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Towing rules for property managers in Colorado

Before you have a car towed from your property in Colorado, check these rules. They are a summary of state law; your city or county may add more.

Printable checklist

Placement: At the entrance facing the street and inside the parking area facing the spaces; 3 to 8 feet off the ground; lots with more than ten lampposts (non-residential) need signs at each lamppost
Sign size: at least 144 square inches
Letters at least 1 inch tall
A sign at each entrance
The towing company's name
The towing company's phone number
Tow company reports the tow to police within 30 minutes
Release the car if the owner returns before it leaves the property

Check your sign

What the sign law says

Applies to: Tows by a company with an agreement with the property owner

If a tow company has an agreement with the property owner, it must post signs reading "Authorized Parking Only" at the entrance, facing the street, and inside the parking area facing the spaces. Signs must be 3 to 8 feet off the ground and cannot be blocked. Each sign must be at least one square foot with letters at least 1 inch tall, and must show the tow company's name and phone number in English. Lots with more than ten lampposts, other than residential lots, need signs at each lamppost.

C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(4)(f)(III) (opens in a new tab)

Area of 144 square inches is the stated "one square foot" converted to square inches. Signs read "Authorized Parking Only".

Tow-away signs and notice

If a tow company has an agreement with the property owner, it must post signs reading "Authorized Parking Only" at the entrance, facing the street, and inside the parking area facing the spaces. Signs must be 3 to 8 feet off the ground and cannot be blocked. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(4)(f)(III) (opens in a new tab)
Each sign must be at least one square foot with letters at least 1 inch tall, and must show the tow company's name and phone number in English. Lots with more than ten lampposts, other than residential lots, need signs at each lamppost. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(4)(f)(III) (opens in a new tab)
For a parking space or common parking area, the tow company or property owner must first put a written notice on your windshield at least 24 hours before towing. Exceptions include blocking a driveway or roadway, a fire zone, a disability space without a valid placard, a resident's assigned space, a residents-only lot, or a third offense. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(3)(b) (opens in a new tab)
A tow from private property needs permission from the property owner, an HOA, or their agent within the 24 hours before the tow. The tow company cannot act as the owner's agent to give itself permission. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(3)(a) (opens in a new tab)
A company may not tow you from private property just because your registration or plate tag looks expired, unless a police officer ordered the tow. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(7) (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

If you arrive after hookup but before the car leaves the property, the company must stop the tow on request and may not charge a drop fee. The PUC rate page still lists a drop charge for commercial lots, but the statute text has no such exception outside single commercial spaces. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(6), (9)(b) (opens in a new tab)
If you approach the driver before the car is removed, the company must tell you it is required to release the vehicle on request. C.R.S. 40-10.1-405(6)(c)-(d) (opens in a new tab)

Finding your car

A company holding a car towed from private property must report the storage location to the county sheriff or city police within 30 minutes. It is also treated as compliant if it gave the location when getting the tow authorized. Call the non-emergency police line to find your car. C.R.S. 42-4-2103(2)(a) (opens in a new tab)
Colorado law sets no maximum distance to the storage lot. The PUC limits billable mileage to 12 miles for tows within 10 miles of I-25 and 16.5 miles for tows farther out. 4 CCR 723-6, rule 6511(b) (opens in a new tab)