Private property towing. Done by the book.
Managing a parking lot in New York City isn't like managing one anywhere else. A tow from private property is regulated by the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the company that does it needs a DCWP towing license under the Administrative Code (Title 20, Chapter 2, Subchapter 31, sections 20-496 and 20-497). We aren't that licensee, and we don't pretend to be. What we do is connect property managers, HOAs, retail landlords and apartment complexes with DCWP-licensed towing companies who follow the law.
What's included in private property towing?
- Work only with towing companies licensed by NYC DCWP under Administrative Code sections 20-496/497
- Introductions to DCWP-licensed towers who can quote a written parking-management agreement
- Permit / guest-pass enforcement programs
- Fire-lane and accessible-space enforcement
- Introductions to towers who can quote patrol hours on that property
- Repeat-offender handling is the tower’s, not a database we keep
- Owner notice and release stay with the licensed tower, not this matcher
- Guidance on the process if a vehicle ends up at an NYPD pound after a police-ordered tow
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, accessible spaces, 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 New York City?
Yes, when it's done right, and the city is specific about what right means. A private-property tow can only be done by a company holding a DCWP towing license, and the lot has to be posted. Under the Administrative Code (section 19-169.1) and DCWP Rule 6 section 2-377, a conspicuous sign has to sit at each entrance and along the perimeter no more than 250 feet apart, its top 6 to 8 feet above the ground, luminescent so it's visible around the clock, at least 12 inches by 18 inches, and it has to state the towing company's name, address and phone, the redemption hours, the fees, and the hours towing is allowed. There's also a hookup rule: if the owner comes back before the vehicle is removed and it's already connected to the truck, it has to be disconnected. The licensed tower, not this matcher, is the one who has to follow the rest of that law.
Do you work with HOAs?
Yes. HOAs are a frequent private-property client type. A licensed tower 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 tower 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 tower, yes. The property manager (or a designated contact) calls, confirms the vehicle and the violation, and we connect that call to a company that holds the DCWP license. Without an agreement on file, a tower can't legally tow from a property they don't have under contract.
What if a resident forgets their permit and gets towed?
They pay the release fee at the tower's lot and get the car back, with full paperwork. By law a licensed tower can charge up to $125 for the removal plus the first three days of storage, then $15 a day after that, and if the driver comes back before the car is hooked there's a drop fee capped at $62.50. The car has to be stored inside the city and within 10 miles of where it was taken. An operator only tows after the sign check, and if a resident calls in a good-faith mistake the release is handled professionally and the situation documented. Property managers can also preauthorize per-vehicle exceptions.
What if my car was towed by the city, not from a private lot?
That is a completely different process. A New York City tow by the NYPD goes to one of the borough tow pounds, and the fees are published by the city: $185 to release a standard vehicle, $370 for one 8,000 pounds or heavier, and $20 a night storage, with 10 days to reclaim it. Use the towed-vehicle search on NYCServ or call 311 to find out which pound has it. There is one pound system citywide, so there's no separate town lot to chase. Once your car is released, call us for the onward tow.
Where do we offer Private Property across New York City?
We line up private property in every neighborhood across the five boroughs. Pick your neighborhood for local details and service specifics.
See private property in all 156 cities
Need private property in New York City?
Line takes calls around the clock. Price quoted before anyone rolls.