Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 1108-4 Unclaimed Property

Except as otherwise provided by state or federal laws, and pursuant to the provisions of California Civil Code Section 2080.4, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to the care, restitution, sale or destruction of unclaimed property.

(Ord. 68-15 § 2 (part), 1968: prior code § 2671.1).

Property received by the sheriff from a person who has found or saved it and who has complied with the provisions of Civil Code Section 2080.1 may be claimed by such finder if no owner has appeared and proved ownership within ninety days. Such claim shall be made no later than ten days after the expiration of the ninety-day period. Upon satisfactory proof that the finder has published, after the expiration of the ninety-day period, a notice of the found property in a newspaper of general circulation published in this county, and upon payment of reasonable storage costs, the sheriff shall, if the property remains unclaimed by the owner for an additional ten days from the date of publication of the notice, transfer the property to the finder. This section shall not apply to property found in the course of employment by an employee of any public agency.

(Ord. 68-15, § 2 (part), 1968; prior code § 2671.3).

The sheriff shall store and provide for the care, restitution, sale, or destruction of personal property coming into the sheriff's possession and unclaimed by the owner, pursuant to this chapter and California Civil Code Sections 2080 and following.

(Ord. No. 2024-23, § III(Exh. A), 12-3-24; Ords. 83-64, § 3, 68-15 § 2; 11084.004: prior code §§ 2671.2, 2671.4: Ord. 983).

Any unclaimed property for which no bids were received at public auction, perishable goods, property which is dangerous in itself, and property which is contrary to public policy for the sheriff to retain shall be disposed of in the manner that the sheriff in the public interest may determine. This chapter shall not apply to property subject to confiscation or special disposition under state or federal law.

(Ord. 68-15 § 2 (part), 1968: prior code § 2671.5).

Any unclaimed pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, which has been stored by the sheriff pursuant to Section 1108-4.008, shall be disposed of in the manner that the sheriff in the public interest may determine.

(Ord. 68-15 § 2 (part), 1968: prior code § 2671.6).

Toys and bicycles in the possession of the sheriff, which have been unclaimed for a period of at least three months, instead of being sold at public auction to the highest bidder, pursuant to the provisions of Section 1108-4.008, may be turned over to the county probation officer for use by the county probation officer in any program of activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code § 516.

(Ord. No. 2024-23, § III(Exh. A), 12-3-24; Ord. 68-15 § 2 (part), 1968: prior code § 2671.7).