The City of San José provides tow support to Tow-Away Permit customers for the following purposes:

• Construction work can require the reservation of city streets or parking meters
• Events can require the reservation of city streets or parking meters
• Individuals might require the reservation of city streets or parking meters for moving pods, moving trucks, and large residential events/gatherings

1. Tow-Away Permit applications can be sent as attachments via email to DOTPermits@sanjoseca.gov.
2. When submitting a Tow-Away Permit application, please take extra care to include correct information for each of the following. Missing or inaccurate information may cause a delay in processing time:
• Dates
• Meter information
• Number of signs requested
• Phone number for your payment contact.
3. Processing time may vary depending on the complexity of the permit, missing or inaccurate information, if further information is required, and/or the volume of permit requests. For expedited processing, we suggest actively keeping an eye on your email for correspondence from DOT Staff.
4. Once your application is approved, DOT staff will call your payment contact to process payment over the phone and will arrange a pick-up appointment for the Tow-Away signs. If paying via check or cash, payments can be made in person at City Hall 1st floor Cashier Desk.
5. Tow-Away signs may be picked up at the 7th floor of City Hall with a pre-arranged appointment.

Encroachment Permits

Encroachment Permits are issued by the Department of Public Works to private developers or residents who perform work in the public’s right-of-way. An Encroachment Permit must be issued first by Public Works before a Tow-Away Permit application can be submitted to the Department of Transportation.

Visit the City's Encroachment Permits webpage for more information.

Contact Public Works at PWPermitHelp@sanjoseca.gov.

Lane Closure Permits

Lane Closure Permits are issued for construction/maintenance or special events, that require closing a lane, highway, road, etc.

Lane Closure Permit for Construction

The contractor needs to obtain an Encroachment Permit from Public Works, and if there will be a lane closure in the downtown area, they will also need to complete the Downtown Lane Closure Request Form with the Transportation Event Coordinators.

Lane Closure Permit for Special Events

If there is a special event, the organizer needs to first contact the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and if there is a street closure as part of the event, then the organizer will need to obtain a Street Closure Permit from SJPD. If the special event needs a Tow Away Permit number, the organizer will need to obtain a Tow-Away Permit number from the Transportation Event Coordinators before submitting application to DOTPermits@sanjoseca.gov.

Special Events Lane Closure Contacts

• Email the SJPD Permit Unit at OCAApplication@sanjoseca.gov
• Email the Office of Cultural Affairs at CulturalAffairs@sanjoseca.gov
• Complete a Street Closure Application

Tow-Away Permits for Events

Please contact a Transportation Event Coordinator via email for a permit number for the event. The permit number needs to be placed on the Tow-Away application. The Tow-Away Permit number for the event must be obtained in advance before submitting a Tow-Away Permit application to DOTPermits@sanjoseca.gov.

Transportation Event Coordinators

• Matthew Tuupo
  • matthew.tuupo@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-975-3256
• Christopher Ayala
  • christopher.ayala@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-535-3501
• Giovanni Caravez
  • giovanni.caravez@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-975-3203

Storage Container is on street less than 72 hours

If a storage container is on the street for less than 72 hours, a Tow-Away Permit may only be needed if space needs to be reserved on the street for the storage container/pod. If there are parking meters or posted restrictions in the space where the storage container will be, it will automatically require a Tow-Away Permit.

Storage Container is on street 72 hours or more

If a storage container is on the street 72 hours or more, an Encroachment Permit from Public Works is required to place the pod on the street for that duration of time. A Tow-Away Permit may also be needed to reserve the street space for the storage container/ pod. If there are parking meters in the space where the storage container will be, it will automatically require a Tow-Away Permit. An Encroachment Permit must be issued first by Public Works before a Tow-Away Permit application can be submitted to the Department of Transportation.

Encroachment Permits

Encroachment Permits are issued by Public Works to private developers or residents who perform work in the public’s right-of-way. An Encroachment Permit must be issued first by Public Works before a Tow-Away Permit can be issued by the Department of Transportation.

Visit the City's Encroachment Permits webpage for more information.

Contact Public Works at PWPermitHelp@sanjoseca.gov.

• Administrative Processing Fee: $55
• Material Fees (Tow-Away Signs): $.86 each, plus tax
• Lost Meter Revenue: $8 per meter per day. We do not charge for Sundays or holidays.

Six months. If renewed before expiration date, Tow-Away Permits can be extended for an additional six months one time** (**Other applicable charges may apply- meters, signs, etc.).

Additional streets will require a brand-new permit and application.

If renewed before expiration date, a Tow-Away Permit can be extended for an additional six months one time** (Other applicable charges may apply including meters, signs, etc.).

Additional streets will require a brand-new permit and application.

If the permit was previously extended, a new application will need to be submitted with payment.

If the permit has expired, a new application will need to be submitted with payment.

Please contact a Transportation Event Coordinator via email for a permit number for the event. The permit number needs to be placed on the Tow-Away application. The Tow-Away Permit number for the event must be obtained in advance before submitting a Tow-Away Permit application to DOTPermits@sanjoseca.gov.

Transportation Event Coordinators

• Matthew Tuupo
  • matthew.tuupo@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-975-3256
• Christopher Ayala
  • christopher.ayala@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-535-3501
• Giovanni Caravez
  • giovanni.caravez@sanjoseca.gov
  • 408-975-3203

Meter heads may need to be removed from the pole if the work involves oversized equipment that may damage the meter or construction that requires the meter to be removed. A $100 fee is assessed for each meter head that needs to be removed.

Meter poles may need to be removed if the work involves oversized equipment that may damage the meter pole or construction that requires the meter to be removed. A $240 fee is assessed for each meter pole that needs to be removed.

Meter removal notification needs to be given to the Permit Center staff during the application process. After being issued a Tow-Away Permit that requires meter head or poll removal, customers are responsible for contacting the Parking Division at (408) 534-2922 to schedule the parking meter removal/replacement. Customer may be billed for additional work by the Parking Division staff.

• Meter Head Removal: $100 per head
• Meter Pole Removal: $240 per pole