Towed from your apartment complex in South Dakota
We found no sign requirement. A tow company may not remove an abandoned vehicle from private property without the written permission of the landowner or tenant.
Checked Nov 15, 2026 against the South Dakota 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.
South Dakota rules that matter here
Tow-away signs
We found no sign requirement. A tow company may not remove an abandoned vehicle from private property without the written permission of the landowner or tenant.2
Notice
The tow company must send a certified letter to the registered owner and lienholders within 45 days of the removal, on a state form, saying where the car is held and how to reclaim it. If a tow company removes an unattended car from a public street without a written request from the owner or police, it must report the tow to the owner within 24 hours, or to the sheriff or police chief if it cannot reach the owner. If it does not, it may not charge any towing or storage fees.234
Drop fee release
South Dakota has no statewide rule requiring a tow company to release a car for a drop fee. The state towing and abandoned vehicle laws do not address it.12
Personal belongings
The tow company has a lien on the car's contents, but it cannot exceed $500. No lien applies to clothing, food or the tools a person uses for work.1
Related
- All South Dakota towing laws and fee limits
- Calculate what you owe in South Dakota
- Apartment complex: rules in every state
- How to fight a tow
Think the tow or the bill was wrong?
Ask the lot for an itemized receipt, compare it to the legal limits in South Dakota, 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 15, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the lot or agency before you go. Spot an error? Tell us.
- SDCL 32-30-18 Lien for costs of removal and storage of vehicle (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-18), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- SDCL ch. 32-36 Abandoned, derelict and junk motor vehicles (S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-36-2, 32-36-4.1, 32-36-8, 32-36-9), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
- SDCL 32-30-3.1 Removal of unattended vehicle, reporting requirements (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-3.1), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- SDCL 32-30-3.2 Removal agency failing to report not entitled to fees (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-3.2), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.
- SDCL 32-36-4.1 Removal from private property needs written permission (S.D. Codified Laws § 32-36-4.1), South Dakota Legislature. Checked Nov 15, 2026.