Private Property

Private property towing. Done by the book.

Managing a parking lot in Pennsylvania has specific rules. A tow from private property is regulated by Philadelphia Code 9-605 and by the Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act, 73 P.S. §1971 et seq. The company that does it needs a city license and a per-truck certificate under 9-605, plus a PUC Certificate of Public Convenience and PennDOT registration. Private-property tows also need the property owner's written permission. We aren't that licensee, and we don't pretend to be. We also aren't the Philadelphia Parking Authority. What we do is connect property managers, HOAs, retail landlords and apartment complexes with licensed towers who follow the law.

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Independent operator truck working a permit-parking apartment complex lot in a Philadelphia suburb at dusk

What's included in private property towing?

Work only with towers licensed under Philadelphia Code 9-605 and 73 P.S. §1971
Introductions to licensed towers who can quote a written parking-management agreement
Permit / guest-pass enforcement programs
Fire-lane and ADA space enforcement
Introductions to licensed towers who can quote patrol hours on that property
Repeat-offender handling is the licensed 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 a PPA lot after a city 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, 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 Pennsylvania?

Yes, when it's done right. Under Philadelphia Code 9-605, only a licensed company may tow from private property, and it needs the property owner's written permission. Statewide, 73 P.S. §1971 requires posted fees, hours, itemized written charges, and release during posted hours. Pennsylvania also bars a tower from towing more than 16 miles without owner or law-enforcement authorization. We do not publish a sign-size spec that has not been verified for Philadelphia. 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 licensed 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 licensed tower. Without an agreement on file, a licensed 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 operator's lot and get the car back, with full paperwork. An operator only tows after the sign check. If a resident calls in a good-faith mistake (permit in glove box, etc.), the release is handled professionally and the situation documented. Property managers can also preauthorize per-vehicle exceptions.

What if my car was towed by PPA or the city, not from a private lot?

That is a completely different process. A Philadelphia parking tow is usually PPA, not a private-property job, and we are not PPA. Published PPA fees (philapark.org/tow, checked 2026-09-19): boot removal $150; tow under 11,000 lbs $175 straight or $225 live stop; storage $25 per 24 hours plus 22.5 percent tax. Confirmed lots include Lot 1 at 2501 Weccacoe Ave (215) 683-9550, Lot 6 at 4701 Bath St (215) 683-9510, and Lot 10 at 6 E Oregon Ave (215) 683-9601. Look the car up at findmytowedcar.org or call 888-591-3636. Snow-emergency tows: (215) 686-SNOW. In a suburb the tow goes to that municipality's own impound with its own fee. Once your car is released, call us for the onward tow.