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Tow-Away Sign Requirements for Private Property, by State
Tow away sign requirements for private parking lots come from state law, and sometimes from a city ordinance on top of it. There is no single national sign. Each state sets its own rules for sign size, wording, lettering and where the sign must stand, so read your state's statute before you post or tow.
Who sets the rules for tow-away signs
Towing from private property is mostly a state matter. A state statute usually says what the sign must say, how big the letters must be, how many signs you need and what a towing company must do. Many cities and counties add their own rules, such as permits for signs or lower rate caps, so a lot in one town can have stricter rules than the same lot would in the next town.
This guide explains how a few states handle it, in plain words. It is not legal advice. Statutes change, so check the current text for your state and your city, or ask a local attorney or your towing company, before you post a sign or have a car towed.
California and Texas
California Vehicle Code section 22658 allows an owner to have a vehicle towed when a sign is displayed in plain view at all entrances to the property. The sign must be at least 17 inches by 22 inches, with lettering at least one inch high. It must prohibit public parking, say vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense, and give the phone number of the local traffic law enforcement agency plus the name and phone number of each towing company that has a written general towing authorization agreement with you.
Texas regulates towing from parking facilities under Occupations Code chapter 2308, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) publishes the sign layout. The sign must be at least 18 inches wide by 24 inches tall and face drivers entering the lot. It carries the international towing symbol, the words 'Towing Enforced', red letters at least one inch tall stating who may park, the days and hours towing is enforced, and a 24-hour phone number for finding a towed vehicle.
| State | Where the rule is | What the sign must show |
|---|---|---|
| California | Vehicle Code 22658(a) | At least 17 x 22 in, letters 1 in or taller, at all entrances; no public parking; towed at owner's expense; local traffic enforcement phone; towing company name and phone |
| Texas | Occupations Code ch. 2308; TDLR signage page | At least 18 x 24 in facing entering drivers; towing symbol; 'Towing Enforced'; who may park; days and hours; 24-hour phone |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. 715.07(2)(a) | At each driveway, within 10 ft of road; light-reflective letters 2 in or taller; 'tow-away zone' in 4 in letters; towing firm name and phone |
| Arizona | A.R.S. 9-499.05 | Visible at each entrance and across the lot; parking restrictions; what happens to the vehicle; maximum cost; phone and address to find it |
| Illinois | 625 ILCS 5/4-203(f) | At each driveway within 5 ft of right-of-way; reflective letters 2 in or taller; towing service name and phone; bottom edge 4 ft up; posted 24 hours before a tow |
Florida, Arizona and Illinois
Florida Statutes section 715.07 asks for a sign at each driveway or curb cut that allows vehicle access, within 10 feet of the road. The message must be in light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high on a contrasting background, and the words 'tow-away zone' must appear in letters at least 4 inches high, mounted between 3 and 6 feet above the ground. The sign must also show the name and current phone number of the towing firm.
Arizona's statute, A.R.S. 9-499.05, does not set a sign size. It requires signs that are clearly visible and readable from any point in the parking area and at each entrance. They must state the parking restrictions, what happens to violating vehicles, the maximum cost to the violator, and a phone number and address where the vehicle can be found.
Illinois (625 ILCS 5/4-203(f)) calls for a notice at each driveway access within 5 feet of the public right-of-way. It must say in light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense, name the towing service and give its current phone number. The bottom of the sign must be at least 4 feet above the ground, and it must stay up for at least 24 hours before any tow. That section says it applies except as provided in Chapter 18a of the same code, so ask your towing company which chapter covers your lot.
Can a car be towed without a sign?
Only where the statute says so. In some states a proper sign is a condition of a lawful tow. Arizona's statute makes towing from private property unlawful unless the carrier has a law enforcement request or the owner's written permission and the property met the posting rules. Illinois requires the notice before towing, and Florida expects the notice requirements to be substantially met.
Other states give more than one route. California lists the sign as one of several circumstances, and also allows a tow after a notice of parking violation has been issued and 96 hours have passed, or when the lot has a single-family dwelling on it. Florida and Illinois also carve out single-family residential property and cases where the driver was told in person. If you are the driver, ask for the statute and the sign photos. If you are the owner, post the sign first.
Practical tips for posting tow-away signs
Whatever your state says, a few habits protect you and treat drivers fairly. Put a sign where drivers can actually read it before they park, and keep it up. Treat any posted rule as the minimum, not the goal.
- Post a sign at every entrance, driveway and curb cut, not just one.
- Use reflective material so the sign reads at night in headlights.
- Add the towing company's name and phone number where your state requires it.
- Mount the sign at the height your state specifies and keep it free of branches and paint.
- Photograph each sign in place, with the date, and keep the photos.
- Check whether your city requires a permit or inspection for signs.
- Replace faded or damaged signs before the lettering stops being readable.
Choosing signs for your lot
Start with tow-away signs. Each one can carry your own line of text, such as the towing company's name and phone number or the hours towing is enforced. Check your state's minimum size first, because our sizes start at 12 by 12 inches and run up to 36 by 24 inches, with custom sizes available on aluminum and plastic. For night reading, choose reflective aluminum.
Pair them with the rule signs your lot needs: no parking signs, customer parking only signs, permit parking only signs, resident parking signs, no overnight parking signs and do not block driveway signs. See all of our parking signs, or check shipping times. Our signs follow the wording you give them, so confirm local rules before you order.
Common questions
Can you be towed without a sign?
It depends on the state. Some statutes make a tow unlawful unless the lot was properly posted, as Arizona's does. Others list the sign as one of several ways to tow, as California does. Single-family residential lots and drivers told in person are often treated differently. Read your state's statute and ask for photos of the signs.
What are the tow away sign requirements in California?
Vehicle Code section 22658 describes a sign at least 17 by 22 inches, with lettering at least one inch high, in plain view at all entrances. It must prohibit public parking, say vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense, and list the local traffic enforcement phone and each towing company's name and phone.
How many tow-away signs does a parking lot need?
States count differently. Texas guidance puts a sign on the side of each driveway or curb cut where a vehicle can enter. Florida requires one at each driveway access, or one for every 25 feet of frontage where there is no curb or barrier. Illinois uses one for each 100 feet of frontage in that case. Check your state.
Do tow-away signs have to be reflective?
In Florida and Illinois the message letters must be light-reflective on a contrasting background. Other states may not say so. Even where it is not required, a reflective sign is easier to read at night, which matters when a driver says they never saw it.
Does the sign have to show the towing company's phone number?
In several states, yes. Florida and Illinois require the name and current phone number of the towing firm, and California requires the name and phone of each company with a written agreement, plus the local traffic enforcement phone. Texas guidance calls for a 24-hour number to locate a towed vehicle. Check your own state.
Sources
- California Vehicle Code section 22658 (Legislative Counsel)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Tow-Away Signage in Parking Facilities
- Florida Statutes section 715.07 (Florida Legislature)
- Arizona Revised Statutes 9-499.05 (Arizona Legislature)
- Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/4-203 (Illinois General Assembly)
This guide explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice. We read the sources above on October 24, 2026. Rules change and many are set by your state or city: check the current text, or ask your local code official, before you rely on it.
Signs mentioned in this guide
Tow-Away Zone Signs
Unauthorized vehicles towed: towing company and phone on the sign.
From $25.95No Parking and Reserved Parking Signs
No parking, tow-away and reserved spots for homes and businesses.
From $25.95Customer Parking Only Signs
For the lot spaces that shoppers and diners should use, not staff or tenants.
From $25.95Permit Parking Only Signs
For reserved spaces that only permit holders may use, at each lot entrance.
From $25.95Resident Parking Only Signs
For spaces kept for the people who live on the block.
From $25.95No Overnight Parking Signs
For a lot or curb where cars must be moved by a set hour each night.
From $25.95Do Not Block Driveway Signs
For a shared drive, a garage door or a narrow curb cut.
From $25.95