Charlotte Weighs Tighter Tow Truck Permit Rules

Charlotte drivers and property owners could face new permit and sign-off requirements for towed vehicles if the proposals advance.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Trucks

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a steel tow hook and cable hanging over an empty asphalt lot, in deep red, cream, and charcoal, evoking tighter towing regulation. — Charlotte's City Council Safety Committee is weighing a municipal permit system for tow truck drivers and written owner sign-off before towing vehicles from private lots. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust local towing companies to treat drivers fairly in Charlotte?

Charlotte's City Council Safety Committee is reviewing updates to the city towing ordinance, including a proposed municipal permit system for tow truck drivers. The discussion centers on curbing predatory towing practices affecting the more than 107 cars towed per day in the city.

Why it matters

Current city fines for towing violations are capped at $100, which Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police attorney Jessica Battle says many towing operators treat as a cost of doing business. For Charlotte drivers and property owners, tighter rules could change what happens when a car is removed from a private lot.

Proposals include a municipal permit system for tow truck drivers, tracking of repeat predatory towing violators, and a requirement that towing companies secure written sign-off from property owners around the clock before removing a vehicle. Existing rules require written authorization only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The players

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

The local police agency that proposed a municipal permit system for tow truck drivers and tracking of repeat towing violators.

Jessica Battle

Attorney for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who introduced the municipal permit proposal and criticized the $100 fine as a cost of doing business.

The details

Under the proposal, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police would track repeat predatory towing violators and require private parking signs to include a direct hotline. Towing companies would need written sign-off from property owners at any hour before removing a vehicle, rather than only during daytime hours. The city attorney's office is also negotiating directly with towing firms over practices such as inflating bills when a driver calls police. State limits matter here too: a 2014 North Carolina Supreme Court ruling in King v. Town of Chapel Hill sharply restricted municipalities from capping tow fees or service charges.

June (prior year): A bipartisan bill to create a statewide Towing and Recovery Commission died in committee.
October (prior month): Council members first reviewed several towing ordinance proposals.
November 2: The Charlotte Safety Committee met to discuss the towing ordinance.

The Home Front

North Carolina's 2014 King v. Town of Chapel Hill ruling already prevents cities from capping tow fees, which shapes what Charlotte can regulate. A stalled statewide Towing and Recovery Commission bill from last June leaves cities to act on their own.

If you park on a private lot in Charlotte, check the posted signs for a direct hotline number and keep a record of any towing you didn't authorize. If your vehicle is towed, ask for the written authorization from the property owner before you pay.

The takeaway

Predatory towing is a local issue Charlotte can address through permits and conduct rules even without a statewide commission. Keep photos of parking signs and any towing paperwork in case you need to dispute a bill.

What happens next

The Safety Committee will hold further discussion before deciding whether to send the proposed towing changes to the full Charlotte City Council for a vote.