Earlier editions: 2026-09
Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 1.12 General Penalty
Lancaster Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Lancaster
Cite as: Lancaster Municipal Code Chapter 1.12 · Text as of 2026-10-04
1.12.010 - Violations.¶
It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this code. Any person violating this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor unless:
A. The violation is classified as an infraction in the Lancaster Municipal Code in which case the person shall be guilty of an infraction; or
B. A public officer or employee designated in Section 1.08.010 issues a citation charging the offense as an infraction; or
C. A public officer or employee designated in Section 1.08.010 at his or her discretion issues an administrative citation for the violation pursuant to the provisions, procedures, and penalties as contained in Chapter 1.16.
(Ord. 809 (part), 2002: Prior code § 1-2.1)
1.12.020 - Penalty for violation.¶
A. Misdemeanors. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this code, is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the Los Angeles County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. Infractions. Any person convicted of an infraction under the provisions of this code, is punishable by (1) a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation; (2) a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year; (3) a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year.
C. Continuing Violations. Each day or any portion thereof that a person violates any provision of this code, including without limitation, the maintenance of a building, structure or use in violation of this code, shall constitute a separate offense.
D. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor or infraction under the provisions of the code sections set forth in the following fee schedule, is punishable by a fine not exceeding the penalty amounts or community service hours set forth in the following fee schedule. All other violations not set forth in the fee schedule below shall be punishable by a fine or community service hours in an amount to be adopted by ordinance of the city council.
FEE SCHEDULE
| Lancaster Municipal Code Section | Violation | Monetary Penalty | Community Service Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.28.030 ; Ch. 12.28 | Endangering Critical Infrastructure | $25 $75 $150 | 2 4 8 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(1); Ch. 8.20 | Littering | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(2); Ch. 8.24 | Noise Violations | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(3); Ch. 8.62 | Shopping Cart Violations | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(4); Chs. 9.12 , 9.16 , and 9.18 | Loitering Violations | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(5); Ch. 9.20 | Public Alcohol Consumption | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(6); Ch. 9.34 | Camping and Lodging Violations | $25 $75 $150 | 2 4 8 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(7); Ch. 9.36 | Aggressive Solicitation Violations | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (B)(8); Ch. 12.04 | Violations of Park Rules | $50 $100 $200 | 4 8 12 |
| 9.48.050 (A) | Any misdemeanor offense as set forth in the California Penal Code, Business & Professions Code, Health & Safety Code, Vehicle Code, or other state code, provided such offense does not involve a battery, assault, or other offense related to physical attack or injury on a person | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (A) | Grass taller than 8" | $50 $100 $200 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (B) | Landscape materials or areas infested with insects, disease or vermin | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (C) | Dead or dry plant material | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (D) | Overgrown plant that prohibits pedestrian or vehicular travel or visibility on public street or sidewalk | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (E) | Trees or shrubs with dead limbs and Branches | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (F) | Numerous or large areas of bare dirt within lawns. | $50 $100 $200 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (G) | Planter or lawn areas containing a significant number of weeds | $50 $100 $200 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (H) | Broken or improperly adjusted irrigation systems resulting in significant or continuous spray, spillage or flow or water onto adjacent property, public streets or continuous pooling or ponding of water either on or off site | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (I) | Accumulation of large amounts of plant material debris such as leaves, pulled weeds, grass clippings, or branches that are not being used for mulching or composting purposes | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 8.30.060 (J) | Inoperative backflow prevention device on irrigation system | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 5.04.290 ; Ch. 5.04 ; Article I Business Licenses | Failure to obtain business license or other violation of Ch. 5.04 ; Article I Business Licenses | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 5.04.210—5.04.240; Ch. 5.04 ; Article II Peddlers and Vendors | Failure to comply with Ch. 5.04 ; Article II Peddlers and Vendors | $100 $200 $500 | 3 6 9 |
| 5.04.270—5.04.280; Ch. 5.04 ; Article IV Registration of Secondhand Purchases | Failure to comply with Ch. 5.04 ; Article IV Registration of Secondhand Purchases | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
| 5.04.520 ; Ch. 5.04 ; Article V Sidewalk Vendors | Failure to comply with Ch. 5.04 ; Article V Sidewalk Vendors; subject to 5.04.530 | $100 $200 $500 | 4 8 12 |
(; Ord. No. 1112, § 3(Exh. B), 1-9-2024; Ord. No. 1097, § 2(Exh. A), 1-10-2023; Ord. 711 § 1, 1995; prior code § 1-2.2)
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