# Subtitle 21 – Towing Vehicles from Private Parking Facility

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 21-1 Required signs.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 21-1 (2026)

(a)

  (1) This section applies to any private property that:

    (i) has a parking facility with 3 or more spaces accessible to the public; and

    (ii) makes this facility available to customers, clientele, employees, residents, lessees, or guests.

  (2) Unless a parking facility is posted in accordance with this section:

    (i) the owner, manager, or other person in charge of the parking facility may not use towing services to enforce parking restrictions; and

    (ii) no towing company may tow a vehicle from the parking facility for a violation of parking restrictions.

(b) Each sign must:

  (1) indicate that vehicles parked without authorization may be towed; and

  (2) state:

    (i) the exact location to which the vehicle will be towed;

    (ii) the hours during which the vehicle may be reclaimed;

    (iii) the maximum amount that will be charged for the towing and for per diem storage of a vehicle;

    (iv) the telephone number that the vehicle’s owner or operator may call to reclaim the vehicle; and

    (v) the name and City license number of the towing company.

(c)

  (1) Each sign must be at least 24" x 30".

  (2) At least 1 sign must be conspicuously posted:

    (i) at each entrance to the parking facility; and

    (ii) at each exit from the parking facility.

  (3) Additional signs must be conspicuously posted throughout the facility as follows:

    (i) for a surface lot in the Tourist Parking District, so that there is at least 1 additional sign for each 25 parking spaces (or fraction of 25 parking spaces); and

    (ii) for all other parking facilities and areas, so that there is at least 1 additional sign for each 7,500 square feet of parking (or fraction of 7,500 square feet).

  (4) Each sign must be clearly readable and visible at all times.

(d)

  (1) There is a Tourist Parking District.

  (2) The District comprises the following area of the City:
Beginning at North Avenue and Greenmount Avenue, south on Greenmount to Monument Street, then east on Monument to Central Avenue, then south on Central to Fleet Street, then east on Fleet to Essex Street, then southeast on Essex to Montford Avenue, then south on Montford to Hudson Street, then east on Hudson to Highland Avenue, then south on Highland to Eastbourne Avenue, then west on Eastbourne to Clinton Street, then south on Clinton to I-95, then west on I-95 to Monroe Street, then northwest on Monroe to Washington Boulevard, then northeast on Washington to South Carey Street, then north on South Carey to Lombard Street, then east on Lombard to Martin Luther King Boulevard, then north on Martin Luther King to Pennsylvania Avenue, then northwest on Pennsylvania to North Avenue, then east on North to Greenmount Avenue.

*History: Ord. 87-976*

*History: Ord. 94-409*

*History: Ord. 01-231*

## § 21-2 Repealed by Ord. 01-231.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 21-2 (2026)


        <strong>§ 21-3.  Reclaiming vehicle.</strong>
      

(a) When a vehicle has been towed from private property, the towing company or owner of the property from which the vehicle was removed must provide the owner of the vehicle or the owner’s authorized agent the opportunity to retake possession of the vehicle at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

(b) An automatic teller machine must be available at any location where persons seeking to reclaim their vehicles will be required to pay the tower.

(c) For any vehicle towed from private property, the receipt given to the owner or owner’s agent must contain the following statement:
“Towing from private parking facilities is regulated by City Code <cite data-path="|31">Article 31</cite>, Subtitle 21.  For complaints, please call the Baltimore City Towing Board at <em>{Telephone Number}</em>.”.

*History: Ord. 87-976*

*History: Ord. 01-231*

## § 21-4 Scope of subtitle.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 21-4 (2026)

This subtitle does not:

(1) authorize or confer any right upon property owners to have vehicles which trespass upon their property removed or towed; or

(2) grant to any towing company or operator the right to impose any charge upon the vehicle towed in addition to any such rights that they might otherwise have under applicable law.

*History: Ord. 87-976*

## § 21-5

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 21-5 (2026)

Reserved

## § 21-6 Penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 21-6 (2026)

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, subject to a sum of not more than $200 for each offense.

(b) Each vehicle that is towed from a parking facility that is not posted as required by this section is a separate offense.

*History: Ord. 87-976*

*History: Ord. 01-231*