Davis is defined by UC Davis and a famously parking- and bike-conscious culture, with dense student housing where every space counts. California also has one of the strictest private-property towing statutes in the country, so getting enforcement right matters more here than almost anywhere.
What California law says about towing from private property
Private-property towing is governed by California Vehicle Code § 22658, which is unusually demanding:
- Signs must be posted at all entrances, at least 17 by 22 inches with one-inch lettering, prohibiting public parking and listing the local law-enforcement phone number plus the name and number of each authorized towing company.
- An owner generally cannot authorize a tow within one hour of a vehicle being parked, and the tow company must make a good-faith effort to confirm that hour passed.
- For general-authorization tows of cars blocking fire lanes, hydrants, or entrances, the tow company must photograph the violation before removal.
- Non-compliant signage exposes the property owner to double the towing and storage charges.
How Davis operators stay compliant and get paid
- Plate-level permits so authorization is an instant lookup before any tow is ordered.
- Timestamped permit records that help document the one-hour rule and prove a car was unauthorized.
- QR-code signage that lets students and guests self-register and pay.
Why Davis properties choose OpenParking
Guests scan a QR code, register their plate, and pay directly to you — your property keeps 100% of the parking revenue via Stripe. Five-minute setup, no contract, free to use — a small service fee is added to each permit sale and paid by the parker.
This page is general information about California parking enforcement, not legal advice. Confirm current Vehicle Code 22658 requirements with a California attorney or your local ordinance before towing.