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.
San Francisco tow fees for 2026-27: $385 administrative fee, $317 tow, $82 a day storage
SFMTA's fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists an administrative tow fee of $385 ($335 for a first tow), an operating tow fee of $317 ($111 for people who qualify as low-income), and light-duty storage of $69 for the first 24 hours and $82 for each day after. The same schedule already lists higher amounts that start July 1, 2027.
In effect since July 1, 2026. Next amounts listed for July 1, 2027 ($402 administrative, $331 tow, $86 a day).
Supervisors extend San Francisco's towing contract while the City looks for a cheaper one
The Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 44-26 on February 3, 2026. It approves a 10th amendment to SFMTA's towing, storage and disposal contract, raising the limit to $158.8 million and allowing the contract to run as late as June 30, 2027. SFMTA's board had approved it on October 7, 2025, saying it wanted time for a cost-saving search for the next contract and that the tow program does not recover all its costs.
Adopted February 3, 2026. Contract may now run to June 30, 2027.
Budget analyst: San Francisco's tow program costs about $70.7 million more than its fees bring in
A Budget and Legislative Analyst report dated February 7, 2025, written for the Board's Budget and Finance Committee, estimates program costs of about $278.6 million and fee revenue of about $207.9 million over the 10-year contract, with transit funds covering the gap. It lists options such as cutting fee discounts or raising fees; the Board then approved more contract money (Resolution 66-25).
City Attorney: a private tow company is barred from City contracts for five years
The City Attorney announced on July 23, 2024 that a hearing officer issued an Order of Debarment against Auto Towing, LLC, the longest allowed (five years). The City's case said the company towed cars from a bank lot in 2023 without the property owner's permission and took them to a lot other than its permitted address.
Order of Debarment issued after an administrative hearing.
SFPD stops tows for five or more unpaid tickets without a court order
After the 2023 appeals court ruling in Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco, SFPD Department Bulletin 23-174 told officers not to request a tow under Vehicle Code section 22651(i) (five or more unpaid parking tickets) without first getting a court order. Tows for other lawful reasons are not affected.
The bulletin lists an expiration date of October 27, 2026; the court ruling itself does not expire.
Appeals court: San Francisco cannot tow a safely, legally parked car only for unpaid tickets without a warrant
In Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco (93 Cal.App.5th 928), the First District Court of Appeal held that towing a lawfully and safely parked car without a warrant, only because of unpaid parking tickets, is not justified as a 'community caretaking' tow. The case started in San Francisco Superior Court (CPF-18-516456).
Published opinion, certified for publication July 21, 2023.