A private lot in San Antonio can’t tow your car unless it posted a sign first. City Code § 19-391 spells out where that sign has to sit and what it has to say, and Texas law requires the lot to use a licensed tow company. If the signage doesn’t meet the rule, you have grounds to dispute the tow.
What the law actually requires
Under San Antonio City Code § 19-391, a private property owner who wants to tow unauthorized vehicles has to post at least one sign at each driveway or curb-cut entrance to the lot. That sign is the first thing you’d see driving in, not something tucked behind a dumpster or buried near the back fence.
Inside the lot, any restricted or reserved area, think handicap spaces, reserved tenant spots, fire lanes, needs its own signage marked at intervals no more than 50 feet apart. A single sign at the entrance doesn’t cover a reserved row halfway across the property. The ordinance wants a driver to be able to see a sign no matter where they park.
Dumpster access areas get their own specific rule. Those signs have to read “NO PARKING-TOW AWAY ZONE” in letters at least 3 inches tall, in a color that contrasts with the background so it’s actually readable, not gray-on-gray in low light.
Who can tow, and who orders it
Texas law adds a second layer on top of the signage rule: only a licensed tow company can perform the tow. The Texas Towing and Booting Act, Occupations Code Chapter 2308, is the law that requires tow operators, companies, and vehicle storage facilities to hold a state license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A property manager can’t wave down any truck with a hook and call it legal.
There’s also a hard line between private lots and public streets. A property owner or their agent can authorize a tow from private property, but a tow from a public street can only be ordered by the San Antonio Police Department. If your car got towed from a public street and nobody from SAPD called it in, that’s a different problem than a signage dispute, and it’s worth raising with the department directly.
What counts as a valid sign
A sign that satisfies § 19-391 needs to be visible from a normal approach, not hidden by landscaping or parked cars. It needs to be posted before you park, at the entrance, not appear after the fact once your car is already hooked up. And it needs to say enough that a reasonable driver understands the lot is enforced: who’s authorized to park, and that unauthorized vehicles get towed at the owner’s expense.
A lot that skips the entrance sign, or only marks some of its restricted spaces, hasn’t met the ordinance even if it has a sign somewhere on the property. The rule is about giving you real notice before you park, not technical compliance after your car is gone.
If you think a tow was illegal
Start by documenting what you saw, or didn’t see, when you parked. Photos of the entrance and any signage, timestamped if your phone does that automatically, matter more later than your memory of the lot. If there was no sign at the entrance, or the restricted-area spacing looks wrong, that’s the basis for a dispute with the property owner or the tow company.
Ask the tow company for its TDLR license number and the name of the property owner who authorized the tow. A licensed operator has to be able to produce this. If either piece is missing, you’re dealing with an operator who isn’t following the rules that let them tow non-consent vehicles in the first place.
If you need your car back before you can sort out whether the tow was legal, San Antonio City Code § 19-54 governs release: you need your certificate of title or other satisfactory proof of ownership, plus payment of the tow and storage fees, to get the vehicle released. You can dispute the legality of the tow after you have your car back.
Frequently asked questions
Does a private lot in San Antonio need a sign to tow my car? Yes. City Code § 19-391 requires at least one sign at each driveway or curb-cut entrance, plus signs marking restricted areas at intervals no more than 50 feet apart.
What has to be on a dumpster no-parking sign? The ordinance requires the words “NO PARKING-TOW AWAY ZONE” in letters at least 3 inches tall, in a color that contrasts with the background.
Can any tow truck company tow from a private lot? No. Texas requires the company to hold a state license under Occupations Code Chapter 2308, the Texas Towing and Booting Act. An unlicensed operator towing a non-consent vehicle isn’t operating legally.
Who can order a tow from a public street in San Antonio? Only the San Antonio Police Department can authorize a tow from a public street. A private property owner can only authorize tows from their own lot.
What do I need to get my car back after a tow? Under City Code § 19-54, you need your certificate of title or other satisfactory proof of ownership, plus payment of the tow and storage fees. A representative picking up the car on your behalf needs the title and a notarized owner authorization.
What should I do if I think the sign was missing or wrong? Photograph the entrance and any signage before or right after you get your car back, get the tow company’s license number, and raise the dispute with the property owner or file a complaint with TDLR if the signage clearly didn’t meet the ordinance.