Evanston, IL Parking Rules: Towing & Impound Rights (2026)

Chapter 6 of Title 10 was retitled from "Illegally parked or abandoned vehicles" to "Towing and impoundment of vehicles" by Ordinance No. 147-O-19 on November 25, 2019, and it governs both the city's own tows and tows requested off private lots. Section 10-6-2(A) lists nineteen grounds on which the City Manager or a designee may tow immediately and without prior notice, including accident involved vehicles, derelict and hazardous vehicles, snow emergency obstructions, street cleaning and tree cutting obstructions, a vehicle blocking a reserved residential wheelchair bound space, a wheel lock immobilized vehicle, a vehicle reportedly used in the commission of a crime, and a vehicle physically obstructing access to a fire hydrant.

Ground 14 is the private property tow, and Evanston attaches two conditions to it: signs posted on the property must give notice that parking is prohibited, and the person requesting the tow must sign a statement that he or she is the owner, proprietor or agent of the property and has authority to request the tow. Temporary tow away zones under 10-6-2(B) must be posted forty-eight hours in advance and must clearly indicate the zone's date and time. Towed vehicles are impounded at locations the Chief of Police selects under 10-6-3.

The notice due within twenty-four hours must carry seven specific items, including the year, make, model, registration and VIN, the vehicle's present location, the basis for the removal, the right to a hearing, and a response deadline seven days from the date of notice. It goes by certified mail with return receipt requested or by personal delivery, and a version of items four through seven must stay posted at the Evanston police station and at all tow impound areas. At the hearing the City carries the burden and must establish lawful authority by a preponderance of the evidence, making its prima facie case with the police citation or police report plus the tow report.

If the hearing officer finds the tow was not authorized, an impounded vehicle is ordered released immediately and a posted cash bond is refunded within forty-eight hours. Taking the car back under 10-6-6 requires evidence of identity and ownership or right to possession, a signed receipt, and an election or waiver of the hearing procedure, and a scheduled hearing may be continued once for good cause to a date within fourteen days. Evanston sets no rate schedule of its own: towing and storage are billed at the current year City towing contract price.