Cypress Municipal Code Art. VI Graffiti Prevention, Prohibition, Removal and Establishing Reward And…

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Editor's note: Section 1 of Ord. No. 901, adopted Sep. 13, 1993, amended this Art. VI to read as herein set out. Formerly, Art. VI consisted of §§ 5-26 and 5-27, which pertained to removal of graffiti and derived from § 1 of Ord. No. 609, adopted Dec. 12, 1977.

(a) The spread of graffiti on both public and private buildings, structures, walls, fences or places causes blight within the city which results in a deterioration of property and business values for adjacent and surrounding properties, all to the immediate detriment of the city.

(b) The power of graffiti to create fear within the community and blight within the city is beyond the cost of cleanup or removal, but an immediate threat to the quality of life and freedom of intimidation which the residents of the city deserve.

(c) The city council finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious and a public nuisance which must be abated so as to avoid the detrimental impact of such graffiti on the city and to prevent the further spread of graffiti.

(d) It is the purpose and intent of the city council, through the adoption of this article, to provide additional enforcement tools, in addition to those provided for under state law, to protect public and private property from acts of vandalism and defacement, including, but not limited to graffiti on privately and publicly owned walls or fences which are inimical and destructive of the rights and values of private property owners as well as the city.

(Ord. No. 901, § 1, 9-13-93)

For the purpose of this article, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Aerosol paint conditioner"

means any aerosol container regardless of the material from which it is made, which is adapted or made for the purpose of spraying paint or other substance capable of defacing property.

"Felt tip marker"

means any indelible marker or similar implement with a tip which, at its broadest width is greater than one-sixteenth ( 1/16) inch, containing an ink that is not water soluble.

"Graffiti"

means any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on any surface of any building, structure, or other facility, whether public or private and regardless of the nature of the material of any such surface.

"Graffiti implement"

means an aerosol paint container, a felt tip marker, gum label, or a paint stick or any etching tool capable of scarring glass, metal, concrete or wood.

"Gum label"

means any sheet of paper, fabric, plastic or other substance with an adhesive backing which, when placed on a surface is not easily removable.

"Paint stick" or "graffiti stick"

means any device containing a solid form of paint, chalk, wax, epoxy, or other similar substance capable of being applied to a surface by pressure, and upon application, leaving a mark at least one-eighth ( 1/8) inch in width, visible from a distance of 20 feet, and not water soluble.

(Ord. No. 901, § 1, 9-13-93)

It is unlawful for any person to apply graffiti on any publicly or privately owned buildings, permanent structures, walls, fences or places located on publicly or privately owned property within the city.

(Ord. No. 901, § 1, 9-13-93)