Towed from your apartment complex in Florida
Signs must be at each driveway entrance within 10 feet of the road, say tow-away zone in letters at least 4 inches high, give the tow company name and phone, and be up at least 24 hours before towing. Single-family homes are exempt.
Checked Nov 14, 2026 against the Florida statute and regulator pages.
What to do now
- Call the property office or check the tow-away sign at the lot entrance. It must name the tow company and its phone number in most states.
- Call the tow company to confirm they have the car, the address of the storage lot and the total due.
- Photograph the signs, your permit or sticker and where you were parked before anything changes.
- Get your car out quickly. Storage is charged by the day.
- Ask for an itemized receipt and compare it to your state limits.
- If the tow broke your lease or the state rules, write to the property manager and request a hearing if your state offers one.
Florida rules that matter here
Tow-away signs
Signs must be at each driveway entrance within 10 feet of the road, say tow-away zone in letters at least 4 inches high, give the tow company name and phone, and be up at least 24 hours before towing. Single-family homes are exempt.1
Notice
The tower must tell the city police or county sheriff within 30 minutes after a private-property tow. For liens, the storage operator must send notice to the owner and lienholders within a few business days after storage.12
Drop fee release
If you reach the tow truck before it leaves the property, the driver must stop and return the car for a fee of no more than half the posted tow rate. You get a signed receipt.1
Personal belongings
The storage operator must let the owner inspect the car and release personal property not attached to the car within 1 hour during business hours after you show proof of interest, such as a title.2
Hearing to contest the tow
You can file in county court where the car is stored to decide if it was wrongfully taken or fees were wrongfully charged. You can also get the car back first by posting a bond with the clerk of court equal to the charges.2
Payment
The storage operator must accept at least two of these three kinds of payment: cash or cashier's check or money order, a bank, debit, or credit card, or a mobile or electronic payment.2
Related
- All Florida towing laws and fee limits
- Calculate what you owe in Florida
- Florida Tow Drop Fee: Must They Release Your Car?
- Apartment complex: rules in every state
- How to fight a tow
Florida cities: Jacksonville
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in Florida, and request a hearing before the deadline. Our step-by-step guide and calculator are free.
Questions
Can my apartment tow my car without warning?
In many states yes, if proper tow-away signs are posted at each entrance. Some states and leases require a warning sticker first for things like expired tags. Check your state rules and your lease.
Who do I call if my car was towed from my apartment?
Start with the tow company named on the posted sign or the property office. In Houston and Harris County you can also search FindMyTowedCar. Police usually get a report of private tows within a few hours.
Sources
Last checked Nov 14, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Vehicles or vessels parked on private property, towing (Fla. Stat. § 715.07), Florida Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Liens for recovering, towing, or storing vehicles and vessels (Fla. Stat. § 713.78), Florida Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- Maximum Non-Consent Towing Rates, Pinellas County Consumer Protection. Checked Nov 14, 2026.