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What changed: towing updates in Denver
New laws, rules and rates that affect people whose cars were towed, newest first. Each item is our own short summary with a link to the official source.
Starting September 14, 2026, Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure reviews parking ticket disputes filed online, replacing the Parking Magistrates program run by Denver County Court. A ticket must be no more than 20 days old to be disputed online. Boot and impound hearings are still scheduled in person at 1437 Bannock St.
State maximums for private-property tows rose 2.28% on March 15, 2026
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission's yearly inflation adjustment took effect March 15, 2026. For a car or light truck (10,000 lbs. or less), the most a tow company may charge for a private-property tow is now $250.91, storage is at most $48.19 per 24 hours, and the after-hours release fee is at most $106.06. The certified-letter fee stays at $75 for private-property tows.
In effect since March 15, 2026. The next adjustment is due March 15, 2027.
State sunset review of the PUC notes a jump in towing cases
The Department of Regulatory Agencies' 2025 sunset review of the Public Utilities Commission, sent to the legislature on October 15, 2025, lists the towing laws passed in 2021, 2022 and 2024. It says towing-related cases rose sharply after the 2022 law, and that the PUC's regulation of towing carriers is scheduled to end in 2030 unless the legislature continues it, with a review due in 2029.
The Governor signed HB 25-1117 on June 3, 2025 (Session Laws chapter 391). Private booting companies must get signed permission for each boot, give 24 hours' written notice in most cases, photograph the car first, and remove the boot within 90 minutes of your call during business hours (120 minutes after hours). Violations are deceptive trade practices under state consumer law.
2024 law: signed permission for each tow, bilingual signs, return within 48 hours
HB 24-1051 was signed May 30, 2024 and took effect August 7, 2024. For private-property tows it requires signed permission for each tow within 24 hours before it (no standing or automated approvals), signs in English and Spanish, and return of a car within 48 hours after a tow is found to break the law. It also lets the PUC suspend or revoke a tow company's permit.
Attorney General settles with a large metro-area towing company
The Colorado Attorney General signed an Assurance of Discontinuance with Towing Holdings LLC (doing business as Wyatts Towing) on December 21, 2023. The company agreed to pay the State $764,000, partly for refunds to consumers, and not to collect $236,000 in balances from people who used the reduced-payment release. The company denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.
Colorado's towing bill of rights took effect August 10, 2022
HB 22-1314, signed June 7, 2022, took effect August 10, 2022. For tows from residential property it requires a 24-hour windshield notice in most cases, bans tows for expired registration unless police order them, frees a car still on the property at no charge on request, and lets the owner get the car back by paying 15% of the fees, at most $60. Belongings must be released on request within 30 days of the tow company's notice.