STATUTORY REFERENCES
for
CALIFORNIA CITIES

These references direct the code user to those portions of the state statutes relevant to California cities. This reference list is current through April 2013, and will be periodically updated as statutes are revised.

General Provisions

Administrative fines and penalties

Gov’t Code § 53069.4

Alternative forms of government

Gov’t Code § 34851 et seq.1

Authority to adopt, amend, revise or repeal city charters

Cal. Const. Art. XI §§ 3 and 52

Citations for infractions and misdemeanors

Penal Code §§ 853.5853.85

Classifications of cities

Gov’t Code §§ 3410034102

Code adoption

Gov’t Code §§ 50022.150022.10

Conflict of interest code

Gov’t Code § 87100 et seq.

Elections

Gov’t Code §§ 34050 and 36503

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

Expedited judicial review of First Amendment cases

Civ. Proc. Code § 1094.8

False petitions

Gov’t Code § 34093

General powers

Gov’t Code § 37100 et seq.

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7

Imprisonment

Gov’t Code §§ 36901, 3690336904

Initiative and referendum

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7.5

Elec. Code §§ 9200 et seq., and 9235 et seq.

Judicial review of city decisions

Civ. Proc. Code § 1094.6

Ordinances

Gov’t Code § 36900 et seq.

Penalties for ordinance violations

Gov’t Code §§ 36900 and 36901

Police power

Cal. Const. Art. XI § 7

Procedure for enactment or revision of city charters

Gov’t Code § 34450 et seq.

Administration and Personnel

Chief of police

Gov’t Code § 41601 et seq.

City assessor

Gov’t Code § 41201 et seq.

City attorney

Gov’t Code § 41801 et seq.

City clerk

Gov’t Code § 40801 et seq.

City manager

Gov’t Code §§ 3485134859

City officers generally

Gov’t Code § 36501

City records

Gov’t Code §§ 3409034090.7

City treasurer

Gov’t Code § 41001 et seq.

Election of legislative body by districts

Gov’t Code § 34870 et seq.

Elective mayor

Gov’t Code §§ 3490034905

The California Emergency Services Act

Gov’t Code § 8550 et seq.

Fire department

Gov’t Code § 38611

Legislative body

Gov’t Code § 36801 et seq.

Local emergencies

Gov’t Code §§ 86308634

Local planning agencies

Gov’t Code § 65100 et seq.

Mayor

Gov’t Code §§ 3680136803, and 40601 et seq.3

Meetings (“Ralph M. Brown Act”)

Gov’t Code § 54950 et seq.

Peace officer standards and training

Penal Code § 13500 et seq.

Personnel system

Gov’t Code § 45000 et seq.

Retirement systems

Gov’t Code § 45300 et seq.

Revenue and Finance

Chartered city special assessment procedure

Gov’t Code § 432404

Claims against public entities

Gov’t Code § 900 et seq.

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

Pub. Cont. Code § 20100 et seq.

Development fees

Gov’t Code § 66000 et seq.

Financial powers

Gov’t Code § 37201 et seq.

Fiscal year in chartered cities

Gov’t Code § 43120

Graffiti prevention tax

Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 72877287.10

Local agency service fees and charges

Gov’t Code § 66012 et seq.

Property tax assessment, levy and collection

Gov’t Code § 43000 et seq.

Public works and public purchases

Gov’t Code § 4000 et seq.

Sales and use tax

Rev. & Tax. Code § 7200 et seq.

Gov’t Code § 37101

Special gas tax street improvement fund

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 2113

The Documentary Transfer Tax Act

Rev. & Tax. Code § 11901 et seq.

Transfer of tax function to county

Gov’t Code § 51500 et seq.

Transient occupancy tax

Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 72807283.51

Unclaimed property

Civ. Code § 2080 et seq.

Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act

Pub. Cont. Code § 22000 et seq.

Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations

Authority to license businesses

Gov’t Code § 37101

Bus. & Prof. Code § 16000 et seq.

Automatic checkout systems

Civ. Code § 7100 et seq.

Bingo

Penal Code § 326.5

Charitable solicitations

Bus. & Prof. Code § 17510 et seq.

Commercial filming

Gov’t Code § 65850.1

Community antenna television systems

Gov’t Code § 53066 et seq.

Gambling Control Act

Bus. & Prof. Code § 19800 et seq.

Massage parlors

Gov’t Code § 51030 et seq.

Private Investigator Act

Bus. & Prof. Code § 7512 et seq.

Taxicabs and vehicles for hire

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

Gov’t Code § 53075.5

Animals

Animals generally

Food & Agric. Code § 16301 et seq.

Cruelty to animals

Penal Code § 597 et seq.

Dangerous and vicious dogs

Food & Agric. Code § 31601 et seq.

Dogs and dog licenses

Gov’t Code § 38792

Food & Agric. Code § 30501 et seq.

Rabies control

Health & Safety Code § 121575 et seq.

Health and Safety

Delinquent garbage fees

Gov’t Code § 38790.1

Fire prevention

Health & Safety Code § 13000 et seq.

Fireworks

Health & Safety Code § 12500 et seq. (State Fireworks Law), § 12640 et seq. (Permits)

Garbage and refuse collection and disposal

Pub. Res. Code §§ 49300 and 49400

Gov’t Code § 38790

Graffiti abatement

Gov’t Code §§ 38772 and 53069.3

Hospitals

Gov’t Code § 37600 et seq.

Littering

Penal Code § 374

Noise control

Health & Safety Code § 46000 et seq.

Gov’t Code § 65302(f)

Nuisance abatement

Gov’t Code § 38771 et seq.

Penal Code §§ 370, 372 and 373a

Weed control

Gov’t 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

Penal Code § 261 et seq.

Crimes against the public peace

Penal Code § 403 et seq.

Minors

Penal Code §§ 853.6a and 858

Weapons

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

Vehicles and Traffic

Bicycles

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

Curb markings

Veh. Code § 21458

Establishments of crosswalks

Veh. Code § 21106

Local traffic rules and regulations

Veh. Code § 21100 et seq.

One-way street designations

Veh. Code § 21657

Pedestrian rights and duties

Veh. Code § 21949 et seq.

Penalties

Veh. Code § 40000.1 et seq.

Speed limits

Veh. Code § 22348 et seq.

Stopping, standing, and parking

Veh. Code § 22500 et seq.

Through highways

Veh. Code §§ 21101(b), 21353, and 21354

Traffic control devices

Veh. Code § 21350 et seq.

Traffic signs, signals and markings

Veh. Code § 21350 et seq.

Turning movements

Veh. Code § 22100 et seq.

Vehicle weight limits

Veh. Code § 35700 et seq.

Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places

Advertising displays

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

Constructions of sidewalks and curbs

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 5870 et seq.

Improvement Act of 1911

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 5000 et seq.

Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 22500 et seq.

Municipal parks

Pub. Res. Code § 5181 et seq.

Obstructions and encroachments of public ways

Gov’t Code § 38775

Tree Planting Act of 1931

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 22000 et seq.

Underground utility districts

Sts. & Hwys. Code § 5896.1 et seq.

Gov’t Code § 38793

Public Services

Connection fees

Gov’t Code § 66013

Municipal sewers

Gov’t Code § 38900 et seq.

Health & Safety Code § 5470 et seq.

Municipal water systems

Gov’t Code § 38730 et seq.

Water wells

Water Code § 13700 et seq.

Buildings and Construction

Adoption of construction codes

Health & Safety Code §§ 17922, 17958, and 17958.5

Authority to regulate buildings and construction

Gov’t Code §§ 38601(b) and 38660

Inspection warrants

Civ. Proc. Code § 1822.50 et seq.

Mobilehomes

Health & Safety Code § 18200 et seq.

Signs

Gov’t Code §§ 38774 and 65850(b)

Bus. & Prof. Code § 5229 et seq.

State Housing Law

Health & Safety Code § 17910 et seq.

Subdivisions

Subdivision Map Act

Gov’t Code § 66410 et seq.

Zoning

Family day care homes

Health & Safety Code § 1597.30 et seq.

Local authority to regulate land use

Gov’t Code § 65850

Local planning generally (“Planning and Zoning Law”)

Gov’t Code § 65000 et seq.

Local zoning administration

Gov’t Code § 65900 et seq.

Open-space zoning

Gov’t Code § 65910 et seq.

Zoning fees and charges

Gov’t Code § 66014

Environmental Protection

The California Environmental Quality Act

Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq.

The California Noise Control Act of 1973

Health & Safety Code § 46000 et seq.

Gov’t Code § 65302(f)


1

May not be applicable to chartered cities.


2

Applicable solely to chartered cities.


3

May not be applicable to chartered cities.


4

Applicable solely to chartered cities.