Title 7 — BUSINESS LICENSES›Division 2 — SPECIFIC BUSINESSES›Chapter 7.24 — CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS
Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 3 Solicitation Regulations
Los Angeles County Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Los Angeles County
Cite as: Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 3 · Text as of 2026-10-04
7.24.160 - Written permission from organization required.¶
A person shall not use the name of any association in charge or control of any charitable activity in any solicitation without having written permission from two of the officers of such association to use its name, or the name of or reference to such charitable activity, which written permission shall be filed with the commission prior to any such use.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3132, 1951.)
7.24.170 - Authorization—Form and possession by solicitor.¶
A person shall not solicit in the name of or on behalf of any charitable association unless such solicitor has:
A.
Written authorization of two officers of such association, a copy of which shall be filed with the commission. Such authorization and copy shall each bear a specimen signature of the solicitor and expressly shall state on its face the period for which it is valid, which shall not exceed 90 days from the date issued.
B.
Such authorization with him when making solicitations and exhibits the same on request to persons solicited or to any peace officer or agent of the commission.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3133, 1951.)
7.24.180 - Exceptions to chapter applicability.¶
The provisions of this chapter, except Part 1 and Sections 7.24.240, 7.24.310, 7.24.330 and 7.24.360, shall not be applicable to any solicitation made upon premises owned or occupied by the association upon whose behalf such solicitation is made, nor to any solicitation for the relief of any individual specified by name at the time of solicitation where the solicitor represents in each case that the entire amount collected, without any deduction whatever, shall be turned over to the named beneficiary, nor shall they be applicable to any association soliciting contributions solely from persons who are members thereof at the time of such solicitation, nor shall they be applicable to solicitations made solely for evangelical, missionary or religious purposes.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3144, 1951.)
7.24.190 - Presentation of information card required.¶
When making any solicitation regulated by this chapter, the solicitor shall read the information card approved by or issued by the commission to the person solicited, or present it to the person for his perusal, allowing him sufficient time to read the same, before accepting any contributions so solicited.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3135, 1951.)
7.24.200 - Contributions—Receipt requirements.¶
A.
A person shall not solicit any contribution for any charitable purpose unless such person tenders to each person making such contribution a written receipt signed by the solicitor which contains, in addition to a description of the amount and kind of the contribution, substantially the following matters:
The name of the association, if any, in whose name or upon whose behalf the solicitation is made;
A statement as to whether the contribution solicited is to be applied for the general purposes of such association, if any, or for specific purposes, and if for specific purposes the nature thereof shall be clearly stated;
A statement that the information card, issued by the board of social service commissioners of the city of Los Angeles and approved by the commission, or the information card provided for in Part 2 of this chapter, issued by the commission, was presented to the person making the contribution for his perusal prior to receipt by the solicitor of the contribution receipted for.
B.
Provided, however, that no receipt need be given or tendered if donation of money is made by placing of the same in a locked receptacle, of a kind previously approved by the commission, in such manner that it is impracticable to ascertain either the amount donated or the name of the donor, and if an inscription shall be conspicuously attached to such receptacle containing in legible writing a copy of such information card approved by or issued by the commission and the statements required to be set forth in the receipt hereinbefore in this section referred to, except the statements regarding such information card. and if such receptacle bears a number or other mark of identification, and if a written list showing by number the location and name of the solicitor in charge of each receptacle, if there be more than one such receptacle within the county of Los Angeles, shall have been previously filed with the commission.
C.
Provided, further, that no receipt need be given for any donation of money in an amount less than $1.00.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3134, 1951.)
7.24.210 - Telephone solicitation—Compensation prohibited when.¶
A.
A person shall not for any pecuniary compensation or consideration conduct or make any solicitation by telephone.
B.
Subsection A of this section does not apply to any communication by telephone between persons personally known to each other.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3137, 1951.)
7.24.220 - Telephone solicitation—Presentation of information card required.¶
When any solicitation regulated by this chapter is made by telephone, the solicitor shall present to each person who consents to, or indicates a willingness to contribute, prior to accepting a contribution from the said person, the information card approved by, or issued by the commission, or a true written copy thereof. This section does not permit any solicitation by telephone which is prohibited by Section 7.24.210.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3138, 1951.)
7.24.230 - Printed, published, telephone, radio or television solicitation.¶
When any solicitation regulated by this chapter is conducted by printed matter or published article, or over radio, television, telephone, telegraph, or by any other means of communication presently known or hereafter devised, such publicity shall contain the data and information required to be set forth in the information card approved by or issued by the commission.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3136, 1951.)
7.24.240 - Use of fictitious names prohibited.¶
A person shall not use in soliciting or give to any person whomsoever a fictitious name or an alias, or any other than his full, true and correct name, or make any such solicitation without at the time of such solicitation giving to the person solicited his own full, true and correct name, nor shall he impersonate any other person in making such solicitation.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3141, 1951.)
7.24.250 - Authorization—Waiver authorized when.¶
When a campaign or drive for raising funds for any charitable purpose is given general publicity through the press or otherwise, and when more than 25 persons serve as solicitors without compensation for their services, and the publicity concerning the solicitation fully informs the general public and the persons to be solicited as to the facts required to be set
forth in the information card approved by or issued by the commission, the commission may waive the requirements of this Part 3 with respect to information cards and the filing of copies of written authorization (herein provided for in Section 7.24.170) of the said solicitors serving without compensation.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3139, 1951.)
7.24.260 - Return of information card.¶
Upon request therefor by the commission, the holder of an information card issued by the commission shall return such information card to the commission upon completion of the solicitation for which it was issued, or at the expiration of the period for which it is valid, whichever first occurs.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3140, 1951.)
7.24.270 - Names of other persons or public entities—Use restrictions.¶
Unless written permission is obtained prior thereto, a person shall not use the name of any person, including, but not limited to, the name of any public official, or the name of any department, division, bureau or commission of the state, or the county, or any city, or any other public entity:
A.
In the solicitation of funds for any purpose whatsoever; or
B.
In any booklet, letter or other publication which person or organization makes or will make any solicitation; or
C.
In any other manner which implies, or may imply, that such person or department, division, bureau or commission endorses or approves of such solicitation.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3145, 1951.)
7.24.280 - Endorsements by governmental bodies—Restrictions.¶
Except as expressly permitted pursuant to Part 5 of this chapter, a person shall not state to any other person from whom funds are being solicited, either orally or in writing, or in printed matter, that such solicitation bears the endorsement or approval of any department, division, bureau or commission of the state, or county or of any city or of any other public entity.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3146, 1951.)
7.24.290 - Accounting system required for charitable associations.¶
A person shall not solicit any contributions for or on behalf of any charitable association unless such association is maintaining a system of accounting whereby all donations to it and all disbursements made by it are entered upon the books or records of its treasurer or other financial officer.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3142, 1951.)
7.24.300 - Expenses—Report to commission—Contents and filing time.¶
A.
Every person or association soliciting any contribution within the county for any charitable purpose shall file with the commission within 30 days after the close of such solicitation or within 30 days after a demand therefor by the commission a report to the commission, stating:
The contributions secured from or as a result of such solicitation;
In detail, all expenses of or connected with such solicitation;
Exactly for what use and in what manner all such contributions were or are to be disbursed or distributed.
B.
Every such report shall be made on forms to be furnished by the commission, and signed by the person to whom an information card was issued or whose city information card was approved. If the report is made by an association, not less than two officers thereof shall sign the same; provided, that when any such solicitation is made by any such association such report need be filed only by such association and not by an individual solicitor engaged in such solicitation.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3143, 1951.)
7.24.310 - Fraud prohibited.¶
A person shall not make or perpetrate any misstatement, deception or fraud in connection with any solicitation of any contribution for any charitable purpose or association.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3131, 1951.)
7.24.320 - Emergency—Certain chapter provisions waived when.¶
The commission may waive the whole or any part of any provision of Part 2 of this chapter or Sections 7.24.160, 7.24.170, 7.24.190, 7.24.200, 7.24.220, 7.24.230, 7.24.250, or 7.24.260, for the purpose of meeting any extraordinary emergency of calamity.
(Ord. 9678 § 2 (part), 1968: Ord. 5860 Ch. 18 Art. 3 § 3147, 1951.)
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