A property in Texas can only enforce a non-consent tow if it’s posted a compliant sign, and the law is specific about what that sign has to say and where it has to sit. Occupations Code 2308.301 sets the standard: at least 18 by 24 inches, at every entrance, visible day and night, with the towing warning, enforcement hours, and a 24-hour phone number. If you were towed from a lot with no sign, or a sign that doesn’t meet these rules, call (469) 902-4411. We connect you with a licensed operator, and knowing the sign rules helps you know whether the tow itself was lawful.
The size and placement rule
Under Occupations Code 2308.301, a sign authorizing non-consent tows must measure at least 18 inches by 24 inches, roughly the size of a large poster. It has to include the international towing symbol, a graphic most drivers recognize on sight. The bottom edge of the sign must sit between 5 and 8 feet off the ground, high enough to be seen over parked cars but not so high it’s easy to miss. A sign taped to a wall at knee height, or one hidden behind a bush or a dumpster, doesn’t meet this standard even if the words on it are correct.
Every entrance, not just one
This is the requirement property owners get wrong most often. The law requires a compliant sign at every entrance to the lot, or at intervals no greater than 25 feet along the property line if there’s no defined entrance. A single sign posted at the main entrance of a large apartment complex with three or four ways in doesn’t satisfy the law if the other entrances have nothing posted. If you entered through a side entrance with no sign, that’s relevant to whether your tow was properly authorized.
What the sign has to say
Beyond size and placement, the sign’s wording is specific. It has to state who is authorized to park (residents only, permit holders only, customers only, whatever applies to that lot), the enforcement hours if towing isn’t around the clock, and language along the lines of “unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner’s expense.” It also has to list a phone number, with area code, that’s staffed and reachable so a towed driver can find out where their vehicle went. A sign that just says “No Parking” with no phone number and no towing warning doesn’t meet the bar.
The 24-hour posting rule
A property can’t post a sign in the morning and start towing in the afternoon. Texas requires that the sign be up and visible for at least 24 hours before non-consent towing can be enforced under it. This matters most when a property changes its parking rules, brings in a new tow contractor, or starts enforcing a policy that wasn’t posted before. If your car was towed the same day a new sign went up, that timing is worth checking.
Who’s on the hook if the signage is wrong
Under Texas law, the property owner, not just the tow company, can be held civilly liable for towing a vehicle when the required signage wasn’t in place or didn’t meet the standard. This gives property owners a real incentive to get it right, and it gives towed drivers a real basis to push back when a lot clearly wasn’t compliant. If you believe you were towed from a Dallas-area apartment, retail lot, or office complex without proper signage, that’s grounds to dispute the tow with the property owner or, in some cases, in court.
What this means if you were just towed
None of this changes the immediate problem: your car is gone and you need to get it back. Check whether the lot had a visible, compliant sign before you left, since that’s evidence worth having if you plan to dispute the tow later. In the meantime, find out which facility holds your vehicle and what you’ll owe. Texas caps what a licensed vehicle storage facility can charge: up to $272 for the tow, $22.85 per day for storage under 25 feet, and a $50 notification fee.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the minimum sign size for private-property towing in Texas? 18 inches by 24 inches, with the bottom edge mounted 5 to 8 feet above ground level, per Occupations Code 2308.301.
Does every entrance to a parking lot need its own sign? Yes, or signs spaced no more than 25 feet apart where there’s no distinct entrance. One sign at the main entrance isn’t enough for a multi-entrance property.
Can a lot start towing the same day it posts a new sign? No. Texas requires the sign to be up for at least 24 hours before non-consent towing can be enforced under it.
Who’s responsible if I was towed and the signage wasn’t compliant? Texas law can hold the property owner civilly liable, separate from the tow operator, when required signage wasn’t properly posted.
If your car has already been towed and you need it moved again once it’s released, or you’re dealing with a tow dispute and need a straight answer about your options, call (469) 902-4411. We’ll connect you with a licensed Dallas-area operator.