A private property sign in Oregon is enforceable for tow-away purposes when it satisfies ORS 98.812 "reasonably calculated to provide notice" -- which in practice means the sign is posted at the property entrance, identifies the property as private, names the consequence (typically tow-away), references the statute, and is visible from the driver's normal sight line. Oregon's tow statute does not specify exact dimensions or font, but case law and tow-contractor practice converge on a 12 by 18 inch minimum sign with 3 inch letters, mounted at 7 feet to bottom of sign, posted at every entrance and at intervals along the property boundary.
This guide walks the wording, posting density, and photo-evidence chain our crew at Cojo references on every commercial private-property tow signage install across Oregon. It covers what the law requires, what tow contractors actually accept, and the failure modes that get a tow contested in court.
What does ORS 98.812 actually require?
ORS 98.812 is the Oregon statute that authorizes tow-away of unauthorized vehicles from private property. The relevant text:
- The owner or person in charge of private property may have a vehicle removed if the vehicle is on the property without permission
- The property must be posted with signs that are reasonably calculated to provide notice
- The signs must be conspicuously posted at all entrances or at intervals along the property boundary
- The signs must include the name and telephone number of the towing company
The statute does not specify sign dimensions, letter height, sheeting grade, or post height. Those specifications come from case law interpreting "reasonably calculated to provide notice" and from the Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 137 division 9 governing the tow-contractor industry.
What language does an ORS 98.812 sign need?
The statute does not mandate exact wording, but tow contractors and most case law accept this minimum:
- "PRIVATE PROPERTY"
- "NO PARKING" or "PARKING BY PERMIT ONLY" or equivalent restriction
- "VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED AT VEHICLE OWNER'S EXPENSE"
- "PER ORS 98.812"
- Tow company name and 24-hour phone number
A typical compliant sign legend reads:
> PRIVATE PROPERTY > NO PARKING > VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE > PER ORS 98.812 > Acme Towing -- 503-555-1234
Some Oregon municipalities require additional language. Portland Title 16.20 and Salem Chapter 79 both have private-property tow ordinances that layer additional posting requirements on top of ORS 98.812.
Where does the sign need to be posted?
ORS 98.812 requires posting at "all entrances or at intervals along the property boundary." Tow-contractor practice and case law have settled on this hierarchy:
- At every vehicular entrance to the property. A sign at the primary entrance and any secondary entrances. Missing one entrance is the most common reason tows get contested.
- At intervals not exceeding 100 feet along the property frontage. This applies to longer commercial frontage where vehicles can enter at multiple unmarked points.
- At every accessible stall. ADA stalls require their own signage per Std 502.6 -- not a substitute for property-wide tow signage but a layered requirement.
For a 14,000 square foot Salem retail center we restriped in March 2026, we posted 6 ORS 98.812 signs: 2 at the two vehicular entrances, 3 along the 220 foot Court Street frontage at 70 foot intervals, and 1 at the rear delivery alley. Tow contractor signed off on the layout. Property manager has had zero contested tows in 14 months.
What size and grade does the sign need to be?
The statute is silent on dimensions, but practical spec converges on:
| Spec element | Standard for ORS 98.812 enforceability |
|---|---|
| Sign size minimum | 12 x 18 inches |
| Sign size for high-volume entries | 18 x 24 inches |
| Letter height (primary legend) | 3 inches minimum |
| Letter height (statute citation, phone number) | 1.5 to 2 inches |
| Sheeting grade | ASTM D4956 Type III HIP |
| Mount height to bottom of sign | 7 feet minimum |
| Background color | White |
| Legend color | Black with red "PRIVATE PROPERTY" header (most common) |
How does ORS 98.812 connect to the tow-contractor licensing rules?
Oregon-licensed tow contractors operate under Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 137 division 9 and report to the Oregon Department of Transportation Towing Board. Tow companies will not perform a tow under ORS 98.812 unless they verify:
- The property has compliant signage at every entrance
- The signage includes the tow company's correct name and phone number
- The property owner has signed the tow contract authorizing the tow
- Photo evidence of the violation including the parked vehicle and the visible signage
Tow companies that perform tows on properties with non-compliant signage face license revocation. This is why tow contractors in Oregon are specific about the sign wording before they will sign a property-management tow contract.
What about ADA stalls and tow enforcement?
ADA stalls have their own enforcement statute -- ORS 811.615 -- which covers civil and criminal penalties for parking in a designated disabled stall without proper placard. ADA stalls can also be enforced under ORS 98.812 for general no-permit-no-park enforcement, but the disability-specific tow process under ORS 811.615 is what most Oregon tow contractors execute on ADA violations.
Practical sign layering at an ADA stall:
- R7-8 reserved-parking sign with International Symbol of Accessibility (ADA Std 502.6 mandatory)
- R7-8a "Van Accessible" add-on at van-accessible stalls (ADA Std 502.6.1 mandatory)
- Optional ORS 811.615 tow-warning supplement ("DISABLED PARKING -- VIOLATORS SUBJECT TO TOW PER ORS 811.615")
The ORS 811.615 supplement is not federally required but is widely used in Oregon for stronger enforceability.
What about the photo-evidence chain?
Tow contractors require photo evidence of the violation showing both the unauthorized vehicle and a clearly visible private-property sign. Property managers should support the chain by:
- Maintaining sign visibility (no overgrown vegetation, no blocked sight lines)
- Replacing damaged or faded signs promptly
- Keeping a maintenance log of sign installations and replacements with dates and photos
- Confirming tow company name and phone number on all signs after any tow contractor change
A tow that proceeds without photo evidence of the sign is unenforceable in small claims court. Tow companies know this and refuse the tow if signage is questionable.
Industry Baseline Range
| Sign configuration | Cost per sign |
|---|---|
| 12 x 18 ORS 98.812 sign HIP Type III | $42 to $68 |
| 18 x 24 ORS 98.812 sign HIP Type III | $58 to $92 |
| 12 x 18 with custom tow company info screen-printed | $52 to $84 |
| Combined ADA + ORS 811.615 tow-warning at accessible stall | $94 to $142 |
| Sign post and footing (installed) | $244 to $410 |
| Full-property package (6 signs + 4 posts + footings) | $1,580 to $2,840 |
Current Market Reality
Custom screen-print pricing for tow company name and phone number runs flat at minimum order quantities of 10 units, which is why bundling sign refresh with restripe campaigns saves the property manager money. Mobilization and locate-call cost is the same on a 1-sign install or a 6-sign install -- the per-unit savings on a multi-sign install cycle is meaningful. Reflective sheeting climbs of 4 to 6 percent annually flow through to per-sign cost.
Common ORS 98.812 sign mistakes
- Posting "PRIVATE PROPERTY -- NO PARKING" without the tow company name and phone number. Tow companies will not execute a tow against the sign.
- Missing entrance. A sign at the primary entrance but not the secondary entrance creates an unenforceable zone.
- Letter height under 3 inches on the primary legend. Case law has held smaller letters not "reasonably calculated to provide notice."
- Mount height under 7 feet. Parked vehicles block the sign from incoming drivers.
- Stale tow company info after the property manager changes contractors. Old phone number on the sign breaks the photo-evidence chain.
- Faded sheeting that drops below FHWA minimum maintained retroreflectivity. Renders the sign unenforceable at night.
For property managers running portfolios across Portland, Salem, and Eugene, our crew bundles ORS 98.812 signage with private property sign installation Portland and similar city-page services. See the parking sign buyer's guide for category selection.
Real install reference -- Eugene multi-tenant retail
In January 2026, our crew installed ORS 98.812 signage on an 11,000 square foot Eugene retail strip with a recurring trespass-parking issue from a neighboring bar. The property had no tow signage. The owner had been unable to enforce against weekend overnight parkers.
Spec delivered:
- 4 ORS 98.812 signs at 18 x 24 HIP Type III at the two vehicular entrances and along the 180 foot Willamette Street frontage
- "PRIVATE PROPERTY -- TENANT PARKING ONLY -- VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE -- PER ORS 98.812 -- Acme Towing 541-555-2300"
- 7 foot post-mount on hot-dip galvanized 2.375 inch round posts
- 1 ORS 811.615 supplementary sign at the lot's single ADA stall
Total: $1,940 installed. First weekend after install, two cars towed. Trespass-parking has dropped to roughly 2 events per quarter from 3 to 4 per week.
ORS 98.812 private-property sign FAQ
What language do I need on a private property tow-away sign in Oregon? "PRIVATE PROPERTY -- NO PARKING -- VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE -- PER ORS 98.812" is the standard legend, with the tow company name and 24-hour phone number below. The tow company name and phone are required by ORS 98.812 -- without them the sign does not satisfy the statute and tow contractors will not execute a tow.
How many private property signs do I need on my parking lot? At minimum, one at every vehicular entrance. Longer commercial frontage requires additional signs at intervals not exceeding 100 feet along the boundary. A 14,000 square foot retail center with two entrances and 220 feet of street frontage typically needs 5 to 7 signs total.
Do I need a permit to install a private property sign in Oregon? Most Oregon municipalities do not require a permit for parking-related private-property signs on private commercial property. Portland Title 32 and Salem Chapter 79 cover sign permitting but exempt regulatory parking signs from most permit triggers. Locate-call notice through 811 is required by ORS 757.541 for any post installation regardless of permit status.
What's the difference between an ORS 98.812 sign and an ORS 811.615 sign? ORS 98.812 governs general private-property tow-away authority -- the standard "PRIVATE PROPERTY -- VIOLATORS TOWED" sign at every entrance. ORS 811.615 governs Oregon-specific tow authority for parking in a designated disabled stall without a placard. Most Oregon properties post an ORS 98.812 sign at the entrance and a supplementary ORS 811.615 sign at every accessible stall.
Why won't my tow contractor execute a tow even though I have signs posted? The most common reason is the sign does not include the tow company's current name and phone number, which is required by ORS 98.812. Other reasons include missing entrance, mount height under 7 feet, sign faded or vandalized to illegibility, or a property-line dispute about whether the parked vehicle is actually on private property. Verify all four with the tow contractor before assuming the sign is the issue.