Towing in Oakville

A property where towing is or will be used must have signs posted as outlined in By-law 2024-187 and the boundaries of the property must be clearly defined (for example: curbs, fencing, landscaping, etc.).

Before a vehicle can be towed, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) or a Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) must issue a penalty notice (parking ticket) to a vehicle that violates a Town parking by-law. Except where immediate towing is permitted under By-law 2024-187, an MCO must wait 30 minutes after issuing a penalty notice before authorizing a tow. An MLEO must wait 30 minutes before submitting a request to an MCO for approval to tow the vehicle, unless exceptions under By-law 2024-187 apply. 

If a property is located within a Business Improvement Area  - Bronte Village, Downtown Oakville or Kerr Village), only an MCO may authorize and carry out the towing of a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

The waiting period is intended to discourage predatory and/or fraudulent towing.  

An MLEO or MCO must notify the Halton Regional Police Service prior to towing/impounding the vehicle.

Properties where towing is or will be used require permanent and clearly visible signs. These signs must be installed at all public entrances to the property and within the property to advise motorists that unauthorized vehicles may be towed.

The signs must:

• be legible;
• be professionally made (not handwritten);
• be installed at a sufficient height from ground level to be easily viewed by motorists entering or parking on the property;
• have lettering in a contrasting colour to the sign’s background;
• be made of durable material and able to withstand wind gusts, sunlight and other weather conditions; and
• be made of reflective material if the applicable parking rules apply at night.

Towing signage is not required to be installed on municipal rights-of-way, at driveways to private dwellings, at signed fire routes, in emergency situations or as determined by the Director of Municipal Enforcement Services or their designate.

There are different requirements for signage depending on whether the property is located outside or within a Business Improvement Area (BIA) – Bronte Village, Downtown Oakville or Kerr Village. 

Signs on property located outside of a BIA must include (*see sample signage below):

1. an “authorized parking only” statement;
2. the tow away graphic;
3. a statement that unauthorized vehicles may be tagged and/or towed at the vehicle owner’s expense;
4. the name and telephone number of the property owner or the owner’s employee, agent or contractor; and
5. the applicable Town parking by-law number and By-law 2024-187.

Signs may also contain a statement that parking is restricted to a specific time, time of day or specified days of the week.

Existing towing-related signage on private property outside of a BIA is not required to comply with the five criteria listed above (the "authorized parking only" statement, tow-away graphic, etc.) until December 31, 2027. However, signage must be placed at all public entrances and throughout the property to ensure adequate visibility.

Private properties without existing towing signage but where towing will be used, must install signage that complies with By-law 2024-187.

Signs on property located within a BIA must include (*see sample signage below): 

1. an “authorized parking only” statement;
2. the “tow away” graphic;
3. a statement that unauthorized vehicles may be tagged and/or towed at the vehicle owner’s expense;
4. the name and telephone number of the owner of the property and the Town of Oakville; and
5. the applicable Town by-law number and By-law 2024-187.

The sign may also contain a statement that parking is restricted to a specific time, time of day or specified days of the week.

As of August 4, 2026, all existing and new signage within a BIA must comply with By-law 2024-187.

Sample signage

The 30-minute waiting period is the time that must elapse after a penalty notice (parking ticket) is issued and served, and a vehicle may be towed. During this time, the vehicle owner has an opportunity to return to their vehicle before towing action is initiated. After the waiting period expires, a Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) employed by the Town may authorize a tow, while a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) appointed by the Town may either request approval to tow the vehicle or, if the property is located within a Business Improvement Area (BIA) – Bronte Village, Downtown Oakville or Kerr Village, request that an MCO tow the vehicle.

The waiting period is intended to discourage predatory and/or fraudulent towing.

Exceptions to the 30-minute waiting period

Exceptions to the 30-minute waiting period include emergency situations and vehicles that are parked, stopped, standing or left:

• in signed fire routes, in construction zones, or in designated accessible parking spaces;
• that interfere with snow-clearing operations on municipal land (only applies to MCOs);
• that block a laneway, loading docks, ingress and/or egress points, or driveway access; or
• on municipal rights-of-way or on municipal land for community or special events (only applies to MCOs).

If any of the exceptions apply, the 30-minute waiting period is waived. An MCO may immediately arrange for a tow and an MLEO may immediately request approval from an MCO to tow the vehicle. Additionally, an MLEO may request that an MCO arrange for a tow if the vehicle is within a BIA.

Visit our Parking Enforcement on Private Property page to learn how to request a tow from private property.

Parking lot signage may include contact information for the property owner, their employee, agent, or contractor, or for the Town of Oakville if the property is located in a Business Improvement Area. 

You may contact them directly or reach out to the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). HRPS must be notified by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) or Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) when a vehicle is towed.