Can You Tow Cars Off Your Private Property in Kansas?

Updated November 2026 by the Miller’s Towing & Recovery private property team

A stranger’s car in your reserved space. A pickup blocking the fire lane outside your shop. A car that has sat in your apartment lot for weeks with flat tires. Property owners ask us all the time whether they can have these cars removed, and how to do it without getting in trouble.

The short answer is yes, but the rules matter. This guide covers how private property towing works in Wichita and across Kansas, what the law requires, and how to avoid an illegal tow. Rules can differ in other Kansas cities, so check with your city if your property is outside Wichita.

What Is Private Property Towing?

Private property towing, also called a non consent tow, is removing a vehicle without the driver’s permission from property that isn’t public. Common places include:

• Apartment complexes and HOA lots
• Business and retail parking lots
• Private driveways and yards
• Gated lots, churches, and office parks

It is different from a police tow or a tow from a public street. Typical reasons include parking in a fire lane, using a tenant’s reserved space, staying past posted hours, or abandoning a car on the property.

Wichita Rules You Must Follow

Rule	What it requires
Signs	A sign at every driveway or curb cut, within 5 feet of the public right of way. It must say unauthorized parking is prohibited in letters at least 1.5 inches tall, and that vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense in letters at least 1 inch tall.
Who can approve	The property owner, manager, or someone they name. HOAs and apartment managers agree with the tow company on who can approve tows.
Police report	Under City Code 11.99.030, the person who requested the tow notifies the WPD Records Bureau within one hour with the make, model, year, VIN, plate, destination, who ordered the tow, and the address.
Fee caps	The caps started in 2023 at $120 per tow, $4.70 per mile, and $36 per day of storage, and rise 4% each June. In 2026 that is about $135 per tow.
Itemized bill	The car’s owner must get an itemized bill showing the charge for each service.

Skipping a step can make a tow unlawful, which creates trouble for both the property owner and the tow company. That is why we check signs before the first tow and collect every detail for the report.

Street Parking Is Different

A car parked on a public street, even in front of your house, isn’t a private property tow. Call the Wichita Police non emergency line. Officers handle cars blocking a driveway from the street and cars left on a street. If WPD decides a car is abandoned, such as no tag or not moved for 48 hours, officers tag it with a green sticker and can have it towed after another 48 hours.

WPD policy also says officers won’t tow or arrange tows from private property, except in criminal cases. For a car on your lot, call a tow company.

How We Keep Your Tows Legal

• We check your signs against City rules before the first tow.
• We confirm who at your property can approve a tow.
• We photograph the car and where it was parked.
• We collect the details for the WPD report within the one hour window.
• We charge the car’s owner only what the City caps allow, with an itemized bill.

What Happens After a Car Is Towed?

1. The car goes to the tow company’s storage yard. Ours is at 4309 S Broadway.
2. The owner finds it by the name and phone number on your sign, or through the City’s FindMyCar search.
3. The owner brings a photo ID and registration and pays the capped fees to get it back.
4. If the car is never claimed, Kansas law lets the tow company hold it under a lien. A known owner gets notice within 15 days, and the company can sell it at auction after more notices.

Property Owners: Know Your Rights

You don’t need the driver’s permission to remove an unauthorized car from your private lot. You do need to follow the sign and reporting rules. A licensed local tow company that knows Wichita’s rules makes the process simple and protects you if a driver complains.

Miller’s offers one time removals and ongoing parking enforcement for apartment complexes, HOAs, churches, and businesses across Wichita. See our private property towing service or read our private property and abandoned vehicle FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost the property owner anything to tow a car from their lot?

No. In Wichita, the vehicle’s owner pays when they pick up the car, and City Code caps those fees. The property owner pays nothing for a lawful private property tow.

Who reports a private property tow to the police in Wichita?

Under Wichita City Code 11.99.030, the person who asked for the tow must notify the WPD Records Bureau within one hour. Our driver collects every detail you need for the report.

Can I tow a car parked on the street in front of my house?

No. Streets are public, so private tow rules don’t apply. Call the Wichita Police non emergency line. If the car is in your private driveway or yard without permission, a tow company can help.

What happens if the owner never picks up a towed car?

Kansas law lets the tow company hold the car under a lien. A known owner gets notice within 15 days. If the car still isn’t claimed, the company requests owner records from the Division of Vehicles and can sell it after more notices.