Private property towing. Done by the book.
Managing a parking lot in Arizona means knowing the rules before a single car is hooked. A tow from private property is a non-consent tow, governed by state law (ARS 9-499.05 and ARS 28-4836) and, inside the city, by Phoenix City Code 36-6, which caps what the vehicle owner can be charged. We aren't the tow operator, and we don't pretend to be. What we do is connect property managers, HOAs, retail landlords and apartment complexes with independent tow operators who follow that law.
What's included in private property towing?
- Work only with independent tow operators who follow ARS 9-499.05, ARS 28-4836 and Phoenix City Code 36-6
- Introductions to operators who can quote a written parking-management agreement
- Permit and guest-pass enforcement programs
- Fire-lane and ADA space enforcement
- Introductions to operators who can quote patrol hours on that property
- Repeat-offender handling is the operator's, not a database we keep
- Owner notice and release stay with the licensed tow operator, not this matcher
- Guidance on the process if a vehicle ends up at a police-assigned tow yard after a police-ordered impound
When do you need private property towing?
- Apartment parking is chronically abused by guests
- HOA needs enforcement without board liability
- Retail customers lose parking to overflow from a nearby event
- Fire lane, ADA, or reserved spaces violated
- Derelict or abandoned vehicles accumulating
- Parking rules in lease but no way to enforce
- You need a written property-management agreement for insurance
What do drivers ask about private property towing?
Is private property towing legal in Arizona?
Yes, when it's done right. A lot is treated as open to public parking unless it's posted (ARS 9-499.05), and a compliant sign has to state the parking restrictions, what happens to a vehicle in violation, the maximum cost to the owner including storage, and a phone number and address where the vehicle can be found. After the tow, the operator must phone police within one hour (ARS 28-4836), and the agency enters it in the state ACIC system within three business days; failing to do so forfeits all towing and storage charges and is a class 1 misdemeanor. The independent operator, not this matcher, carries those obligations.
What can a Phoenix private-property tow actually cost the driver?
Inside the City of Phoenix, City Code 36-6 caps the charges. The total tow charge for a vehicle that reached storage is capped at $105.00, storage at $12.00 per day, a load-and-unload where release is demanded before the vehicle leaves its spot at $20.00, and a load-transport-unload where release is demanded in transit at $40.00. The operator can't hold the vehicle as security for the charges. Other Valley cities set their own maximums, so the cap depends on where the lot is.
Do you work with HOAs?
Yes. HOAs are a frequent private-property client type. An operator audits the existing signage, updates the parking rules with the board, and sets a patrol schedule that fits the community. Board members don't make the tow call; the operator does, per the agreed rules.
Can I call to tow a specific car in my lot?
If there's a signed property management agreement with a licensed operator, yes. The property manager (or a designated contact) calls, confirms the vehicle and the violation, and we connect that call to an operator who follows the law. Without an agreement on file, an operator can't legally tow from a property they don't have under contract.
What if my car was towed by police, not from a private lot?
That is a completely different process. A police-ordered impound under ARS 28-3511, often called the 20-day law, carries a $150 state administrative fee paid to the police department, storage capped at $25 per day, and a mandatory 20-day hold. The car sits at the officer's assigned zone-contract tow yard, not a lot you choose. In Phoenix, start with the Phoenix Police Vehicle Impound Unit at 100 W. Washington St., (602) 495-2096: pay the fee, get the release form, then take it to the tow yard to pay the tow and storage. Once your car is released, call us for the onward tow.
Where do we offer Private Property in the Phoenix AZ metro?
We line up private property in every city and community across the Phoenix metro. Pick your city for local details and service specifics.
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