- Richmond requires a City towing permit and standard tow-away signs before any private lot tow.
- Signs must say vehicles will be towed and show the tow company, its phone number and where vehicles go.
- Time-limited stalls: 30 minutes after the limit. Reserved tenant stalls: 10 minutes.
- Towed vehicles go straight to a licensed impound lot.
- Rates come from the provincial Lien on Impounded Motor Vehicle Regulation, not a number we make up.
How does a private property impound work in Richmond?
Richmond sets the rules, and they are stricter than many owners expect. The City's private parking lot towing regulations say no-parking areas have to be marked with yellow paint on the curb or roadway, or another clearly visible way, with a tow-away sign right beside them. The sign must state that vehicles will be towed and give the towing company's name, phone number and the place towed vehicles are taken.
The tow itself is a two-step notice. The owner or an authorized agent fills in Part A, the tow-away notice, and places it on the vehicle. The person placing it can't be employed by a towing company. The tow truck driver fills in Part B at the time of the tow. Then the vehicle goes directly to the tow company's licensed impound lot, not to a side street or another lot.
If you manage a lot and want impounds, start with the permit. Richmond issues private lot towing permits through the Permit Centre at City Hall, and each one is valid for up to 2 years. We can walk you through the signs and the request process, and handle the car towing once everything is in place.
Which East Cambie lots use private property impounds?
East Cambie has three kinds of private parking that call us most. Each one has its own reason for wanting stalls kept clear.
| Type of lot | Common problem | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse complexes in California Pointe and around Bargen Drive | Visitor stalls taken overnight, cars in fire lanes | Mark fire lanes in yellow, post signs, wait 10 minutes for a reserved tenant stall |
| Jacombs Road business strip | Customer stalls used all day by commuters | Time-limited stalls can be towed 30 minutes after the limit runs out |
| Crestwood industrial units on Vanguard Road and Voyageur Way | Trucks or cars blocking loading bays | A clear tow-away sign at the bay, then a heavy duty tow if a truck is blocking |
| Underground parkades in strata buildings | Abandoned or unregistered vehicles | Same notice process; we bring underground towing gear for low ceilings |
Your car was towed from a private lot in East Cambie. What now?
Start with the tow-away sign where you parked. It has to list the towing company, its phone number and where towed vehicles are taken, so that tells you who has the car. Call them, ask who authorized the tow, and ask for an itemized statement of the towing and storage charges. DriveSmartBC's guide to being towed from a business lot explains your rights under the Motor Vehicle Act and the Commercial Liens Act, including the right to ask a court to settle a real dispute.
If the City towed your car from a street rather than a private lot, that is a different process under Section 13 of Richmond's Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, with vehicles going to the City's contracted impound yard. Either way, photograph the spot and the signs before you leave.
- Read the sign: company, phone number and impound address.
- Call and ask who authorized the tow.
- Ask for an itemized statement of charges.
- Bring ID and registration to the impound lot.
What if you get back to the car before it leaves?
Richmond's rules cover this. If you come back and get in the vehicle after it has been hooked to the tow truck, the driver must release it right away. A drop fee applies. Drivers can't charge any fee that isn't set out in the provincial Lien on Impounded Motor Vehicle Regulation, and the release fee is the base tow rate.
If your car simply won't start where it is parked, that is a breakdown, not an impound. Call us for a jump start or a tow to your mechanic, and tell the property manager so they know it is being dealt with.
Setting up private property impounds with Road1
For stratas and businesses in East Cambie, a clean setup saves arguments later. Get your City towing permit, post compliant signs at each no-parking area, decide who in your building is the authorized representative, and agree on how they reach us. From there, every tow follows the same notice process and goes straight to the impound lot.
We are local, based on Cambie Road, and open 8am to 9pm every day. Contact us to talk through your lot, read more about Road1 Towing, or see everything we do on our East Cambie towing homepage.