Earlier editions: 2026-09
Municipal code
Lancaster Municipal Code
The enacted municipal code of Lancaster, California, as published — every title, chapter, and section, verbatim and citable.
- Last updated
- 2026-10-04
- Contents
- 22 titles · 2,618 sections
- Jurisdiction
- Lancaster
Contents
- LANCASTER - MUNICIPAL CODE
- SUPPLEMENT HISTORY TABLE
▸Title 2 — ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
Overview- Chapter 2.04 — CITY COUNCIL
- Chapter 2.08 — CITY MANAGER
- Chapter 2.10 — CHIEF OF POLICE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Chapter 2.12 — CITY OFFICES
- Chapter 2.16 — REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
- Chapter 2.24 — PLANNING COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.26 — LOBBYIST REGISTRATION
- Chapter 2.30 — CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
- Chapter 2.32 — AD HOC COMMITTEES
- Chapter 2.36 — DISASTER COUNCIL
- Chapter 2.40 — CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE
- Chapter 2.44 — UNIFORM APPEAL PROCEDURE
- Chapter 2.48 — EMERGENCY PLAN
- Chapter 2.52 — MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
- Chapter 2.56 — PERSONNEL SYSTEM
- Chapter 2.60 — PROTECTION OF CITY FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL
▸Title 3 — REVENUE AND FINANCE
Overview- Chapter 3.04 — CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY
- Chapter 3.08 — UNIFORM REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
- Chapter 3.12 — UNIFORM LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX
- Chapter 3.14 — TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX
- Chapter 3.16 — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
- Chapter 3.20 — DOWNTOWN PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
- Chapter 3.24 — SPECIAL GAS TAX STREET IMPROVEMENT FUND
- Chapter 3.28 — HOUSING REVENUE BONDS
- Chapter 3.36 — LOCAL HIRING PREFERENCES IN PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS
- Chapter 3.37 — HOTEL STIMULUS PROGRAM
▸Title 5 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
Overview- Chapter 5.08 — BINGO FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES
- Chapter 5.12 — FORTUNETELLING AND HYPNOTISM
- Chapter 5.18 — STATE VIDEO FRANCHISES
- Chapter 5.20 — HOTEL REGISTERS
- Chapter 5.24 — PAY TO ENTER PARTIES
- Chapter 5.26 — VEHICLES FOR HIRE
- Chapter 5.28 — TAXICAB OPERATOR'S AND DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Chapter 5.32 — TOWING
- Chapter 5.34 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
- Chapter 5.36 — OFF-SITE AUTOMOBILE SALES
- Chapter 5.38 — BURGLAR ALARMS
- Chapter 5.39 — FIRE ALARMS
- Chapter 5.40 — RENTAL HOUSING BUSINESS LICENSE AND PRESERVATION INSPECTION PROGRAM
- Chapter 5.42 — TOBACCO RETAILER REGULATIONS
- Chapter 5.44 — GROUP HOME BUSINESS LICENSE
- Chapter 5.46 — FILM PERMIT
- Chapter 5.48 — AMBULANCES
- Chapter 5.52 — STREET PERFORMERS
- Chapter 5.56 — COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY
▸Title 8 — HEALTH AND SAFETY
Overview▸Chapter 8.04 — GENERAL HAZARDS
Overview- Article I — General Provisions
- Article II — Oil Well Sumps, Sand and Gravel Pits and Similar Excavations
- Article III — Wells, Test Holes, Cesspools, Cisterns and Septic Tanks
- Article IV — Swimming Pools
- Article V — Water Hazards
- Article VI — Boxes and Chests
- Article VII — Hazardous Oil Well Machinery
- Article VIII — Adoption of County of Los Angeles General Hazards Ordinance
- Chapter 8.08 — HEALTH CODE
- Chapter 8.12 — ABANDONED AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATIONS
- Chapter 8.16 — DUST CONTROL
- Chapter 8.20 — LITTERING
- Chapter 8.24 — NOISE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 8.28 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
- Chapter 8.29 — POOL MAINTENANCE
- Chapter 8.30 — RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE
- Chapter 8.32 — REGULATING SMOKING AND TOBACCO PRODUCT USE
- Chapter 8.34 — SALE OF ENERGY DRINKS TO MINORS
- Chapter 8.40 — FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING CERTIFICATION
- Chapter 8.44 — FIREWORKS
- Chapter 8.48 — WASTE OF WATER
- Chapter 8.50 — LANDSCAPING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE
- Chapter 8.52 — CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTY
- Chapter 8.56 — SKATEBOARDS, ROLLER SKATES AND SIMILAR DEVICES
- Chapter 8.60 — BURIAL OR ENTOMBMENT OF PERSON COMMITTING A TERRORIST ACT
- Chapter 8.62 — SHOPPING CART CONTAINMENT, RETRIEVAL AND ABATEMENT
- Chapter 8.70 — GASOLINE POWERED LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT
- Chapter 8.80 — AGE BASED RIGHT TO TRY ORDINANCE
▸Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
Overview- Chapter 9.04 — FIREARMS
- Chapter 9.08 — IMPERSONATING CITY OFFICIALS
- Chapter 9.12 — LOITERING
- Chapter 9.16 — CURFEW AND TRUANCY
- Chapter 9.18 — LOITERING BY CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
- Chapter 9.20 — ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
- Chapter 9.22 — NUISANCE GATHERINGS AND SOCIAL HOST ACCOUNTABILITY
- Chapter 9.24 — GRAFFITI
- Chapter 9.28 — SHORTWAVE RADIO RECEIVER REGULATIONS
- Chapter 9.30 — ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE VEHICLES
- Chapter 9.32 — CRIME FREE ZONES
- Chapter 9.34 — UNPERMITTED CAMPING, LODGING, AND SLEEPING ON PUBLIC STREETS, PUBLIC-OWNED PROP…
- Chapter 9.36 — PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FORMS OF AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION.
- Chapter 9.40 — SPECIAL EVENTS
- Chapter 9.46 — CARNIVALS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS
- Chapter 9.48 — ADMINISTRATIVE DIVERSION FOR MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
- Chapter 9.50 — HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND NUISANCE MOTELS
- Chapter 9.52 — CIVIL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO SUPERVISE OR CONTROL MINOR
- Chapter 9.54 — PUBLIC ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, PLACES OF WORSHIP AND SCHOOLS
- Chapter 9.55 — VACANT PROPERTIES
▸Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
▸Title 12 — STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES
Overview- Chapter 12.04 — PARKS AND PUBLIC PLACES RULES AND REGULATIONS
- Chapter 12.08 — PARADES
- Chapter 12.10 — ART ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
- Chapter 12.12 — STREETS, CURBS AND SIDEWALKS
- Chapter 12.16 — HIGHWAY PERMIT ORDINANCE
- Chapter 12.20 — STREET TREES
- Chapter 12.24 — NEWSRACKS
- Chapter 12.28 — PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND WILDFIRE RISK AREAS
- Chapter 12.32 — FOOD DISTRIBUTION
▸Title 13 — PUBLIC SERVICES
Overview▸Chapter 13.04 — DRAINAGE REGULATIONS
▸Chapter 13.07 — SANITARY SEWERS
▸Chapter 13.08 — SANITARY SEWERS AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Overview- Article 1 — Sewer Construction Permit
- Article 2 — Fees and Deposits
- Article 3 — Design Standards
- Article 4 — Inspection
- Article 5 — Maintenance
- Article 6 — Industrial Waste—Permits
- Article 7 — Fees and Deposits
- Article 8 — Discharge to Public Sewers
- Article 9 — Other Methods of Disposal
- Article 10 — Industrial Waste Treatment Plants and Facilities
- Chapter 13.09 — SEWER SERVICE CHARGES
▸Chapter 13.10 — FATS, OILS AND GREASE
Overview- Article I — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Article 2 — GENERAL LIMITATIONS, PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ON FATS, OILS AND GREASE ("FOG"…
- Article 3 — FOG WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMITS AND FEES
- Article 4 — FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS
- Article 5 — MONITORING, RECORDS, NOTIFICATION
- Article 6 — ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
- Article 7 — SEVERABILITY
- Chapter 13.12 — WATER ORDINANCE
- Chapter 13.16 — REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
- Chapter 13.17 — REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS AND COLL…
- Chapter 13.18 — MANDATORY ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION
▸Chapter 13.20 — UTILITY DISTRICTS
- Chapter 13.24 — WATER RECYCLING
▸Title 14 — REDEVELOPMENT/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
▸Title 15 — BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Overview- Chapter 15.04 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
- Chapter 15.08 — BUILDING CODE
- Chapter 15.09 — RESIDENTIAL CODE
- Chapter 15.12 — ELECTRICAL CODE
- Chapter 15.16 — MECHANICAL CODE
- Chapter 15.20 — PLUMBING CODE
- Chapter 15.22 — SECURITY CODE
- Chapter 15.24 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
- Chapter 15.25 — USE OF PLACARDS
- Chapter 15.28 — ENERGY CODE
- Chapter 15.30 — HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE
- Chapter 15.32 — FIRE CODE
- Chapter 15.34 — GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
- Chapter 15.36 — EXISTING BUILDING CODE
- Chapter 15.38 — REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE
▸Chapter 15.40 — BUILDING NUMBERS
- Chapter 15.44 — CLEARING PERMITS
- Chapter 15.45 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 15.46 — ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
- Chapter 15.52 — FLOOD CONTROL
- Chapter 15.64 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
- Chapter 15.66 — BIOLOGICAL IMPACT FEE
- Chapter 15.67 — VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED IMPACT FEE
- Chapter 15.72 — PARK-IN-LIEU FEES
- Chapter 15.76 — FIRE PROTECTION FEES
- Chapter 15.77 — DEFERRED PAYMENT OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES AND FIRE PROTECTION FEES
▸Title 16 — SUBDIVISIONS
Overview▸Chapter 16.08 — TENTATIVE MAP PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
Overview- Article I — Tentative Map Procedural Requirements
- Article II — Planning Commission Review and Determination
- Article III — Expiration of Tentative Map Approval and Extensions
- Article IV — Special Situations for Map Extensions
- Article V — Minor Revisions to Approved Tentative Maps
- Article VI — Vesting Tentative Maps
▸Chapter 16.12 — FINAL SUBDIVISION MAPS
- Chapter 16.16 — PARCEL MAPS
- Chapter 16.17 — URBAN LOT SPLITS
▸Chapter 16.20 — DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Overview- Article I — General Provisions
- Article II — Access and Circulation
- Article III — Lot Design
- Article IV — Residential Subdivision Perimeter Treatment
- Article V — Commercial and Industrial Subdivision Perimeter Treatment
- Article VI — Design of Sites for Public Facilities
- Article VII — Special Design Situations
▸Chapter 16.24 — IMPROVEMENTS, DEDICATIONS AND RESERVATIONS
Overview- Article I — Improvements, Dedications and Reservations
- Article II — Drainage Facilities
- Article III — Sewers, Sewage Disposal Systems
- Article IV — Water Systems and Fire Hydrants
- Article V — Utilities
- Article VI — Walls and Fences
- Article VII — Landscaping Improvements
- Article VIII — Public Recreation Facilities
- Article IX — Dedications
- Article X — Reservations of Land for Public Facilities
- Article XI — Covenant of Easement
- Chapter 16.28 — PLAN CHECKING AND INSPECTION FEES
- Chapter 16.32 — SECURITY
- Chapter 16.36 — CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS
- Chapter 16.40 — REVERSION TO ACREAGE
- Chapter 16.44 — PARCEL MERGER
- Chapter 16.48 — CORRECTION AND AMENDMENT OF RECORDED MAP
- Chapter 16.52 — ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIAL REVIEW
▸Title 17 — ZONING
Overview- Chapter 17.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
▸Chapter 17.08 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES
Overview- Article I — In General
- Article II — Non-urban, Urban, Medium and High Density Residential Zones
- Article III — General Site Planning and Project Design Standards
- Article IV — Standards for Specific Land Uses
- Article V — Solar, Wind, and Alternative Energy Uses
- Article VI — Specific Provisions for Designated Uses Subject to Conditional Use Permits
- Article VII — Mobilehome Parks and Mobilehome Park (MHP) Zone
- Article VIII — Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities
▸Chapter 17.16 — INDUSTRIAL ZONES
▸Chapter 17.20 — PUBLIC, OPEN SPACE AND SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONES
Overview- Article I — In General
- Article II — Public Use (P) Zone
- Article III — School (S) Zone
- Article IV — Open Space (O) Zone
- Article V — Park (Pk) Zone
- Article VI — Cemetery (Ce) Zone
- Article VII — Specific Plan (SP) Zone
- Article VIII — Senior Mobilehome Park Overlay (MHP-S) Zone
- Article IX — Housing Density Overlay (HD-O) Zone
- Article X — East Side Overlay Zone (EOZ) District
- Chapter 17.24 — ZONE CHANGES AND ZONE MAP
- Chapter 17.28 — YARDS AND HIGHWAY LINES
▸Chapter 17.32 — VARIANCES, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, NONCONFORMING USES, DIRECTOR'S REVIEW
Overview- Article I — Conditional Use Permits
- Article II — Variances
- Article III — Adjustment Permits
- Article IV — Explosives Permits
- Article V — Public Hearing Procedures for Permits, Variances and Nonconforming Uses or Structu…
- Article VI — Director's Review
- Article VII — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
- Article VIII — Revocations or Modifications
- Chapter 17.36 — ADMINISTRATION
▸Chapter 17.40 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
Overview- Article I — General Regulations
- Article II — Required Area
- Article III — Flood Damage Prevention
- Article IV — Signs
- Article V — Publicly Visible Art on Private Property
- Article VI — Criteria and Standards for Recycling Facilities
- Article VII — Hazardous Waste Facilities
- Article VIII — Mobilehome Use by a Caretaker
- Article IX — Trailer Parks
- Article X — Commercial Coaches as Temporary Offices
- Article XI — Wind Energy Conversion Systems
- Article XII — Exceptions to Height Regulations
- Article XIII — Wireless Telecommunication Facilities
- Article XIV — Co-Located Small Wind Energy Systems
▸Chapter 17.41 — ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL USE REGULATIONS
- Chapter 17.42 — ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO ESTABLISHMENTS
- Chapter 17.43 — COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY
- Chapter 17.44 — CONTINUATION, PENDING PROCEEDINGS AND REPEALS
- Chapter 17.45 — COLLECTION BINS
- STATUTORY REFERENCES FOR CALIFORNIA CITIES
- PRIOR CODE TABLE
- PRIOR ZONING ORDINANCE TABLE
- ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
- CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE - AND DISPOSITION LIST