Culver City Municipal Code Ch. 13.02 Offenses Against Property

Section

General Provisions

Trespass on Property

Signs

Cross-reference:

Graffiti, see §§ 9.04.200 through 9.04.270

Zoning regulations for signs, see Chapter 17.330

GENERAL PROVISIONS

It shall be unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge of any premises to keep and maintain such premises in a manner at variance with the landscaping and maintenance standards of surrounding property, thereby causing substantial diminution in the enjoyment, use, or property values of the property in the neighborhood in which such premises are located.

('65 Code, § 23-1) (Ord. No. CS-432)

It shall be unlawful for any person to enter any place of amusement where admission is required without paying the required amount thereof, unless such person is a guest of the owner or manager thereof or a lawfully acting law enforcement officer.

('65 Code, § 23-2) (Ord. No. CS-38)

A. Definitions. For purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

LAUNDRY CART. A basket mounted on wheels and used by a customer or an attendant in a coin-operated laundry or dry cleaning retail establishment to transport fabrics and the supplies necessary to process them.

PARKING AREA. A parking lot or other property provided by a retailer for use by a customer for parking an automobile or other vehicle.

SHOPPING CART. A basket mounted on wheels or a similar device generally used by a customer in a retail establishment to transport goods of any kind.

B. Application. The provisions of this Section shall apply when a shopping cart or a laundry cart has a sign permanently affixed to it that: identifies the owner of the cart or the retailer, or both; notifies the public of the procedure to be utilized for authorized removal of the cart from the premises; notifies the public that the unauthorized removal of the cart from the premises or parking area of the retail establishment, or the unauthorized possession of the cart, is a violation of state law; and lists a valid telephone number or address for returning the cart removed from the premises or parking area to the owner or retailer.

C. Prohibitions. If a shopping cart or laundry cart has a permanently affixed sign, as provided in § 13.02.015B., it is unlawful to do any of the following acts:

1. To remove a shopping cart or laundry cart from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart;

2. To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart that has been removed from the premises or the parking area of a retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart;

3. To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart with serial numbers removed, obliterated or altered, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart;

4. To leave or abandon a shopping cart or laundry cart at a location other than the premises or parking area of the retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart;

5. To alter, convert or tamper with a shopping cart or laundry cart, or to remove any part or portion thereof, or to remove, obliterate or alter serial numbers on a cart, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart;

6. To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart while that cart is not located on the premises or parking lot of a retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

D. Consent. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the owner of a shopping cart or laundry cart, or to a retailer, or their agents or employees, or to a customer of a retail establishment who has written consent from the owner of a shopping cart or laundry cart or a retailer to be in possession of the shopping cart or laundry cart, or to remove the shopping cart or laundry cart from the premises or the parking area of the retail establishment, or to do any of the acts specified in § 13.02.015C.

E. Cart ownership. In any criminal proceeding, it may be inferred that any shopping cart or laundry cart, which has a sign affixed to it pursuant to § 13.02.015B., is the property of the person or business named in the sign, and has not been abandoned by the person or business named in the sign.

F. Violations. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

G. Application of other laws. The provisions of this Section are not intended to preclude the application of any other laws relating to prosecution for theft.

(Ord. No. 2005-014, § 1)

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to repair or do any work, or cause or permit the same to be done, on any automobile or other vehicle, as defined in Cal. Ve. Code § 670, at any time anywhere within the residential zones of the City of Culver City, to wit: Zones R-1, Ra, R-2, R-3 and R-4, except as follows:

1. Reasonable washing, cleaning and polishing of a vehicle is permitted on the property of the owner or tenant in whose name the vehicle is registered.

2. Minor repairs may be performed on a vehicle if conducted either within an enclosed garage or on the driveway area of the property of the owner or tenant in whose name the vehicle undergoing minor repair is registered, and provided:

a. No such minor repair work shall involve repetitive testings of an operating engine.

b. No more than one (1) vehicle may be repaired at or during the same period of time.

c. No such minor repair work shall be performed on any vehicle other than between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the period when Daylight Saving Time is observed.

d. No such minor repair work shall be performed on any vehicle unless the vehicle is registered in the name of the owner or tenant of the property where such work is taking place.

e. No such minor repair work shall be performed on any vehicle where such work results in any loud, unusual or penetrating noise which is disturbing, obnoxious, discomforting or annoying to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area.

B. Nothing above shall be construed as permitting any person to repair or do any other work on a vehicle within any nonresidential zone within the City of Culver City except as provided by and subject to the provisions of the Municipal Code of the City of Culver City and applicable laws of the State of California.

C. Nothing herein is intended to modify or amend in any manner the provisions of § 7.03.225 of the Municipal Code of the City of Culver City.

('65 Code, § 23-47) (Ord. No. CS-649 §§ 1-3; Ord. No. 84-001 § 1)

TRESPASS ON PROPERTY

No person shall enter or remain upon any private property open to the public after being notified by the owner or lessee or other person in charge thereof to keep off or remove therefrom, except, that this Section shall not apply in any of the following instances:

A. Where its application results in or is coupled with an act prohibited by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civil Code § 51;

B. Where its application would result in an interference with or inhibition of lawful labor activity;

C. Where a public officer or employee acts within the course and scope of his employment in performance of a duty imposed by law;

D. Where its application would result in an interference with or inhibition of lawful speech and petitioning.

('65 Code, § 23-3) (Ord. No. CS-275 Art. II § 1; Ord. No. CS-895 § 1; Ord. No. CS-991 § 1)

A. No person shall enter or be present upon any private property or portion of private property not open to the general public without the consent of the owner, the owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession, where signs forbidding entry are displayed as provided in Subsection F.

B. No person shall enter upon any private property or portion of private property, not open to the general public, who within the immediately preceding six (6) months was advised as follows: to leave and not return, and that if he or she returns to the property within six (6) months of the advisement he or she will be subject to arrest. This advisement must be made by the owner, the owner's agent, the person in lawful possession or a peace officer at the request of the owner, owner's agent or person in lawful possession. The advisement shall be documented in writing by the individual making it and shall include the name of the person advised, the date, approximate time, address and type of property involved. Such documentation shall be retained for a minimum period of one (1) year. This Subsection is not violated if a person so advised enters the property within the designated six (6) month period, if he or she has been expressly authorized to do so by the owner, the owner's agent or a person in lawful possession.

C. Entry requiring express consent of owner.

1. No person shall enter or be present upon private property not open to the general public without the express consent of the owner or the owner's agent when that person:

a. Has been convicted of any violation of the law involving narcotics, prostitution, vandalism, weapons, disturbance of the peace, loitering, threat to commit a violent act, or a violent act, on that same private property not open to the general public, whether or not such property is posted in accordance with Subsection F.; and

b. Has, subsequent to the conviction been told to leave and not return to that same property, by the owner, the owner's agent or a peace officer at the request of the owner or the owner's agent.

2. The request to leave must be made within six (6) months of the date of the conviction and shall be documented in writing by the individual making the request. The documentation of the request shall include the name of the person being requested to leave, the date, the approximate time, the address and the type of property involved.

3. This Subsection applies even if the person has the consent of a person in lawful possession but does not apply to persons who have a right of lawful possession to the subject property. An individual who has the consent of the person in lawful possession may not be refused entry by the owner or the owner's agent for a period exceeding twelve (12) months, computed from the date of the request.

D. No person shall enter or be present upon any private property or portion of private property open to the general public who within the immediately preceding twenty-four (24) hours was advised to leave and not return, and that if he or she returns to the property within twenty-four (24) hours of the advisement, he or she will be subject to arrest. This advisement must be made by the owner, the owner's agent, the person in lawful possession or a peace officer at the request of the owner, owner's agent or the person in lawful possession. A request to leave may be made only if it is rationally related to the services performed or the facilities provided.

E. The term PRIVATE PROPERTY shall mean any real property, including but not limited to, buildings, structures, yards, open spaces, walkways, courtyards, driveways, carports, parking areas and vacant lots, except land which is used exclusively for agricultural purposes, owned by any person or legal entity other than the property owner or lawfully possessed by any governmental entity or agency.

F. For purposes of Subsection A., one sign must be printed or posted in a conspicuous manner at every walkway and driveway entering any enclosed property or portion thereof and at a minimum of every fifty (50) feet along the boundary of any unenclosed lot. This requirement is met if at least one sign is conspicuously printed or posted on the outside of every structure on such property, so as to be readable from each walkway and driveway entering such property. The sign shall state as follows:

THIS PROPERTY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

No Entry Without Permission

C.C.M.C. § 13.02.105

The language “THIS PROPERTY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC No Entry Without Permission” on said sign shall be at least two (2) inches high.

G. When a peace officer's assistance in dealing with a trespass is requested, the owner, owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession shall make a separate request to the peace officer on each occasion. However, a single request for a peace officer's assistance may be made to cover a limited period of time not to exceed twelve (12) months when such request is made in writing and provides the specific dates of the authorization period.

H. This section shall not apply in any of the following instances: (1) When its application results in, or is coupled with, any act prohibited by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, being Cal. Civil Code §§ 51 et seq., or any other provision of law relating to prohibited discrimination against any person; (2) when its application results in, or is coupled with, an act prohibited by Cal. Penal Code § 365, or any other provision of law relating to the duties of innkeepers; (3) when public officers or employees are acting within the course and scope of their employment or in the performance of their official duties; or (4) when persons are engaging in activities protected by the United States Constitution or the California Constitution or when persons are engaging in acts which are expressly required or permitted by any provision of law.

I. Violation of any of the provisions of this Section shall be a misdemeanor or an infraction.

J. If any part or provision of this Section, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the Section, including the application of that part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Section are severable.

('65 Code, § 23-3.01) (Ord. No. 93-012 § 1)

No person shall enter or remain upon any private land that is part of a dwelling house, apartment, condominium or other such place after being notified by the owner or lessee or other person in charge thereof to keep off or remove therefrom, except, that this section shall not apply where a public officer or employee acts within the course and scope of his employment in performance of a duty imposed by law.

('65 Code, § 23-4) (Ord. No. CS-991 § 1)

No person shall enter, go upon or remain on publicly owned property that is closed to the public after having been notified by a sign conspicuously posted or verbally by a duly authorized representative of the public agency who owns the property that entry is prohibited, except, that this section shall not apply to public employees or officers acting within the course and scope of their employment.

('65 Code, § 23-4.01) (Ord. No. CS-991 § 1)

Notification as required by §§ 13.02.100, 13.02.110, and 13.02.115 by the owner or lessee or other person in charge of the property or premises may be satisfied by direct verbal communication by any such person or by his duly authorized agent, including a peace officer or private patrolman, or by a sign conspicuously posted on the property or premises giving notice of the prohibited conduct.

('65 Code, § 23-4.02) (Ord. No. CS-991 § 1)

SIGNS

A. Signs in the public right-of-way. No person shall construct, affix, place or post any display or medium of communication, including without limitation any notice, sign, poster, bill or advertising, on or over any public right-of-way or upon any fixed object in any public right-of-way, except as provided in Chapter 17.330 (Signs) and the following:

1. Publication vending machines (news racks) as defined and regulated by this Code.

2. Any display or medium of communication authorized by the laws of the State, the United States or by duly enacted legislation of this City.

3. City-owned signs for regulating traffic or parking.

4. City-owned signs identifying or providing directions to public facilities or public property.

5. Temporary emergency signs owned or placed by the City or other public agency.

B. Any unauthorized medium of communication or display on or above any public right-of-way or upon any fixed object in any public right-of-way is a public nuisance and the City employees are authorized to abate any such nuisance.

('65 Code, § 23-50) (Ord. No. CS- 948; Ord. No. 2003-006 § 2; Ord. 2025-010, Exhibit A (part))

Except as otherwise provided in the Zoning Code, as set forth in Title 17 of this Code, no person shall construct, affix, place, post, paint or display any sign on a lot or cause or permit the same to be done.

('65 Code, § 23-51) (Ord. No. 89-001 § 1; Ord. 2025-010, Exhibit A (part))

Any violation of §§ 13.02.200 and 13.02.205 shall constitute an infraction punishable pursuant to the provisions of § 1.01.045 of this Code.

(Ord. 2025-010, Exhibit A (part))

A. Findings and purpose. Recent research indicates alcohol consumption during pregnancy may cause irreversible adverse effects on the development of a fetus, resulting in birth defects, including mental retardation, facial abnormalities, and other defects involving heart and bone structure. These adverse effects are known individually as Fetal Alcohol Effects and collectively as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The public should be informed that consumption of alcohol during pregnancy may be harmful to a fetus and result in birth defects.

B. Duty to post. On and after March 1, 1988, every owner, operator, manager, or person having control of premises offering for sale or dispensing for consideration to the public, alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, shall clearly and conspicuously post or cause to be posted on the premises a sign meeting the requirements of Subsection C. of this Section.

C. Sign. Each sign required to be displayed pursuant to this Section shall contain a warning in letters not less than one-inch-tall reading substantially as follows:

"PREGNANCY AND ALCOHOL DO NOT MIX. DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, INCLUDING BEER AND WINE, DURING PREGNANCY CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS."

D. Placement. A sign required by this Section shall be placed as follows:

1. Where the sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, to the public is primarily intended for consumption on the premises, at least one sign shall be so placed as to assure it is readable from all locations at which said sale or dispensing occur.

2. Where the sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, to the public is primarily provided through over-the-counter service, at least one (1) sign shall be placed to assure it is readable from all counter locations available to the public.

3. Where the sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, to the public is primarily provided for consumption on the premises by the public at tables served by food or beverage service persons, at least one (1) sign shall be placed to assure it is readable by the public entering the premises; provided, however, that notices may be placed or displayed at each of the tables in a manner which will assure that the notices are as readily visible and readable as materials provided to the public which list food and beverage prices.

E. Violations. Any person who violates this Section shall be guilty of an infraction and subject to a fine not exceeding Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for a first violation; a fine not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for a second violation within one (1) year; and a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for a third violation within one (1) year; except when a person has been convicted of three (3) or more violations within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the violation, it shall be punishable as a misdemeanor pursuant to § 1.01.040 of this Code. For purposes of this Subsection, each prior violation which is either admitted by the defendant, alleged in an accusatory pleading, or where defendant forfeited bail, shall be deemed a conviction of the offense charged.

(Ord. 2025-010, Exhibit A (part))