Earlier editions: 2026-09
Municipal code
Arcata Municipal Code
The enacted municipal code of Arcata, California, as published — every title, chapter, and section, verbatim and citable.
- Last updated
- 2026-10-05
- Contents
- 690 sections
- Jurisdiction
- Arcata
Contents
▸Title I — GENERAL PROVISIONS
▸Title II — ADMINISTRATION
Overview- Chapter 1 — COUNCIL
▸Chapter 3 — BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES Revised 6/26
Overview- Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — PLANNING COMMISSION
- Article 5 — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Article 7 — PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
- Article 8 — FOREST MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
- Article 9 — WETLANDS AND CREEKS COMMITTEE
- Article 10 — TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMITTEE
- Article 14 — ENERGY COMMITTEE
- Article 15 — TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
- Article 16 — HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMITTEE
▸Chapter 4 — FISCAL ADMINISTRATION Revised 9/26
- Chapter 6 — EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
- Chapter 7 — UNCLAIMED PROPERTY IN THE POSSESSION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
▸Chapter 8 — CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE
- Chapter 10 — CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS Revised 3/26
- Chapter 11 — CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY
▸Title III — PUBLIC SAFETY
Overview- Chapter 1 — FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE PROTECTION
▸Chapter 2 — TRAFFIC REGULATION
Overview- Article 1 — DEFINITIONS
- Article 2 — ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
- Article 3 — TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES
- Article 4 — TURNING MOVEMENTS
- Article 5 — ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS
- Article 6 — SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRED
- Article 7 — MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
- Article 8 — PEDESTRIAN
- Article 9 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
- Article 10 — STOPPING FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING ONLY
- Article 11 — STOPPING, STANDING OR PARKING RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED ON CERTAIN STREETS
- Article 12 — RESTRICTED USE OF CERTAIN STREETS
- Article 13 — MISCELLANEOUS
- Article 14 — BICYCLES
- Article 15 — SKATEBOARDS
- Article 16 — PREFERENTIAL PERMIT PARKING
- Chapter 3 — FALSE ALARMS
- Chapter 4 — REGULATION OF THE SALE, PURCHASE, AND POSSESSION OF BUTANE
- Chapter 5 — REGULATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
- Chapter 6 — SAFE FIREARM STORAGE
- Chapter 7 — MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY
▸Title IV — PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS AND CONDUCT
Overview▸Chapter 1 — AMUSEMENTS
▸Chapter 2 — OTHER VIOLATIONS
Overview- Article 1 — OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC
- Article 2 — FIREARMS
- Article 3 — SPITTING
- Article 4 — CURFEW
- Article 5 — BINGO
- Article 6 — ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY
- Article 7 — DISRUPTING A BUSINESS
- Article 8 — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
- Article 9 — SITTING OR LYING ON SIDEWALKS, OBSTRUCTING MOVEMENT
- Article 10 — UNLAWFUL PANHANDLING
- Article 11 — NITROUS OXIDE REGULATIONS
▸Chapter 3 — NOISE IN THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA AREA
▸Chapter 4 — OTHER NOISE RESTRICTIONS
- Chapter 5 — DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS
- Chapter 6 — SAFEGUARDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS, SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF ALL ARCATA RESIDENTS
▸Title V — SANITATION & HEALTH
Overview▸Chapter 1 — GENERAL SANITATION
▸Chapter 3 — SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Chapter 4 — REMOVAL OF WEEDS AND REFUSE
- Chapter 4.5 — PEST CONTROL
- Chapter 5 — ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES Revised 9/26
- Chapter 6 — REMOVAL OF ABANDONED VEHICLES
- Chapter 7 — RESTRICTING SMOKING IN THE CITY Revised 7/26
- Chapter 8 — UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
- Chapter 9 — ARCATA NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE ZONE ACT
- Chapter 10 — CANNABIS USE AND REGULATIONS Revised 7/26
- Chapter 11 — GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISMS
▸Title VI — BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND TRADES
Overview▸Chapter 1 — BUSINESS LICENSE TAX
▸Chapter 2 — BUSINESS REGULATION
- Chapter 3 — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
▸Chapter 4 — CABLE SYSTEMS AND OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS
- Chapter 5 — AMBULANCES
▸Chapter 6 — MOBILEHOME PARK REGULATIONS
▸Title VII — PUBLIC WORKS
Overview▸Chapter 1 — STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
▸Chapter 2 — SEWERS Revised 9/26
Overview- Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — USE OF POTW REQUIRED, SEWER CONSTRUCTION IN GENERAL
- Article 3 — BUILDING SEWERS, LATERAL SEWERS AND CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS
- Article 4 — NEW PUBLIC SEWER CONSTRUCTION
- Article 5 — INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF BUILDING SEWERS AND PRIVATE SEWERS AT TIME OF SALE
- Article 6 — GENERAL SEWER USE REQUIREMENTS
- Article 7 — INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT OF WASTEWATER
- Article 8 — WASTEWATER USER CHARGES AND FEES
- Article 9 — ENFORCEMENT
▸Chapter 3 — WATER Revised 9/26
Overview- Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Article 3 — NOTICES
- Article 4 — APPLICATION FOR REGULAR WATER SERVICE
- Article 5 — MAIN EXTENSIONS
- Article 6 — GENERAL USE REGULATIONS
- Article 7 — METERS
- Article 8 — BILLING
- Article 9 — DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE
- Article 10 — COLLECTION
- Article 11 — PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION
- Article 12 — PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE
- Article 13 — TEMPORARY SERVICE
- Article 14 — RATES
- Article 15 — FLUORIDATION
- Article 16 — BACKFLOW PREVENTION
- Chapter 4 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
▸Chapter 5 — STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Overview- Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — DRAINAGE DEVELOPMENT FEE
- Article 3 — STORMWATER DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE FEE
- Article 4 — STORMWATER DRAINAGE FUND
- Article 5 — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
- Article 6 — STORMWATER DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE FEE SCHEDULE
- Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — PROHIBITION OF DISCHARGES INTO STORMWATER DRAINAGE FACILITIES
- Article 3 — BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
- Article 4 — COMPLIANCE MONITORING, VIOLATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER REMEDIES
- Article 5 — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
▸Title VIII — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Overview- Chapter 1 — BUILDING CODES Revised 3/26
▸Chapter 2 — HOUSE MOVING
▸Chapter 3 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 4 — FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION STANDARDS
- Chapter 5 — RESIDENTIAL RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM Revised 9/26
- Chapter 6 — ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION (EVCS) PERMIT STREAMLINING
▸Title IX — PLANNING AND ZONING
▸Title X — PUBLIC PROPERTY
Overview- Chapter 1 — PARKS AND GROUNDS
- Chapter 2 — USE OF CITY PROPERTY FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES
▸Chapter 3 — REGULATIONS FOR USE OF THE ARCATA MARSH AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
- Chapter 4 — REGULATIONS FOR USE OF THE ALDERGROVE MARSH
▸Article 1 — Land Use Code Applicability
▸Article 2 — Zoning Districts & Allowable Land Uses
▸Article 3 — Site Planning and Project Design Standards
▸Article 4 — Standards for Specific Land Uses
▸Article 5 — Resource Management
Overview- Chapter 9.50 — Agricultural Preservation - Right-to-Farm
- Chapter 9.52 — Hillside Development
- Chapter 9.53 — Historic Resource Preservation
- Chapter 9.54 — Resource Conservation
- Chapter 9.56 — Solar Siting and Solar Access
- Chapter 9.58 — Tree Preservation and Hazardous Tree Removal
- Chapter 9.59 — Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas Protection and Preservation
▸Article 6 — Site Development Regulations
▸Article 7 — Planning Permit Procedures
▸Article 8 — Subdivision Regulations and Procedures
Overview- Chapter 9.80 — Applicability and Administration of Subdivision Regulations
- Chapter 9.81 — Tentative Map Filing and Processing
- Chapter 9.82 — Parcel Maps and Final Maps
- Chapter 9.84 — Additional Subdivision Procedures Revised 5/25
- Chapter 9.86 — Dedications and Exactions
- Chapter 9.88 — Subdivision Design and Improvement Requirements
▸Article 9 — Land Use Code Administration
▸Article 10 — Glossary
▸Article 11 — Gateway Code