La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 1.01 Code Adopted

The city council finds that it is desirable and in the public interest to establish a municipal code in order to provide a scheme of organization for the classification and grouping of ordinances which the council may adopt. The council intends in adopting ordinances of a general and permanent nature to provide for their placement in accordance with the scheme of the code. This will provide the user with a convenient and logical compilation of the ordinances of the city.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

This code shall be known as the "La Quinta Municipal Code." It shall be sufficient to refer to this code as the La Quinta Municipal Code in any prosecution for the violation of any provision of this code. It shall also be sufficient to designate any ordinance adding to, amending, or repealing provisions of this code as an addition or amendment to, or a repeal of, the La Quinta Municipal Code, or a portion thereof.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

The La Quinta Municipal Code shall consist of all ordinances adopted by the city council which are of a general and permanent nature. An ordinance relating to any of the following subject matters is not considered an ordinance of general and permanent nature and need not be included within the municipal code:

A. The naming of streets or roads;

B. Granting, altering, or withdrawing franchises;

C. Levying real property tax;

D. Calling an election;

E. Annexation proceedings;

F. Interim zoning measures;

G. Zoning or rezoning a particular parcel of property;

H. Development agreements;

I. Speed limits;

J. Such other ordinances of a special or particular subject matter which the council considers are not appropriate to a general compilation of laws of a general and permanent nature.

(Ord. 630 § 1 (Exh. A), 3-3-2026; Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

A. The ordinances of the city which are of a general and permanent nature shall be organized and grouped according to subject matter.

B. Ordinances which are adopted from time to time shall be classified and organized under the following scheme of titles:

1. General Provisions;

2. Administration and Personnel;

3. Revenue and Finance;

4. (Reserved);

5. Business Regulations;

6. Health and Sanitation;

7. Historic Preservation;

8. Buildings and Construction;

9. Planning and Zoning;

10. Animals;

11. Peace, Morals and Safety;

12. Vehicles and Traffic;

13. (Reserved);

14. Streets and Sidewalks;

15. Water and Sewers;

16. Miscellaneous County Ordinances Adopted by Reference.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

At least one (1) copy of this code, duly certified by the city clerk, shall be maintained on file in the office of the city clerk as the official copy of this code. Additional copies of this code shall be distributed upon request to the departments of the city. Duly certified copies of each ordinance making a change in this code shall be filed in the office of the city clerk, duly indexed for ready reference. At least annually the city clerk shall cause the loose-leaf pages of this code in which changes have been made to be reproduced, including a notation as to the ordinance number and the date pursuant to which such change is adopted. The reprinted pages shall be distributed in order that the loose-leaf copies of this code, prepared for the use and convenience of the officers and employees of the city and the general public, may be brought up to date.

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

The provisions of this code and all proceedings under it are to be construed to effect its objects and to promote justice.

All the provisions of this code and all other city ordinances shall be interpreted to refer to the appropriate or designated officer or office of the city, and whether an ordinance, uniform code, statute, or other matter which is adopted by reference refers to any department, officer, employee, inspection, police, or other function, unless the context requires otherwise, all references shall be to the appropriate or designated office, officer, department, agency, employee, or function of the city, or to the person or agency performing the function for the city.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Neither the adoption of this code nor the repeal by this code of any ordinance previously in effect in the city or within the territory currently comprising the city, shall in any manner affect the prosecution for the violation of any ordinance, which violation was committed prior to the effective date of this code, nor be construed as a waiver of any license or penalty on such effective date due and unpaid under such ordinance, nor be construed as affecting any of the provisions of such ordinances relating to the collection of any such license or penalty or the penal provisions applicable to any violation of such ordinances, nor to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit required to be posted, filed, or deposited pursuant to any ordinance, and all vested rights and obligations pertaining to such ordinances shall continue in full force and effect.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

If any chapter, section, sentence, clause or portion of this code is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed separate, distinct and independent provisions and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

This code shall refer only to the omission or commission of acts within the territorial limits of the city of La Quinta and that territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of the Constitution, or any law, or by reason of ownership or control of property.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

All references in this code to places, acts, persons or things and all else in relation to this code shall be construed to mean that the same are applicable to this city, whether the city is mentioned in each particular section or not.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Unless the provisions of this code otherwise specifically provide, or the context of this code indicates to the contrary, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions set forth in the following sections of this chapter shall govern the construction of this code.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

The title, chapter, article, and section headings contained in this code shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of any title, chapter, article, or section of this code.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

"Section" means a section of this code, unless some other source is specifically set forth. "Subsection" means a subsection of the section in which the term occurs, unless some other section is expressly set forth.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, a public officer or employee, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or employee or by a person otherwise duly authorized pursuant to the law or ordinance, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

"Writing" includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required or authorized by this code, the notice, report, statement, or record shall be made in writing in the English language, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Whenever any reference in this code is made to an ordinance, the reference shall apply to such ordinance of the city, unless this code expressly provides otherwise. Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code, or ordinance of this city, the reference shall apply to all amendments and additions to this code.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

When a limitation or period of time prescribed in any existing ordinance or statute for acquiring a right or barring a remedy, or for any other purpose, has begun to run before this code goes into effect, the time which has already run shall be deemed a part of the time prescribed as such limitation.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

As used in this code, unless a different meaning is apparent from the context or is specified elsewhere in the code:

1. "Calendar year" means from January 1st through December 31st of any given year.

2. "City" means the city of La Quinta.

3. "City manager" means the appointed official of the city who occupies the position as chief administrative officer of the city.

4. "Council" means the city council of the city of La Quinta.

5. "Councilmember" means a person duly elected or duly appointed to fulfill the term of a vacated seat to the council.

6. "County" means the county of Riverside.

7. "Fiscal year" means from July 1st of any given year through June 30th of the following year.

8. "Gender." The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders.

9. "Goods" means and includes wares and merchandise.

10. "May" is permissive.

11. "Month" means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed.

12. "Number." The singular number shall include the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.

13. "Oath" includes affirmation.

14. "Official time standard." Wherever certain hours are named in this code, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the city.

15. "Operate" means and includes carrying on, keeping, conducting, or maintaining.

16. "Owner," applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or a part of the building or land.

17. "Person" includes any person, firm, company, corporation, partnership, association, public corporation, political subdivision, city (except the city of La Quinta), the county of Riverside, any district in the county of Riverside, the state of California, or the United States of America, or any department or agency of any thereof, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

18. "Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt.

19. "Police," "police chief" or "chief of police" means the agency which performs the appropriate law enforcement function for the city, and the head of the agency or division thereof which at the time involved has responsibility for performing the police function for, or within, the city.

20. "Property" includes real and personal property.

21. "Quarterly," where used to designate a period of time, means the first three (3) calendar months of any given year or any succeeding period of three (3) calendar months.

22. "Real property" includes land, tenements, and hereditaments.

23. "Sale" includes any sale, exchange, barter, or offer for sale.

24. "Shall" shall be mandatory.

25. "State" means the state of California.

26. "Street" includes all streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, alleys, courts, places, squares, or other public ways in the city which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of the state.

27. "Tenant or occupant," applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of the building or land, whether alone or with others.

28. "Tense." The present tense includes the past and future tense, and the future tense includes the present tense.

Words and phrases not defined in this code are construed according to their plain and ordinary meaning, which may be determined by reference to a nationally recognized and published dictionary, or, when appropriate, by reference to definitions contained in state or federal law.

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this code or the provisions of any code adopted by reference by this code or any provision of any ordinance of the city not included within this code. Any person violating any of such provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this code or any code adopted by reference by this code or any other city ordinance shall be guilty of an infraction, unless the violation is specifically designated as constituting a misdemeanor. Each such person shall be guilty of a separate offense and may be punished accordingly for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this code, or any provision of any code adopted by reference by this code, or of any other city ordinance, is committed, continued, or permitted by such person.

Any provision or requirement of this code or otherwise as referred to above, the violation of which or the failure to comply with which, is designated as an infraction, shall be prosecutable as a misdemeanor upon a third violation and each violation thereafter of the same provision by the same individual. In addition, any such violation or failure to comply may be prosecuted originally as a misdemeanor in the discretion of the city attorney or any deputy district attorney, upon a showing by the enforcing agency of the seriousness of the particular alleged violation.

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Whenever in this code any act or omission is made unlawful, it shall include causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing the fact of such act or omission.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Any violation expressly declared to be punishable, in the discretion of the court, by either a fine, or by a fine or imprisonment, or both, shall become an infraction for all purposes under any of the following circumstances:

A. Where a judgment imposes a punishment of a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) in the case of a first offense; or

B. When the court grants probation to a defendant without the imposition of a sentence and, at the time of granting probation, or on application of the defendant or probation officer thereafter, the court declares the offense to be an infraction; or

C. When the city attorney or any deputy district attorney files in a court having jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses a complaint specifying that the offense is an infraction.

(Ord. 482 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

A. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this code shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. Any person convicted of an infraction under the provisions of this code shall be punishable for a first conviction by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), for a second conviction within a period of one (1) year by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), and for a third or any subsequent conviction within a period of one (1) year by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 482 § 1, 2010; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

A. In addition to other penalties provided by law, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any provision of this code, or any such threatened violation, shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be summarily abated as such by the city.

B. Also, any such violation or threatened violation as referred to in subsection A of this section, or any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of any code adopted by reference by this code, or of the provisions of any other city ordinance, shall be deemed a public nuisance which may be abated by the city attorney in a civil judicial action.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

A. Whenever any person creating, causing, committing, or maintaining a public nuisance, as referred to in Section 1.01.250, or other public nuisance, as defined under state law or other ordinance or regulation, has been given notice, by or on behalf of the city attorney or by any other city officer, employee or policing agent authorized to give such notice, to abate the nuisance or cease and desist from continuing the nuisance or violation of law, and the person who was given notice fails, refuses, or neglects to comply with the notice within the time specified therein, or if such a time is not specified, then within a time reasonably sufficient to enable such compliance, the noncomplying person shall be liable to the city for any and all costs and expenses to the city involved in thereafter abating the nuisance and in obtaining compliance with or enforcing the law as referred to or encompassed in the notice.

B. Costs and expenses, as referred to in subsection A of this section, may include, but are not limited to, any and all direct costs and expenses related to such things as personnel salaries and benefits, operational overhead, rent, interest, fees for experts or consultants, legal costs or expenses, including attorneys' fees, claims against the city arising as a consequence of the nuisance or violation, and procedures associated with collecting moneys due under this section.

C. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall also apply to any person who received a notice, as specified therein, and thereafter the nuisance or violation was abated, but such person subsequently allowed or was responsible for a recurrence of the nuisance or violation.

D. The liability of any person for the payment of the costs and expenses provided for in subsection A of this section may be waived in whole or in part by the city attorney in any case wherein he or she determines, in his or her sole discretion, that the failure or refusal of such person to comply with the notice therein involved was based upon a good faith and bona fide issue of law or fact specially involved in the circumstances of the case. Any determination or decision of the city attorney in this regard shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to appeal as prescribed in Chapter 2.04 of this code.

E. Moneys due to the city pursuant to this section may be recovered in an appropriate civil action. Alternatively, such liability may be enforced by special assessment proceedings against the parcel of land upon which the nuisance existed, which proceedings may be conducted in a manner substantively similar to proceedings described in Section 39574 et seq., of the Government Code of the state relating to weed abatement assessments.

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

The violation of, or the failure or omission to perform in accordance with, any administrative provision of this code by any officer or employee of the city shall generally not be considered a criminal act, but may be deemed a failure to perform the duties or to observe the rules or regulations of the department, office, commission or board within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the city, or of the civil service regulations of the city if applicable.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Whenever a notice is required to be given, or may be given, under any provision of this code or any provision of any code adopted by reference by this code or any provision of any ordinance or resolution of the city not included within this code, or any applicable state laws or condition imposed by any entitlement, permit, agreement or environmental document issued or approved under the provisions of this code or any code adopted by reference, such notice may be given as provided in this section. Unless different or special provisions are otherwise specifically made in this code or in some other applicable enactment, any such notice shall be given by one (1) of the following methods:

A. Personal Delivery. Delivery thereof to the person to be notified, or if a firm, association, corporation, estate, group or club, by delivery thereof to any partner, officer, agent, employee, director or servant thereof; or

B. Delivery to Premises. Delivering the notice to and leaving it with any person over eighteen (18) years of age residing in, or in charge of the premises referred to in the matter; or

C. Posting on Premises. In case no such person is found upon the premises, by affixing the notice to a conspicuous place on the door to an entrance to the premises or at the abutting public right-of-way in addition to delivery by mail; or

D. Delivery by Mail. Deposit in the United States mail in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to such person to be notified, at that person's last known residence or business address as the same appears in the public records or other records pertaining to the matters to which the notice is directed.

Notices shall be deemed issued and served at the time of personal delivery, delivery to premises, posting on premises, and the day that the notice is deposited in the post office or in the official receptacle thereof (exclusive of days in which the U.S. mail is not delivered).

(Ord. 524 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)

Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of this city or by the affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury of any person over the age of eighteen (18) years, which shows service in conformity with this code or other provisions of law applicable to the subject matter concerned.

(Ord. 2 § 1, 1982)