STATUTORY REFERENCES
FOR
CALIFORNIA CITIES

The statutory references listed below refer the code user to state statutes relevant to California cities. They are up to date through November 2016.

Administration and Personnel

California Emergency Services Act

Gov. Code § 8550 et seq.

Chief of police

Gov. Code § 41601 et seq.

City assessor

Gov. Code § 41201 et seq.

City attorney

Gov. Code § 41801 et seq.

City clerk

Gov. Code § 40801 et seq.

City manager

Gov. Code §§ 3485134859

City officers generally

Gov. Code § 36501

City records

Gov. Code §§ 3409034090.7

City treasurer

Gov. Code § 41001 et seq.

Election of legislative body by districts

Gov. Code § 34870 et seq.

Elective mayor

Gov. Code §§ 3490034905

Fire department

Gov. Code § 38611

Legislative body

Gov. Code § 36801 et seq.

Local emergencies

Gov. Code §§ 86308634

Local planning agencies

Gov. Code § 65100 et seq.

Mayor

Gov. Code §§ 3680136803 and 40601 et seq.

Meetings (“Ralph M. Brown Act”)

Gov. Code § 54950 et seq.

Peace officer standards and training

Penal Code § 13500 et seq.

Personnel system

Gov. Code § 45000 et seq.

Political activities of public employees

Gov. Code § 3201 et seq.

Removal from office

Gov. Code § 3000 et seq.

Retirement systems

Gov. Code § 45300 et seq.

Animals

Animals generally

Food and Agric. Code § 16301 et seq.

Cruelty to animals

Penal Code § 597 et seq.

Dangerous and vicious dogs

Food and Agric. Code § 31601 et seq.

Dogs and dog licenses

Gov. Code § 38792;

Food and Agric. Code § 30501 et seq.

Rabies control

Health and Saf. Code § 121575 et seq.

Buildings and Construction

Adoption of construction codes

Health and Saf. Code §§ 17922, 17958 and 17958.5

Authority to regulate buildings and construction

Gov. Code §§ 38601(b) and 38660

Development fees

Gov. Code § 66000 et seq.

Inspection warrants

Civil Pro. Code § 1822.50 et seq.

Mobile homes

Health and Saf. Code § 18200 et seq.

Signs

Gov. Code §§ 38774 and 65850(b);

Bus. and Prof. Code § 5229 et seq.

State Housing Law

Health and Saf. Code § 17910 et seq.

Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations

Authority to license businesses

Gov. Code § 37101;

Bus. and Prof. Code § 16000 et seq.

Automatic checkout systems

Civil Code § 7100 et seq.

Bingo

Penal Code § 326.5

Charitable solicitations

Bus. and Prof. Code § 17510 et seq.

Commercial filming

Gov. Code § 65850.1

Community antenna television systems

Gov. Code § 53066 et seq.

Gambling Control Act

Bus. and Prof. Code § 19800 et seq.

Massage parlors

Gov. Code § 51030 et seq.

Private Investigator Act

Bus. and Prof. Code § 7512 et seq.

Taxicabs and Vehicles for Hire

Vehicle Code §§ 16500 et seq., 21100(b) and 21112;

Gov. Code § 53075.5

Telecommunications facilities

Gov. Code § 50030

Environmental Protection

California Noise Control Act of 1973

Health and Saf. Code § 46000 et seq.;

Gov. Code § 65302(f)

Environmental Quality Act

Public Res. Code § 21000 et seq.

General Provisions

Administrative fines and penalties

Gov. Code § 53069.4

Alternative forms of government

Gov. Code § 34851 et seq.

Authority to adopt, amend, revise or repeal city charters

Cal. Const. Art. XI §§ 3 and 5

Citations for infractions and misdemeanors

Penal Code §§ 853.5853.85

Classifications of cities

Gov. Code §§ 3410034102

Code adoption

Gov. Code §§ 50022.150022.10

Conflict of Interest Code

Gov. Code § 87100 et seq.

Elections

Gov. Code §§ 34050 and 36503;

Elections Code §§ 1301, 9200 et seq. and 10100 et seq.

Eminent domain

Code of Civil Procedure § 1230.010 et seq.

Expedited judicial review of First Amendment cases

Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.8

False petitions

Gov. Code § 34093

General powers

Gov. Code § 37100 et seq.;

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7

Imprisonment

Gov. Code §§ 36901, 3690336904

Initiative and referendum

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7.5;

Elections Code §§ 9200 et seq. and 9235 et seq.

Judicial review of city decisions

Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.6

Ordinances

Gov. Code § 36900 et seq.

Penalties for ordinance violations

Gov. Code §§ 36900 and 36901

Police power

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7

Procedure for enactment or revision of city charters

Gov. Code § 34450 et seq.

Health and Safety

Delinquent garbage fees

Gov. Code § 38790.1

Fire prevention

Health and Saf. Code § 13000 et seq.

Fireworks

Health and Saf. Code §§ 12500 et seq. (State Fireworks Law) and 12640 et seq. (Permits)

Garbage and refuse collection and disposal

Public Resources Code §§ 49300 and 49400;

Gov. Code § 38790

Graffiti abatement

Gov. Code §§ 38772 and 53069.3

Hospitals

Gov. Code § 37600 et seq.

Littering

Penal Code § 374

Marijuana

Health and Saf. Code §§ 1135711362.9

Noise control

Health and Saf. Code § 46000 et seq. and Gov. Code § 65302(f)

Nuisance abatement

Gov. Code § 38771 et seq. and Penal Code §§ 370, 372 and 373a

Smoking

Labor Code § 6404.5

Weed control

Gov. Code § 3950139502

Public Peace, Morals and Welfare

Crimes against property

Penal Code § 450 et seq.

Crimes against public health and safety

Penal Code § 369a et seq.

Crimes against public justice

Penal Code § 92 et seq.

Crimes against the person

Penal Code § 187 et seq.

Crimes against the person involving sexual assault and against public decency and good morals

Penal Code § 261 et seq.

Crimes against the public peace

Penal Code § 403 et seq.

Minors

Penal Code § 858(b)

Weapons

Penal Code §§ 12001 et seq., 17500 et seq., and 19910 et seq.

Public Services

Connection fees

Gov. Code § 66013

Municipal sewers

Gov. Code § 38900 et seq.;

Health and Saf. Code § 5470 et seq.

Municipal water systems

Gov. Code § 38730 et seq.

Water wells

Water Code § 13700 et seq.

Revenue and Finance

Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law

Rev. and Tax. Code § 7200 et seq.;

Gov. Code § 37101

Chartered city special assessment procedure

Gov. Code § 43240

Claims against public entities

Gov. Code § 900 et seq.

Contracting by local agencies (“Local Agency Public Construction Act”)

Pub. Contract Code § 20100 et seq.

Development fees

Gov. Code § 66000 et seq.

Documentary Transfer Tax Act

Rev. and Tax. Code § 11901 et seq.

Financial powers

Gov. Code § 37200 et seq.

Fiscal year in chartered cities

Gov. Code § 43120

Graffiti prevention tax

Rev. and Tax. Code §§ 72877287.10

Local agency service fees and charges

Gov. Code § 66012 et seq.

Property tax assessment, levy and collection

Gov. Code § 43000 et seq.

Public works and public purchases

Gov. Code § 4000 et seq.

Special gas tax street improvement fund

Str. and Hwys. Code § 2113

Transfer of tax function to county

Gov. Code § 51500 et seq.

Transient occupancy tax

Rev. and Tax. Code §§ 72807283.51

Unclaimed property

Civil Code § 2080 et seq.

Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act

Pub. Contract Code § 22000 et seq.

Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places

Advertising displays

Bus. and Prof. Code §§ 5230, 5231 and 5440 et seq.

Charitable solicitations

Bus. and Prof. Code § 17510 et seq.

Construction of sidewalks and curbs

Str. and Hwys. Code § 5870 et seq.

Improvement Act of 1911

Str. and Hwys. Code § 5000 et seq.

Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972

Str. and Hwys. Code § 22500 et seq.

Municipal parks

Public Res. Code § 5181 et seq.

Obstructions and encroachments on public ways

Gov. Code § 38775

Tree Planting Act of 1931

Str. and Hwys. Code § 22000 et seq.

Underground utility districts

Str. and Hwys. Code § 5896.1 et seq.;

Gov. Code § 38793

Subdivisions

Subdivision Map Act

Gov. Code § 66410 et seq.

Vehicles and Traffic

Bicycles

Vehicle Code §§ 21100(h), 21206 and 39000 et seq.

Curb markings

Vehicle Code § 21458

Establishment of crosswalks

Vehicle Code § 21106

Local traffic rules and regulations

Vehicle Code § 21100 et seq.

One-way street designations

Vehicle Code § 21657

Pedestrian rights and duties

Vehicle Code § 21949 et seq.

Penalties

Vehicle Code § 40000.1 et seq.

Speed limits

Vehicle Code § 22348 et seq.

Stopping, standing and parking

Vehicle Code § 22500 et seq.

Through highways

Vehicle Code §§ 21101(b), 21353, 21354

Traffic control devices

Vehicle Code § 21350 et seq.

Traffic signs, signals and markings

Vehicle Code § 21350 et seq.

Turning movements

Vehicle Code § 22100 et seq.

Vehicle weight limits

Vehicle Code § 35700 et seq.

Zoning

Family day care homes

Health and Saf. Code § 1597.30 et seq.

Local authority to regulate land use

Gov. Code § 65850

Local planning generally (“Planning and Zoning Law”)

Gov. Code § 65000 et seq.

Local zoning administration

Gov. Code § 65900 et seq.

Open-space zoning

Gov. Code § 65910 et seq.

Zoning fees and charges

Gov. Code § 66014