Private Property Towing in Seattle: A Property Manager's Guide to Doing It Legally
Why Getting Private Towing Right Matters
The person who authorizes a tow can be held liable
Apartment complexes, HOAs, retail lots and office buildings in Seattle can have unauthorized vehicles towed — but Washington law sets out exactly how. The rules are in RCW 46.55, and Seattle adds its own limits on what tow companies may charge. Get it wrong and the tow can be overturned, with the authorizing party left to cover the vehicle owner’s costs.
Every private impound authorization must include this statement (RCW 46.55.080): “A person authorizing this impound, if the impound is found in violation of chapter 46.55 RCW, may be held liable for the costs incurred by the vehicle owner.” That is why signage, paperwork and the choice of tow operator matter.
This guide is written by A Block Towing, which provides private property towing across Seattle. It is general information, not legal advice.
RCW 46.55.070 treats commercial and residential property differently:
- Nonresidential property and public parking facilities (store lots, office lots, paid parking): to tow a vehicle that has been parked for less than 24 hours, a sign must be posted near each entrance and on the property, clearly visible to everyone who parks, showing (1) the times a vehicle may be impounded and (2) the name, phone number and address of the towing firm where the vehicle can be redeemed
- Residential property (apartments, condos, HOAs): the person in charge of the property may have an unauthorized vehicle impounded immediately upon giving written authorization. Clear signs and lease parking rules are still strongly recommended — they prevent disputes
- Sign size, lettering, placement and number are set by Department of Licensing rule. A registered tow operator should be able to supply signs that meet it
Setting Up Towing Enforcement on Your Property
- Write the rules. Decide who may park where: resident permits, guest spaces, loading zones, fire lanes, accessible spaces, and enforcement hours. Put them in leases or HOA rules
- Post compliant signs at every entrance. Missing a single entrance is one of the most common reasons a commercial-lot tow is challenged
- Use a registered tow operator that holds a Seattle tow company license and knows RCW 46.55
- Name your authorized agents. RCW 46.55.080 requires a signed authorization from the property owner or agent at the time and place of the impound, and an employee of the tow operator cannot act as your agent
- Document every tow. Keep the signed authorization, photos of the vehicle and signs, and the time. If a tow is challenged, that record is your defence
What each compliant tow looks like:
- Your manager, security or HOA agent calls the tow operator
- The agent signs the impound authorization, including the required liability statement, on site
- The driver photographs the vehicle, its position and the nearest sign before hooking up
- The vehicle is towed to a registered storage lot
- The tow operator notifies law enforcement immediately (RCW 46.55.100), so a driver who calls police can find the car
- The vehicle owner redeems it from the lot and pays the tow and storage, within the City’s caps
Fees, Caps and Who Pays
Seattle caps what a tow company can charge the vehicle owner
In a private impound the vehicle owner normally pays the tow company when they collect the car. Seattle limits those charges. Current City maximums for private-property impounds:
- Towing service, first hour: $302.05
- Each additional 15 minutes: $53.89 ($215.56 per hour)
- Storage: $42.30 per 12 hours
- After-hours release: $100
- Uncompleted tow (for example, the owner returns before the tow is finished): $75.51 per 15 minutes, measured from dispatch to release
The City adjusts these each year for inflation; check the current schedule on Seattle.gov. Fees above the cap are a common source of complaints to Seattle Consumer Protection, (206) 386-1267.
Common mistakes that get private tows overturned:
- A commercial lot with no sign at one of its entrances
- Signs that leave out the enforcement times or the towing firm’s address
- The tow driver signing the authorization on the property’s behalf
- Towing residents under parking rules that were never written into leases or posted
- No photos or paperwork when the vehicle owner disputes the tow
A Block Towing works with Seattle property managers, HOAs and businesses on RCW 46.55 compliant enforcement: signage, agent authorization forms, 24/7 response and a photo record of every tow. Call (206) 602-7416 to talk through your property. If a car has been towed from your lot and the owner needs it found, our Seattle impound guide explains the process.
FAQ
For residential property, RCW 46.55.070 allows the person in charge to have an unauthorized vehicle impounded immediately with written authorization. Signs and written lease parking rules are still strongly recommended because they prevent disputes.
It must clearly show the times a vehicle may be impounded and the name, phone number and address of the towing firm where the vehicle can be redeemed, and it must be posted near each entrance and on the property (RCW 46.55.070). Size and lettering follow Department of Licensing rules.
No. RCW 46.55.080 requires a signed authorization from the property owner or their agent at the time and place of the impound, and a tow operator’s employee cannot act as the property’s agent.
Normally the vehicle owner pays the tow company when they redeem the car, within Seattle’s fee caps. The authorizing party can be held liable for the owner’s costs if the impound is found to violate RCW 46.55.
Current City maximums are $302.05 for the first hour of towing, $53.89 per additional 15 minutes, $42.30 per 12 hours of storage and $100 for an after-hours release. The City adjusts them each year.
Seattle caps the charge for an uncompleted tow at $75.51 per 15 minutes, measured from dispatch to release.
Yes, we dispatch 24/7. For a vehicle blocking a fire lane or emergency access you can also call Seattle Police non-emergency at (206) 625-5011.
Yes. We work with apartment complexes, condominiums, HOAs, retail lots and office properties across Seattle.