Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 18.09 Violations

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to:

1. Erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment in the City regulated by this title, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Maintenance of any building, structure or equipment that was unlawful at the time it was erected, constructed, altered, extended, repaired, moved, removed, demolished or occupied and which would be unlawful under this title if completed after the effective date of this title shall constitute a continuing violation of this title.

2. Grade, excavate or fill any land in the City regulated by this title, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

3. Install, alter, repair, replace, add to, relocate, use or maintain electrical systems, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances thereto in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Maintenance of electrical installation that was unlawful at the time it was installed and which would be unlawful under this title if installed after the effective date of this title shall constitute a continuing violation of this title.

4. Use or maintain any plumbing, gas piping or water piping or to use, occupy or maintain any building, structure or premises containing any plumbing, gas piping or water piping in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Maintenance of plumbing or plumbing installation that was unlawful at the time it was installed and which would be unlawful under this title if installed after the effective date of this title shall constitute a continuing violation of this title.

5. Erect, install, alter, repair, relocate, add to, replace, use, or maintain heating, ventilating, cooling, or refrigeration equipment in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Maintenance of mechanical equipment that was unlawful at the time it was installed and which would be unlawful under this title if installed after the effective date of this title shall constitute a continuing violation of this title.

The permissive provisions of this title shall not be presumed to waive any limitations imposed by any of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Pursuant to Section 18.03.020, the Building Official is authorized to serve a notice of violation or order on the person, firm or corporation responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, moving, removal, demolition or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State; or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Such notice or order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

If the notice of violation or order is not complied with promptly or within the time limit specified therein, the Building Official is authorized to request the legal counsel of the City to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erects, constructs, alters or repairs a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the Building Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this title, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Every person, firm or corporation who knowingly and willfully procures a permit without the consent of the owner of record of the property for which the permit is issued, or such person's, firm's or corporation's agent, may be guilty of a misdemeanor as determined by the legal counsel of the City.

EXCEPTION: This section shall not apply to permits obtained pursuant to and in compliance with an order of a court of law or a governmental agency.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Any person, firm or corporation who willfully or knowingly, with the intent to deceive, makes a false statement or representation, or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact in any documentation required by the Building Official to ascertain facts relative to this title, including any oral or written evidence presented, may be guilty of a misdemeanor as determined by the legal counsel of the City. The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of this title whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information supplied, or in violation of any provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

For the purposes of this section, a "person" includes any person who is a registered special inspector, a structural inspector, a certified welder or a certified licensed contractor. The term "writing" shall include, but is not limited to, forms, applications, approvals, reports or certifications required by the Building Official. Every violation of this title may be punishable as a misdemeanor as determined by the legal counsel of the City.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

No person, firm or corporation shall own, use, occupy or maintain any "unpermitted structure." For the purpose of this title, "unpermitted structure" shall be defined as any structure, or portion thereof, that was erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, remodeled, moved, removed, improved, converted or demolished at any point in time, without the required permit(s) having first been obtained from the Building Official, pursuant to Section 18.04.010.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. Approval not a violation of title. Approval as a result of a plan examination or an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State applicable thereto. Plan examinations or inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State applicable thereto shall not be valid. No approval shall relieve or exonerate any person from the responsibility of complying with the provisions and intent of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

B. Correction of errors. The issuance of a permit based upon approved construction documents shall not prevent the Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors on the construction documents or from preventing construction being carried on thereunder when in violation of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)