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History of towing in Seattle
How towing rules in Seattle took shape: ordinances, contracts, court rulings and state laws, in date order. Every entry links to its source.
How to read this timeline. Entries are in date order. Most rest on a court opinion, a law or a government record. Entries marked "Not yet verified" rest on one secondary or self-reported source, and entries marked "From a news report" rest on news coverage. We leave out private people's names and accusations against companies that have no published outcome.
City impound rules (1979 to 2011)
Seattle adopts the impound chapter of its traffic code (SMC chapter 11.30), first enacted by Ord. 108200.
Not yet verified The code cites Ord. 108200 without a year; the year is our estimate.
Source: SMC chapter 11.30 history notes
The Seattle Times reports private-impound charges in Seattle from about $35 to $240, with no limit on private tows, while the City's bid contracts for police tows ran about $34.50 to $48.50.
From a news report
Source: The Seattle Times, April 9, 1991
Ord. 117306 rewrites much of SMC 11.30, including notice and hearing sections.
Source: SMC chapter 11.30 history notes
Seattle creates its boot program for vehicles on the scofflaw list (SMC chapter 11.35, Ord. 123447), amended in 2011 and 2014.
Source: SMC chapter 11.35 history notes
Private-tow caps and one police-impound contractor (2012 to 2019)
The Mayor and Council propose the City's first caps on fees for involuntary tows from private property, with background checks and operating standards for tow companies.
Source: City Council news release; KNKX report
The City issues its first request for proposals for a single citywide police-impound contractor; it is later canceled and replaced by a second request in 2013.
Not yet verified From search-engine copies of the auditor's report; the official PDF did not open.
A Council committee votes 3-0 to advance the caps ($183 first hour, $130 an hour after, $15.50 storage per 12 hours) to the full Council; the program is set to start in January 2013 (Ord. 123997).
Source: Council news release, Sept. 21, 2012; Council news release, Sept. 19, 2012
SMC 6.214's unlawful-acts section applies 'as of January 1, 2013': overcharging is a misdemeanor and forced waivers are civil infractions.
Source: SMC 6.214.260
The City awards one citywide police-impound contract (vehicle impound management services) after canceling a first request for proposals from 2012.
Not yet verified From the auditor's report as quoted by search engines (report dated May 20, 2014) and from news; the official PDF did not open on 2026-10-07 or 2026-10-08.
Source: Report of the City Auditor (as indexed); PubliCola, Oct. 10, 2013
The Council's budget committee asks the City Auditor to review the police-impound contract award.
From a news report
Source: PubliCola (Seattle Met)
The City Auditor's review of the police-impound contract procurement is issued: the process followed state and City law, but the share of impounds handled by women- and minority-owned firms fell.
Not yet verified Date and findings from search-engine copies; the official PDF returned 404.
The Council passes Council Bill 118266, 9-0, raising the maximum storage fee for private impounds (SMC 6.214.220, Ord. 124655).
Source: Council action summary
FAS Director's rules take effect for police-impound administrative fees ($35 or $67), the City impound fee, and the method for yearly private-impound adjustments.
A City-contracted company tows a truck a man was living in, a week after a 72-hour parking notice. At the November 2016 hearing the magistrate cuts the impound charges from $946.61 to $547.12 on a payment plan. The case becomes City of Seattle v. Long.
Source: Slip opinion (Washington Courts); Opinion (CourtListener)
The police-impound contract is amended to cover disposal of RVs; by August 2018 the City had paid about $399,000 to tow and scrap 265 RVs.
From a news report From City records reported by KOMO; the amendment itself was not read.
Source: KOMO News, Oct. 29, 2018
The yearly FAS rule sets the private-impound maximum at $209.47 for the first hour (2.7% increase).
Exact effective day not readable (scanned cover).
Source: Clerk File 321237
Big yearly increases, Long, and the 2026 rules (2020 to 2026)
Private-impound maximums rise 1.7% to $218.35 for the first hour.
Source: Clerk File 321941
The state Supreme Court decides City of Seattle v. Long against the City: the impound costs were an excessive fine and a vehicle home can be a homestead.
Source: Opinion (CourtListener)
Private-impound maximums jump 19.2% to $260.28 for the first hour, following the transportation price index.
Source: Clerk File 322292
Private-impound maximums rise 9.4% to $284.74 for the first hour.
Source: Clerk File 322633
Private-impound maximums rise 4.0% to $296.13.
Source: Clerk File 323003
Private-impound maximums rise 2.0% to $302.05.
Source: Clerk File 323343
2026 police-impound prices under Contract #5091 take effect: $297 north / $263 south for a class A impound.
Source: FAS police-impound fee page
A new state law (HB 2495) lets a city over 700,000 people, which today means Seattle, have cars blocking its streetcar tracks impounded immediately.
Source: HB 2495 bill summary
Private-impound maximums rise 1.6% to $306.88 for the first hour and $42.98 per 12 hours of storage.
Source: FAS fee page
A six-bill package for people living in vehicles is announced in the City Council: a permit for engaged RV residents, a 2-hour limit for unpermitted RVs and trailers, safe lots and storage, and junk-vehicle rule changes.
Proposal; its outcome was not verified on 2026-10-08.
Source: City Council news release
For the rates over the years, see tow and storage rates. Know a record that belongs here? Email corrections@towedhelp.org.
Last checked .