Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 4.40 Unclaimed Personal Property

Note— For statutory provisions on unclaimed property in the possession of county authorities, see Civil Code § 280.4 et seq.

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide for a process to dispose of Unclaimed Personal Property found within the jurisdiction of the County that is consistent with State law and under certain circumstances allows the finder of the Unclaimed Personal Property to obtain legal title.

(Ord. 2024-0006 § 1, 2024; Ord. 9989 § 6 (part), 1970; Ord. 4099 Art. 101 §§ 19301 and 19302, 1942.)

As used in this Chapter:

A.

"County" means the County of Los Angeles.

B.

"Holding Period" means all Personal Property in the possession of a County officer or employee shall be held and stored by the County for a period of at least ninety (90) days.

C.

"Personal Property" means money, goods, chattels, negotiable instruments, or other items of intrinsic value that are not considered by law to be real property but shall exclude:

Animals;

Property subject to confiscation under State or federal law;

Vehicles, the storage, sale, or other disposition of which is governed by the California Vehicle Code; and

Property held as evidence, dangerous weapons or deadly weapons, narcotic or dangerous drugs, explosives or any property of any kind whatsoever which is prohibited, restricted or outlawed by State or federal law, or which has been intentionally abandoned by its owner based on an objectively reasonable belief supported by facts or evidence that the property has been intentionally abandoned or relinquished.

D.

"Unclaimed Personal Property" means any Personal Property remaining in the possession of the County that has not been claimed by the owner within the Holding Period.

(Ord. 2024-0006 § 2, 2024; Ord. 9989 § 6 (part), 1970; Ord. 4099 Art. 101 § 19303, 1942.)

Pursuant to California Civil Code section 2080.6, the County adopts the procedures set forth in California Civil Code section 2080, et seq. for the disposition of Personal Property in the possession of a County department, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

A.

Holding Period. All Personal Property in the possession of a County department shall be held and stored by the County for a period of at least ninety (90) days. Personal Property that is refuse, solid or liquid waste, presents an immediate threat to public health or safety, or otherwise does not permit practical, safe and reasonably efficient storage may be disposed of immediately by the County.

B.

Return to Owners. Personal Property may be redeemed by the true owner upon proof of ownership satisfactory to the County, and provided such owner pays for the reasonable costs incurred by the County department in the store and care of the Personal Property. If ownership cannot be determined to the satisfaction of the County, it may refuse to deliver such Personal Property until ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction.

C.

Unclaimed Personal Property to Finders.

Value less than $250. If the reported value of the Unclaimed Personal Property is less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), the finder of the Unclaimed Personal Property shall have thirty (30) days to claim the property after expiration of the Holding Period, except when such finder is an employee of the County who found the Unclaimed Personal Property in the course of their employment, in which case the property shall vest in the County and shall be disposed of as set forth in Subsection D.

Value of $250 or more. If the reported value of the Unclaimed Personal Property is two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more, notice of the Unclaimed Personal Property should be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation and concurrently published on a County website and on social media after expiration of the Holding Period. In addition to any notices published on a County website, a general description of these notice procedures shall be posted on, or easily accessible from, the main County website, www.lacounty.gov. If, after seven (7) days following the publication of the notice, no owner appears and proves ownership of the Unclaimed Personal Property, the finder of the Unclaimed Personal Property shall have thirty (30) days to claim the property upon payment of the cost of the publication, except when such finder is an employee of the County who found the Unclaimed Personal Property in the course of their employment, in which case the property shall vest in the County and shall be disposed of as set forth in Subsection D.

D.

Disposition of Unclaimed Personal Property by County. If the Unclaimed Personal Property is not claimed by the owner or finder, title to said property shall vest in the County and it shall be disposed of in one of the following ways.

It shall be destroyed if so directed and authorized by State, federal, or local laws, regulations, and policies.

Bicycles and toys may be delivered to the Probation Department or the Sheriff's Department for youth outreach programs or activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency, instead of being sold at public auction to the highest bidder.

All coins and currency shall be deposited in the County Treasury for disposition pursuant to California Government Code section 50050, et seq., but coins and currency having collectible or historic value or other value greater than the face value thereof may be disposed of by the County's Purchasing Agent in such manner as to obtain such greater value.

All remaining Unclaimed Personal Property shall be delivered to the County's Purchasing Agent for sale and disposition. The County's Purchasing Agent may determine that any such Unclaimed Personal Property may be retained by the County and need not be sold.

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All other property exempt from the definition of Personal Property in Subsection C of Section 4.40.020 shall be disposed of in accordance with law, and applicable policies and procedures of the County.

(Ord. 2024-0006 § 3, 2024; Ord. 9989 § 6 (part), 1970; Ord. 4099 Art. 101 § 19304, 1942.)

If any provision of this Chapter or the application thereof to any person, property, or circumstance, is held invalid or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other provision or application of this Chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this Chapter are declared to be severable.

(Ord. 2024-0006 § 4, 2024; Ord. 9989 § 6 (part), 1970; Ord. 4099 Art. 101 § 19305, 1942.)