DFW Renter Tools
Apartment towing rights in Fort Worth, TX
Towed from a Fort Worth apartment? Here are your Texas rights: what a legal tow can cost, the local ordinance, and exactly how to dispute it. Then check your specific tow for free.
What a legal tow can cost in Fort Worth
- Tow: up to about $272
- Storage: about $22.85/day
- Notification: up to $50
- Drop fee (before it leaves the lot): up to $135
Fort Worth's local rules
Fort Worth Municipal Code - Nonconsent Tow Company Requirements (Division 2).
Fort Worth layers its own nonconsent-tow company requirements on top of the state fee caps.
Where to complain: TDLR complaint; Fort Worth code enforcement.
How to dispute a tow in Tarrant County
File a tow hearing within 14 business days at any Justice of the Peace court in Tarrant County (filing fee about $20; hearing within 21 days). Bring the tow ticket, photos of the entrance signs, your lease + parking rules, and the receipt. If you win, you recover your tow + storage costs - and up to $1000 plus 3x the fees if the tow was knowing or intentional.
FAQ
How much can an apartment tow company charge in Fort Worth, TX?
Fort Worth follows the Texas nonconsent-tow fee caps. For a standard vehicle under 10,000 lbs: the tow is capped at about $272, storage at about $22.85/day, notification up to $50, and a drop fee (if you catch it before it leaves) up to $135. Fort Worth layers its own nonconsent-tow company requirements on top of the state fee caps.
How do I dispute an apartment tow in Fort Worth?
You have 14 business days from the tow to request a tow hearing at any Justice of the Peace court in Tarrant County (where the car was towed). The filing fee is about $20 and the hearing is held within 21 days. If the tow was knowing or intentional and unlawful, you can recover up to $1000 plus 3x the fees. Complaints: TDLR complaint; Fort Worth code enforcement.
Can my Fort Worth apartment tow my car for expired registration?
Generally no, not solely for that. Under Texas Occupations Code §2308.253, a resident's vehicle cannot be towed only for expired registration or plates without the required posted notice and process. Parking rules must also be given to you before you sign the lease (Texas Property Code §92.0131).
General information about Texas law, not legal advice. Fee caps are CPI-indexed - confirm current figures with TDLR.