Private property towing. Done by the book.

Yes, when done right. Virginia law (Va. Code § 46.2-1231) requires clear signage at every lot entrance naming the towing company and posting the local law-enforcement non-emergency number, immediate notification of police when a vehicle is removed, and a comprehensive list of fees displayed at the main office and the recovery site. Virginia caps what any company can charge for a nonconsensual private-property tow: a statewide maximum of $210 for the initial hookup, plus up to a $30 after-hours or weekend surcharge, capped at two such fees, and no storage charge for the first 24 hours. Localities can set their own lower caps by ordinance, and Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield each do. No operator may charge outside the applicable schedule.

Yes. HOAs are the most common private-property client. The operator audits the existing signage, the parking rules get updated with the board, and a patrol schedule is set to fit the community. Board members do not make the call - the operator does, per the agreed rules. That keeps the board out of personal liability.

If there is a signed property management agreement with the operator, yes. The property manager (or a designated contact) calls, confirms the vehicle and the violation, and an operator responds. Without an agreement on file, no one can lawfully tow from a property they do not patrol.

They pay the release fee at the operator's lot and get the car back, with full paperwork. It should be rare - a tow only happens after the wait time and the sign check. If a resident calls in a good-faith mistake (permit in glove box, etc.), releases are handled professionally and the situation is documented. Property managers can also preauthorize per-vehicle exceptions.

That's a different process. The city's exclusive contracted tow company since 1992 is Seibert's Towing, and Richmond publishes a live towed-vehicle lookup at apps.richmondgov.com/applications/towviewing (make, model, color, partial plate). Questions go to Richmond's non-emergency line, (804) 646-5100. In Henrico or Chesterfield, a police-directed tow is handled by the county's own contracted operator - call Henrico Police non-emergency at (804) 501-5000 or Chesterfield Police non-emergency at (804) 748-1251 with your plate or case number. We're not affiliated with any of those city or county pounds, but if you need a tow once you retrieve the car, call us and we'll match you with an operator.