Charter — Los Angeles County Municipal Code

ANNOTATED EDITION Includes Amendments Ratified by the Voters Through November 5, 2024

PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS	SEPTEMBER 24, 1912
RATIFIED BY THE VOTERS OF THE COUNTY	NOVEMBER 5, 1912
FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE	JANUARY 29, 1913
IN EFFECT	JUNE 2, 1913

AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

HILDA L. SOLIS First District	LINDSEY P. HORVATH Third District
HOLLY J. MITCHELL Second District	JANICE HAHN Fourth District

KATHRYN BARGER Fifth District

Reprinted April 2025

Published by the County of Los Angeles

TABLE OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS

Amendment to Section 2

Proposed by Board of Supervisors July 30, 2024 [Ord. 2024-0043], ratified at consolidated special election and Statewide general election held on November 5, 2024, filed with Secretary of State August 15, 2025, and was given Charter Chapter No. 23.

Amendment to Section 4

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 25, 2001, ratified at special election March 5, 2002, filed with Secretary of State April 24, 2002 and was given Charter Chapter No. 10.

Amendment to Section 4

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 25, 2001, ratified at special election March 5, 2002, filed with Secretary of State April 24, 2002 and was given Charter Chapter No. 11.

Amendment to Section 4

Amendment to Section 5

Amendment to Section 6

Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.

Amendment to Section 6

Repeal of Section 7

Repeal of Article III, Section 10

Repeal of Section 11(2)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.

Addition of Section 11(3)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 19, 1980, ratified at special election November 4, 1980.

Amendment to Section 11(4)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 30, 1966, ratified at general election November 8, 1966, approved by Legislature January 12, 1967, filed with Secretary of State January 13, 1967. Stats. 1967, Chap. 6 of Resolutions.

Addition of Section 11(7)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 19, 1980, ratified at special election November 4, 1980, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State June 8, 1981, published Stats. 1981, Charter Chapter 19.

Addition of Section 11(8)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors July 28, 2020 [Ord. 2020-0040], ratified at consolidated special election and Statewide general election held on November 3, 2020, filed with Secretary of State August 8, 2025, and was given Charter Chapter No. 22.

Repeal of Article III, Section 11

Addition of Article III-A, Sections 10.2—10.28

Addition of Article III-B, Sections 11.2—11.40

Addition of Article III-C, Sections 11.50—11.66

Addition of Article III-D, Sections 11.68—11.76

Amendment to Section 12

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 25, 2001, ratified at special election March 5, 2002 filed with Secretary of State April 24, 2002 and was given Charter Chapter No. 10.

Amendment to Section 12

Amendment to Section 13

Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.

Addition of Section 13.5

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 2, 2022 [Ord. 2022-0038], ratified at consolidated special election and Statewide general election held on November 8, 2022, filed with Secretary of State April 5, 2023, and was given Charter Chapter No. 13.

Amendment to Section 14

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 20 and 24, 1934, ratified at special election November 6, 1934, approved by Legislature January 26, 1935, filed with Secretary of State January 26, 1935. Stats. 1935, P. 2440.

Amendment to Section 14

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 22, 1942, ratified at general election November 3, 1942, approved by Legislature January 26, 1943, filed with Secretary of State January 28, 1943. Stats. 1943, P. 3211.

Amendment to Section 14, Last Sentence

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 28, 1956, ratified at general election November 6, 1956, approved by Legislature March 12, 1956, filed with Secretary of State March 19, 1957. Stats. 1957, Chap. 125, P. 4462.

Amendment to Section 14

Amendment to Section 16

Amendment to Section 17

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 25, 1922, ratified at general election November 7, 1922, approved by Legislature May 15, 1923, filed with Secretary of State May 18, 1923. Stats. 1923, P. 1659.

Addition of Section 17

Repeal of Section 17

Repeal of Section 18

Repeal of Section 19

Repeal of Section 20

Repeal of Sections 17, 18, 19, and 20 proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.

Amendment to Section 21

Amendment to Section 22

Addition of Sections 22¼, 22½

Addition of Section 22¾

Amendment to Section 22¾

Proposed by Board of Supervisors July 23, 1974, ratified at general election November 5, 1974, filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1974. Approved by Legislature September 12, 1975, SCR 69, Chap. 135, Stats. 1975.

Addition of Section 24⅓

Repeal of Section 24⅓, Subsection (b)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 22, 1944, ratified at general election November 7, 1944, approved by Legislature January 16, 1945, filed with Secretary of State January 17, 1945. Stats. 1945, P. 2921.

Addition of Section 24⅔

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 31, 1954, ratified at general election November 2, 1954, approved by Legislature January 10, 1955, filed with Secretary of State January 11, 1955, Stats. 1955, Chap. 20, P. 3788.

Addition of Section 25⅓

Addition of Section 25⅔

Amendment to Section 25

Repeal of Section 28

Repeal of Section 29

Amendment of Section 25 and repeal of Sections 28 and 29 proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 20.

Amendment to Section 30

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 7, 1948, ratified at general election November 2, 1948, approved by Legislature January 6, 1949, filed with Secretary of State January 7, 1949. Stats. 1949, Chap. 9, P. 2880.

Amendment to Section 30

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 15, 1978, ratified at general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 29.

Amendment to Section 31

Amendment to Section 32

Amendment to Section 33

Proposed by Board of Supervisors March 25, 1976, ratified at primary election June 8, 1976, filed with Secretary of State July 6, 1976, published Stats. 1976, Charter Chapter No. 13, P. 32-33.

Amendment to Section 33(d)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 14, 1978, ratified at general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 29.

Amendment to Section 33(e)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors November 13, 2001, ratified at special election March 5, 2002, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State April 24, 2002 and was given Charter Chapter No. 12.

Addition of Section 33(h)

Addition of Section 33(i)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors November 30, 1999, ratified at the Primary Election March 7, 2000, accepted by and filed with the Secretary of State April 3, 2000, published Stats. 2000, Charter Chapter No. 2.

Amendment to Section 33

Repeal of Section 33.5

Amendment to Section 33.5(a)

Proposed by Board of Supervisors November 13, 2001, ratified at special election March 5, 2002, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State April 24, 2002, and was given Charter Chapter No. 12.

Repeal of Section 33.7

Addition of Section 33.8

Addition to Section 33.9

Proposed by the Board of Supervisors November 30, 1999, ratified at the Primary Election March 7, 2000, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State April 3, 2000, published Stats. 2000, Charter Chapter No. 2.

Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 9

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 20, 1946, ratified at general election November 5, 1946, approved by Legislature January 8, 1947, filed with Secretary of State January 10, 1947. Stats. 1947, P. 3361.

Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 10

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 17, 1940, ratified at general election November 5, 1940, approved by Legislature January 9, 1941, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1941. Stats. 1941, P. 3235.

Addition of Section 34, paragraphs 10.1 and 10.2

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 2, 1958, ratified at general election November 4, 1958, approved by Legislature January 12, 1959, filed with Secretary of State January 14, 1959. Stats. 1959, Chap. 7, P. 5344.

Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 11

Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 13

Proposed by Board of Supervisors September 27, 1938, ratified at general election November 8, 1938, approved by Legislature March 7, 1939, filed with Secretary of State March 7, 1939. Stats. 1939, P. 3145.

Amendment to Section 34, Paragraph 13

Amendment to Section 34, Subsection 15

Addition of Section 34, Subsection 17

Amendment to Section 34, Paragraph 17

Amendment to Section 34

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 24, 1972, ratified at general election November 7, 1972, approved by Legislature November 28, 1972, filed with Secretary of State December 1, 1972. Stats. 1972, Chap. 166, of Resolutions of 1972.

Amendment to Section 34

Amendment to Section 35

Amendment to Section 36

Addition of Section 36½

Proposed by Board of Supervisors June 25, 1928, ratified at special election August 29, 1928, approved by Legislature January 10, 1929, filed with Secretary of State January 15, 1929. Stats. 1929, P. 1985.

Amendment to Section 36½

Repeal of Section 37

Repeal of Section 38

Repeal of Section 39

Repeal of Section 40

Amendment to Section 41

Repeal of Section 42

Repeal of Section 43

Above two proposed by Board of Supervisors February 28, 1984, ratified at special election June 5, 1984, filed with Secretary of State August 9, 1984, and was given Charter Chapter No. 23.

Addition of Section 44.5

Addition of Section 44.7

Amendment to Section 44.7

Proposed by Board of Supervisors June 27, 1978, ratified at general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 29.

Amendment to Section 47

Proposed by Board of Supervisors February 7, 1978, ratified at primary election June 6, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 28.

Addition of Section 47.5

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 3, 1981, ratified at general election November 2, 1982, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 13, 1982, published Stats. 1982, Charter Chapter No. 29.

Amendment to Section 48

Amendment to Section 50

Proposed by Board of Supervisors April 25, 1978, ratified at general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 29.

Amendment to Section 52

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 2, 1994, ratified at general election November 8, 1994, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State February 24, 1995, published Stats. 1995, Charter Chapter 8.

Amendment to Section 52

Amendment to Section 54

Addition of Section 56¼

Addition of Section 56½

Addition of Section 56¾

Addition of Section 56⅘

Proposed by Board of Supervisors August 8, 1978, ratified at general election November 7, 1978, accepted by and filed with Secretary of State December 11, 1978, published Stats. 1978, Charter Chapter No. 29.

TABLE OF CASES CITED

Anderson v. Lewis, 29 Cal. App. 24, 154 P. 287 (1915)

Avan v. Municipal Court, 62 Cal. 2d 630, 43 Cal. Rptr. 835, 401 P. 2d 227 (1965)

Bank of America v. Board of Supervisors, 93 Cal. App. 2d 75, 208 P. 2d 772 (1949)

Board of Education v. Watson, 63 Cal. 2d 829, 49 Cal. Rptr. 481, 409 P. 2d 481 (1966)

Board of Law Library Trustees v. Lowery, 67 Cal. App. 2d 480, 154 P. 2d 719 (1945)

Board of Supervisors v. Simpson, 36 Cal. 2d 671, 227 P. 2d 14 (1951)

Brown v. Francisco, 123 Cal. App. 2d 413, 266 P. 2d 951 (1954)

Bybee v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 467, 25 P. 2d 472 (1933)

Chester v. Hall, 55 Cal. App. 611, 204 P. 237 (1921)

Cline v. Lewis, 175 Cal. 315, 165 P. 915 (1917)

County Sanitation District No. 2 v. Los Angeles County Employees' Assn., 38 Cal. 3d 564, 214 Cal. Rptr. 424 (1985)

Cronin v. Civil Serv. Commission, 71 Cal. App. 633, 236 P. 339 (1925)

Elfbrandt v. Russell, 384 U.S. 11, 86 S. Ct. 1283, 16 L.Ed. 2d 321 (1966)

Gibson v. Civil Serv. Comm., 27 Cal. App. 396, 150 P. 78 (1915)

Glasser v. Municipal Court, 27 Cal. App. 2d 455, 81 P. 2d 260 (1938)

Globe v. County of Los Angeles, 163 Cal. App. 2d 595, 329 P. 2d 971 (1958), aff'd sub nom, Nelson v. County of Los Angeles, 362 U.S. 1; 80 S.Ct. 527; 4 L.Ed. 2d 494 (1960)

Ham v. County of Los Angeles, 46 Cal. App. 148, 189 P. 462 (1920)

Hedlund v. Davis, 47 Cal. 2d 75, 301 P. 2d 843 (1956)

Hirschman v. Los Angeles County, 39 Cal. 2d 698, 249 P. 2d 287 (1952)

Hofberg v. Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, 258 Cal. App. 2d 433, 65 Cal. Rptr. 759 (1968)

Holland v. Byram, 28 Cal. 2d 567, 170 P. 2d 938 (1946)

Hunt v. Superior Court, 178 Cal. 470, 173 P. 1097 (1918)

Keith v. Hammel, 29 Cal. App. 131, 154 P. 871 (1915)

Kerr v. Russell, 209 Cal. 36, 285 P. 311 (1930)

Keyishian v. Board of Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 87 S. Ct. 675, 17 L.Ed. 2d 629 (1967)

Lesem v. Getty, 23 Cal. App. 2d 57, 72 P. 2d 183 (1937)

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor v. County of Los Angeles, 160 Cal. App. 3d 905, 207 Cal. Rptr. 1 (1985)

Los Angeles, County of v. Cline, 37 Cal. App. 607, 174 P. 73 (1918)

Los Angeles, County of v. Hammel, 26 Cal. App. 580, 147 P. 983 (1915)

Mapes v. Williams, 2 Cal. 2d 177, 25 P. 2d 896, 39 P. 2d 421 (1934)

Markowitz v. Carpenter, 94 Cal. App. 2d 667, 211 P. 2d 617 (1949)

Marks v. Superior Court, 245 Cal. App. 2d 779, 54 Cal. Rptr. 169 (1966)

McKesson v. Lowery, 51 Cal. 2d 660, 335 P. 2d 662 (1959)

McMillin, Estate of v. Robinson, 46 Cal. 2d 121, 292 P. 2d 881 (1956)

Miller, Estate of, 5 Cal. 2d 588, 55 P. 2d 491 (1936)

Miller v. McKinnon, 20 Cal. 2d 83, 124 P. 2d 34 (1942) and Wilson v. Sharp, 42 Cal. 2d 675, 268 P. 2d 1062 (1954)

Morton v. Richards, 134 Cal. App. 665, 26 P. 2d 320 (1933)

Murphy, Estate of, 171 Cal. 697, 154 P. 839 (1916)

Nelson v. Los Angeles County, 362 U.S. 1, 80 S. Ct. 527, 4 L.Ed. 2d 494 (1960)

Nielson v. Richards, 69 Cal. App. 533, 232 P. 480 (1924)

Noel v. Lewis, 35 Cal. App. 658, 170 P. 857 (1917)

Ogle v. Eckel, 49 Cal. App. 2d 599, 122 P. 2d 67 (1942)

Ostly v. Saper, 147 Cal. App. 2d 671, 305 P. 2d 946 (1957)

Pasadena, City of v. County of Los Angeles, 235 Cal. App. 2d 153, 45 Cal. Rptr. 94 (1965)

People v. McAleer, 33 Cal. App. 135, 164 P. 425 (1917)

People v. Ziady, 8 Cal. 2d 149, 64 P. 2d 425 (1937)

Placer County Employees' Association v. Board of Supervisors, 233 Cal. App. 2d 555, 43 Cal. Rptr. 782 (1965)

Pridham v. Lewis, 30 Cal. App. 395, 158 P. 333 (1916)

Pulcifer v. County of Alameda, 29 Cal. 2d 258 175 P. 2d 1 (1946)

Reuter v. Board of Supervisors, 220 Cal. 314, 30 P. 2d 417 (1934)

Sacramento, County of v. Chambers, 33 Cal. App. 142, 164 P. 613 (1917)

Sacramento, City of v. Simmons, 66 Cal. App. 18, 225 P. 36 (1924)

Sausalito, City of v. County of Marin, 12 Cal. App. 3d 550, 90 Cal. Rptr. 843 (1970)

Sawyer v. Berger, 34 Cal. App. 567, 168 P. 371 (1917)

Schnell, Estate of, 82 Cal. App. 2d 170, 185 P. 2d 856 (1947)

Seidel v. Waring, 36 Cal. 2d 149, 222 P. 2d 669 (1950)

Shay v. Roth, 64 Cal. App. 314, 221 P. 967 (1923)

Steiner v. Darby, 88 Cal. App. 2d 481, 199 P. 2d 429 (1948); 338 U.S. 327, 94 L.Ed. 144, 70 S. Ct. 161 (1949)

Tehama, County of v. Winter, 56 Cal. App. 341, 205 P. 97 (1922)

Thomas v. Pridham, 171 Cal. 98, 153 P. 933 (1915)

Union Bank and Trust Co. v. County of Los Angeles, 11 Cal. 2d 675, 81 P. 2d 919 (1938)

Walker v. County of Los Angeles, 55 Cal. 2d 626, 12 Cal. Rptr. 671, 361 P. 2d 247 (1961)

Watson v. Los Altos School District, 149 Cal. App. 2d 768, 308 P. 2d 872 (1957)

Whelan v. Bailey, 1 Cal. App. 2d 334, 36 P. 2d 709 (1934)

Wilkinson v. Lund, 102 Cal. App. 767, 283 P. 385 (1929)

Williams v. County of Los Angeles, LA Superior Ct. No. 809416 (1963)

Wilson v. Board of Retirement, 156 Cal. App. 2d 195, 319 P. 2d 426 (1957)

Woolwine v. Superior Court, 182 Cal. 388, 188 P. 569 (1920)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHARTER

We, the people of the County of Los Angeles, do ordain and establish for its government this Charter.