If someone is parked in your assigned apartment spot in Houston, you usually cannot tow the car yourself. The path is the property manager (or HOA board, if it’s a condo) calling a TDLR-licensed Private Property (PP) operator under Texas Occupations Code §2308.301. The signs on the lot must comply with the statute, or the tow will be challengeable at a hearing.

Who actually has authority

In an apartment complex, the property owner is the apartment complex’s owner or operator. The property manager is the property owner’s authorized agent. The property manager is the only person who can authorize a private-property tow on the lot.

You, as a tenant with an assigned spot, have a lease right to your spot. But the right to authorize the tow (and the right to choose the operator) belongs to the property owner or their agent. You do not have the right to call a tow operator yourself.

If the property manager is unresponsive, escalate through the management company or the owner. If the car is blocking emergency access, call HPD non-emergency at (713) 884-3131 for guidance.

What the property manager does

The property manager (or their designee) handles the tow from start to finish:

  • Verifies that the unauthorized vehicle is, in fact, not authorized (no matching permit, no matching lease, no matching guest pass)
  • Confirms the signs on the lot are compliant under §2308.301
  • Calls a TDLR-licensed PP operator
  • Documents the authorization chain
  • Notifies the operator of any access notes (gate code, parking level, narrow street)

The operator arrives, photographs the signs (for the operator’s records), photographs the vehicle (for the operator’s records), then hooks and removes the vehicle. The property manager or designee may or may not be present, depending on the property’s policy.

What signs the lot needs

Under §2308.301, every compliant sign on the lot must be:

  • At least 18 inches wide by 24 inches tall
  • Mounted between 5 and 8 feet above the ground
  • Visible to a driver entering the lot
  • Placed at each driveway or curb cut (or every 25 feet along a wider entrance)
  • Weather-resistant and permanently mounted

The sign content must include the international tow-away symbol, who may park and who may not, the days and hours of enforcement, and a 24-hour phone number with area code.

If the signs are not compliant, the property manager should arrange sign installation first. A tow without compliant signs will be dismissed at the hearing.

What the operator charges

The operator’s fee is typically a quote (consent tow from the property owner’s perspective as the hiring party). The fee covers the operator’s trip, the hookup, and the tow to a licensed VSF. Storage at the VSF runs $22.85 per day for vehicles up to 25 ft, plus a TDLR-capped impoundment fee of up to $20 and notification fee of up to $50.

The vehicle’s owner pays the storage and VSF fees when they pick up the car. You do not pay the tow fee (the property owner does).

What you should do as the resident

  • Note the vehicle’s plate number, make, model, and color
  • Note the time you noticed the unauthorized parking
  • Take a photo with a timestamp
  • Contact the property manager (or use the property’s online portal) to report the issue
  • Do not confront the driver of the unauthorized vehicle
  • Do not place a note on the vehicle asking them to move (this can escalate)

The property manager handles the tow process. Your role is to document and report.

What if the property manager will not act

If the property manager will not authorize a tow after multiple complaints, escalate:

  • Ask for the property’s written parking enforcement policy
  • Put your complaint in writing (email or letter)
  • If the property is part of an HOA, attend the next HOA meeting and raise the issue
  • If the situation is severe (you cannot park at home, the unauthorized vehicle is a safety hazard), contact HPD non-emergency at (713) 884-3131

You have a lease right to your spot. If the property manager is failing to enforce, document the failures and escalate.

What if the unauthorized vehicle is a different tenant

If the unauthorized vehicle belongs to another tenant (a guest, a roommate, an ex), the property manager still has to follow the §2308.301 process. The signage controls whether the tow is authorized, not the relationship between the vehicle owner and the property.

The other tenant has the same hearing rights under Occ. Code §§2308.452, 2308.456. The property manager will need to show the compliant signs at the hearing.

What about guest parking spots

If the unauthorized vehicle is in a guest spot (rather than your assigned spot), the property manager still has authority to tow under the §2308.301 process. The same signs and operator apply. The same hearing rights apply to the vehicle owner.

Guest spots usually have shorter enforcement windows (a few hours, overnight). Confirm the property’s guest parking rules before reporting.

What about commercial lots

If you are a tenant of a commercial building (office, retail, warehouse) and someone is parked in your assigned spot, the building management handles the tow under the same §2308.301 process. The signs on the lot must comply. You do not call the operator directly.

For commercial lots, the property manager may have a more aggressive tow policy (immediate tow on first violation). Confirm with the property.

When the property owner or manager is the wrong party

If the unauthorized vehicle belongs to the property manager or their staff, escalate:

  • Document the vehicle’s plate and the times
  • Send a written complaint to the property owner (the management company’s regional or corporate office)
  • If the owner is unresponsive, contact the Texas Apartment Association or a tenant-rights attorney

The private-property tow path does not apply to property manager misconduct. That is a separate tenant-rights issue.

For help with the next steps if you are locked out of your assigned spot, call Quick Tow Houston at (281) 916-1288. The line takes calls around the clock. For the property owner’s procedure, see our property owner guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tow a car parked in my apartment spot in Houston? No. You do not have authority to authorize a private-property tow. The property manager does. Report the issue to the property manager.

Who pays the tow fee? The property owner pays the operator’s fee. The vehicle’s owner pays storage and VSF fees when they pick up the car.

How fast can the property manager tow? The property manager calls the operator on the call. Typical response times in the Houston metro are 20 to 60 minutes. The property manager can escalate if the operator is delayed.

What if the unauthorized vehicle belongs to a neighbor? The property manager still has to follow the §2308.301 process. The signage controls, not the relationship.

What if the property manager will not act? Document, escalate to the property owner or HOA board, and consider contacting HPD non-emergency if there is a safety issue.

Does the property manager have to give the other driver notice? For a private-property tow under §2308.301, the operator photographs the signs and the vehicle. No individual notice to the driver is required before the tow. The driver gets the hearing right after the fact.