Towing Ordinance

The Office of Consumer Protection is tasked with the enforcement of towing companies.

Click here for more information on your rights and responsibilities when your vehicle is towed.

  • Towing companies must notify local law enforcement of the date and time of the tow.
  • Towing companies may only charge the maximum rates as allowed by the ordinance.
  • Immobilization companies or “booters” may only charge $35.00 per incident.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) Rate Adjustments and Emergency Fuel Surcharge

Consumer Price Index Fee Increase

Consumer Price Index (CPI) base towing rate fee increases will be implemented for a 5-year period, beginning in 2027, for private property trespass and police directed nonconsensual tow rates for Class A, B, C, and D vehicles. CPI increases will be capped at 3% and under no circumstances shall be less than 0% in any given year. Computation: Beginning January 2027 and continuing through January 2031, the January CPI rates for Transportation, all urban consumers, for the Tampa-St. Petersburg- Clearwater area will be utilized to determine amount of CPI increase, if any, and will be effective on March 1st of that year and posted on Consumer Protection’s website. This provision will sunset upon implementation of the last update in 2031 and may be extended for additional years by a resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

Note: January’s CPI is posted mid-February. Any increases will be posted to this website and effective March 1st.
Next potential adjustment will be posted by March 1, 2027
Year Percentage
January 2027

Emergency Fuel Surcharge

If the average monthly price of diesel fuel, based on data from the United States Energy Information Administration or similar qualified public agency as determined by the Department, exceeds $5.50 for the (Gulf Coast PADD 1C) region, a fuel surcharge may be charged at the rate of $1.00 per mile, for actual miles towed. These monthly average rates will be posted to the Consumer Protection’s website. Should the average monthly price of diesel fuel exceed $5.50 for the preceding month, a fuel surcharge will go into effect on the first day of the following month and last for a period of thirty (30) days. For any subsequent month the average monthly diesel price continues to exceed $5.50, the surcharge will automatically extend for an additional 30 days.

Check back to this website for updates.
No current emergency fuel surcharge in effect
Month Average Monthly Price of Diesel
August 2026 $5.253
September 2026
October 2026

If you have any questions about towing companies, call (727) 464-6200. If you wish to file a complaint, please click the link below.