00, § 15-150
Annual vehicle inspection fee: $25.00, § 15-153
Recovery fee caps by weight: $210 / $250 / $475, § 15-169(a)
Storage fee caps: $35-$60 per 24 hours after first day free
Unauthorized solicitation penalty: Class 3 misdemeanor, § 15-159(c)
Appeal window: 10 days to Board of Supervisors, § 15-164(g)

Summary

To perform law-enforcement-requested towing in Stafford County, a tow operator must apply to the Sheriff, pay a $100 application fee, pass an investigation, and sign a towing service agreement. A parallel article regulates trespass towing from private lots, capping fees and requiring signage.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Stafford County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Any tow operator desiring to perform law-enforcement-requested towing services shall make application with the sheriff in conformance with the provisions of the towing policy. Said application shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00). After completion of an investigation, the sheriff, in his sole discretion, shall determine whether the applicant meets the requirements of the towing policy. If the sheriff finds the applicant qualified, the tow operator and sheriff shall enter into a towing service agreement.

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Full Breakdown

00 application fee, and pass an investigation before the Sheriff, in his sole discretion, enters a towing service agreement. weekdays with 24-hour phone availability for releasing vehicles (§ 15-155). A ten-member Towing Board, including four law-enforcement officers and four towing operators, writes the towing policy subject to Board of Supervisors approval. 00. Section 15-170 requires posted 18-by-24-inch red-and-white signs with a tow truck symbol and the towing company's name and phone number at every lot entrance before a trespass tow is lawful.

Violations & Fines

Soliciting business or responding to an accident scene without being called is a Class 3 misdemeanor and grounds for suspension or termination from the towing list (§ 15-159). Deliberate failure to respond, fraud on an application, overcharging, or chronic policy violations can also trigger suspension under § 15-160, following a Sheriff-referred hearing before the Towing Panel with a right of appeal to the Board of Supervisors within ten days (§§ 15-163, 15-164).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a Stafford County tow company charge to tow my car from a private lot?

Under § 15-169(a), the initial recovery/towing fee is capped at $210.00 for vehicles up to 11,000 pounds, $250.00 for 11,001 to 26,000 pounds, and $475.00 above that, with no mileage surcharge and no storage charge for the first 24 hours.

Can a tow truck show up uninvited at an accident scene in Stafford County?

No. County Code § 15-159 makes it unlawful for a tow operator to respond to an accident, emergency, or breakdown unless specifically called there, or to solicit business at the scene; violating this is a Class 3 misdemeanor and can cost the operator its place on the towing list.

How do I file a complaint against a Stafford County tow operator?

Under § 15-161, a written complaint goes to the Sheriff's Office, which provides a complaint form, investigates, and notifies the complainant of the outcome. The Sheriff can refer serious or repeated violations to the Towing Panel for a hearing, appealable to the Board of Supervisors.

Sources & Official References

[1]Code of the County of Stafford, Virginia (Municode)

Other rules in Stafford County

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All Stafford County rules

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