Towing Services Regulatory Review

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A tow truck removing a car from an accident scene.

The City regularly receives concerns and complaints related to towing services, particularly about:

  • Billing,
  • Business practices,
  • Safety on the road
  • Safety at accident scenes
  • Alleged illegal activities

Although the City regulates towing services through limited provisions found in the Traffic and Parking By-law, there is no business licensing or regulatory regime for the towing industry. We are reviewing if regulations are needed for towing companies, tow truck drivers and storage yards in Ottawa.

We’re looking for your input on regulatory options for towing services. Your contribution will help determine which issues we focus on and how we could address them.

Please share your experiences and opinions through the survey, discussion forums and questionnaires on Engage Ottawa. There, you will also find information and updates about the review.

You can also email your comments and questions to towingregulations@ottawa.ca until Saturday, June 27.

We will report to the Community and Protective Services Committee later this year on our research and consultations, and provide recommendations on potential regulations for the towing industry.

The City regularly receives concerns and complaints related to towing services, particularly about:

  • Billing,
  • Business practices,
  • Safety on the road
  • Safety at accident scenes
  • Alleged illegal activities

Although the City regulates towing services through limited provisions found in the Traffic and Parking By-law, there is no business licensing or regulatory regime for the towing industry. We are reviewing if regulations are needed for towing companies, tow truck drivers and storage yards in Ottawa.

We’re looking for your input on regulatory options for towing services. Your contribution will help determine which issues we focus on and how we could address them.

Please share your experiences and opinions through the survey, discussion forums and questionnaires on Engage Ottawa. There, you will also find information and updates about the review.

You can also email your comments and questions to towingregulations@ottawa.ca until Saturday, June 27.

We will report to the Community and Protective Services Committee later this year on our research and consultations, and provide recommendations on potential regulations for the towing industry.

Q&A

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    i would very much like to see regulations for towing from private property. Also, if you are towing company you must not be able to operate in related industry i.e. parking, property management, Will this be included as part of towing industry review?. Thanks

    Michael Thomsen Asked 3 months ago

    Yes, this review will consider relationships between towing, parking and property management, and other related industries, and whether specific regulations or prohibitions are needed. This will include businesses currently licensed by the City as Private Parking Enforcement Agencies. Please note that currently, regulations for parking on private property are found in Part “B” of the City’s Traffic and Parking By-law. Changes to the Traffic and Parking By-law are not being considered at this time.