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.

Thank you to those who provided input on potential towing regulations during our consultation period. We are currently in the process of reviewing the comments received, and a “What We Heard” document is expected to be released early this Fall outlining the consultation results.

NEW - Province of Ontario’s Towing Review

On June 29, 2020, the Province of Ontario announced that it is establishing a task force to improve provincial oversight of the towing industry. The Provincial task force will help develop a regulatory model with the stated goals of increasing safety and enforcement, clarifying protections for consumers and improving industry standards, and considering tougher penalties for violators.

The City of Ottawa will be working with Provincial counterparts on the task force and monitoring the outcome of the provincial review, with a view to ensuring that recommendations for municipal towing regulations align with and complement provincial initiatives for this industry. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. City staff will be reporting findings and recommendations for municipal towing regulations to the Community and Protective Services Committee and Council once all research, consultations and policy development are complete, and once the provincial initiatives for this industry are released.

Stay up-to-date on the towing review by subscribing to our Engage Ottawa project page. You can also email your questions to towingregulations@ottawa.ca.

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.

Thank you to those who provided input on potential towing regulations during our consultation period. We are currently in the process of reviewing the comments received, and a “What We Heard” document is expected to be released early this Fall outlining the consultation results.

NEW - Province of Ontario’s Towing Review

On June 29, 2020, the Province of Ontario announced that it is establishing a task force to improve provincial oversight of the towing industry. The Provincial task force will help develop a regulatory model with the stated goals of increasing safety and enforcement, clarifying protections for consumers and improving industry standards, and considering tougher penalties for violators.

The City of Ottawa will be working with Provincial counterparts on the task force and monitoring the outcome of the provincial review, with a view to ensuring that recommendations for municipal towing regulations align with and complement provincial initiatives for this industry. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. City staff will be reporting findings and recommendations for municipal towing regulations to the Community and Protective Services Committee and Council once all research, consultations and policy development are complete, and once the provincial initiatives for this industry are released.

Stay up-to-date on the towing review by subscribing to our Engage Ottawa project page. You can also email your questions to towingregulations@ottawa.ca.

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 5 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.