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
City officers generally
Gov. Code § 36501
City records
City treasurer
Gov. Code § 41001 et seq.
Election of legislative body by districts
Gov. Code § 34870 et seq.
Elective mayor
Fire department
Gov. Code § 38611
Legislative body
Gov. Code § 36801 et seq.
Local emergencies
Local planning agencies
Gov. Code § 65100 et seq.
Mayor
Gov. Code §§ 36801 – 36803 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
Classifications of cities
Code adoption
Gov. Code §§ 50022.1 – 50022.10
Conflict of Interest Code
Gov. Code § 87100 et seq.
Elections
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, 36903 – 36904
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
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 §§ 11357 – 11362.9
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
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 §§ 7287 – 7287.10
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 §§ 7280 – 7283.51
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