If you manage a lot in Virginia, towing unauthorized vehicles requires following specific rules. Here is what property managers need to know to enforce parking legally.
The Legal Foundation for Private Property Towing
Private property towing in Virginia is governed by Title 46.2 of the Virginia Code plus local ordinances that Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park can layer on top. As a property owner or manager, you (or your authorized agent) can have an unauthorized vehicle removed, but only if you follow the signage, notice, and fee rules. Get any step wrong and the tow can be challenged, which puts liability back on you. The two big categories are immediate tows (fire lanes, handicap spaces, or vehicles blocking access) and notice-required tows (most other violations), which may require a waiting period before removal.
Virginia's Signage Requirements
Signage is where most property managers get caught out. Before you can enforce, your lot needs clear, visible signs that generally must state:
- That unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense
- The name and 24/7 phone number of the towing company
- Where towed vehicles will be stored
- Any time limits or permit rules that apply
Placement and size matter. Signs must be posted at each entrance and be large and legible enough to give drivers fair notice. Faded, hidden, or missing-detail signs are the most common reason a tow gets disputed. Check your locality's exact size and placement specs, or let us review your lot.
Enforcement by Property Type
Apartments and condominiums
Reserved and permit-only spaces need clear per-space or per-entrance signage and a consistent enforcement policy so you apply it fairly to everyone.
Shopping centers and commercial lots
Customer-only and time-limited parking is enforceable with proper signage; roving patrols are common but must still follow notice rules.
HOA communities
HOAs can enforce parking rules, but the governing documents and posted signage both need to support it before a tow.
The Towing Process, Step by Step
- Verify your signage is compliant and photographed
- Identify the unauthorized vehicle and document it (photos, time, location)
- Contact a licensed towing company like PWC Towing
- We handle the removal and report it to law enforcement as required
- The owner recovers the vehicle from the storage lot after paying the capped fees
Vehicle Owner Protections and Your Liability
Virginia law protects vehicle owners too, and those protections are where manager liability comes from. Localities cap the tow, mileage, and storage fees; owners are entitled to an itemized receipt and to retrieve personal property; and a tow done without proper signage or notice can expose the property to a claim. Working with a licensed, well-documented towing company is your best protection.
Special Situations: Fire Lanes, Handicap Spaces, and Abandoned Vehicles
Fire lanes and handicap spaces generally allow immediate towing because they are safety and access issues. Abandoned vehicles follow a separate process, usually requiring a written notice affixed to the vehicle and a waiting period before removal. When in doubt, call us before you tow.
Set Up a Parking Enforcement Partnership
PWC Towing sets up dedicated accounts for property managers across Prince William County: we help you get compliant signage in place, agree on clear communication protocols, and document every removal so you are protected. See our private property towing enforcement and property management towing pages, or call 571-520-0898 to get started.