Towing in Oakville

A property where towing is, or will be, used must have signs posted in accordance with By-law 2024-187 and the boundaries of the property must be clearly defined (for example: curbs, fencing, landscaping, etc.).

Before a vehicle can be towed, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) or a Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) must issue a penalty notice (parking ticket) to the vehicle that is violating a town parking by-law, and wait 30 minutes before a tow can be authorized, if applicable. 

The waiting period is intended to discourage predatory and/or fraudulent towing.  

A MLEO must obtain approval from an MCO prior to towing a vehicle.

A MLEO or MCO must notify the Halton Regional Police Service prior to towing/impounding the vehicle.

Properties where towing is or will be used require permanent, clearly visible signs. These signs must be installed at all public entrances to the property and within the property to advise motorists that unauthorized vehicles may be towed.

The signs must:

• be legible;
• be professionally made (not handwritten);
• be installed at a sufficient height from ground level so as to be easily viewed by motorists entering or parking on the property;
• have lettering in a contrasting colour to the sign’s background;
• be made of durable material and able to withstand wind gusts, sunlight and other weather conditions; and
• be made of reflective material if the applicable parking rules apply at night.

Towing signage is not required to be installed on municipal rights-of-way, at driveways to private dwellings, at signed fire routes, in emergency situations or as determined by the Director of Municipal Enforcement Services or designate.

The signs must include:

1. an “authorized parking only” statement;
2. the tow away graphic;
3. a statement that unauthorized vehicles may be tagged and/or towed at the vehicle owner’s expense;
4. the name and telephone number of the property owner or the owner’s employee, agent or contractor; and
5. the applicable town parking by-law number and By-law 2024-187.

The sign may also contain a statement that parking is restricted to a specific time, time of day or specified days of the week.

Existing towing-related signage on private property is not required to comply with the five criteria listed above (the "authorized parking only" statement, tow-away graphic, etc.) until December 31, 2027. However, signage must be placed at all public entrances and throughout the property to ensure adequate visibility.

Private properties without existing towing signage but where towing will be used, must install signage that complies with the By-law by February 28, 2025.

Sample signage

The waiting period is the time that must elapse between the issuance and service of the penalty notice (parking ticket) and the tow. This gives the vehicle owner time to return to their vehicle prior to being towed. 

The waiting period is intended to discourage predatory and/or fraudulent towing.

Exceptions to the 30-minute waiting period

Exceptions to the 30-minute waiting period include emergency situations and vehicles that are parked, stopped, standing or left:

• in signed fire routes;
• in construction zones;
• that interfere with snow-clearing operations on municipal land;
• in designated accessible parking spaces;
• that are blocking a laneway, loading docks, ingress and/or egress points, or driveway access; or
• on municipal rights-of-way or on municipal land for community or special events.

If any of the exceptions apply, a vehicle may be immediately towed, otherwise in accordance with By-law 2024-187, by a Mobile Compliance Officer employed by the Town of Oakville or a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer appointed by the town.

Visit our Parking Enforcement on Private Property page to learn how to request a tow from private property.

Parking lot signage may include contact information for the property owner, their employee, agent, or contractor. 

You may contact them directly or reach out to the Halton Regional Police Service, which must be notified by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) or Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) when a vehicle is towed.