Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 6 Public Hazards

Section 56.00 Words and Phrases. 56.01 Window Sills – Placing Articles on. 56.02 Silly String – Hollywood Division During Halloween. 56.07 Hat Block – Revolving Device. 56.08 Sidewalks – Streets – Obstructions. 56.09 Sidewalks – Opening in. 56.10 Sidewalks – Sprinklers. 56.11 Storage of Personal Property. 56.12 Obstructions on Streets and Sidewalks. 56.13 Streets – Sidewalks – Traps – Receiving Goods – Time. 56.14 Streets – Loading or Unloading Freight Cars Upon. 56.15 Bicycle Riding – Sidewalks. 56.15.1 Use of Skateboards. 56.15.2 Skateboarding Prohibited. 56.15.3 Prohibition on Repairs, Sales, and Storage of Bicycles and Bicycle Parts on Public Property. 56.16 Streets – Sidewalks – Playing Ball or Games of Sport. 56.20 Street Cars – Places of Stopping. 56.22 Traumatic Injuries – Reports Of. 56.23 Traumatic Injuries – Hospital Report Of. 56.24 Bodily Specimens in Locked Containers. 56.30 Trespassing and Loitering – Forbidden Upon and Near Posted Properties. 56.31 Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 56.32 Prohibition of Unlawful Possession of Catalytic Converters.

For the purpose of this article the following words and phrases are defined, and shall be construed as hereafter set out, unless it shall be apparent from the context that they have a different meaning:

“Accident” shall mean any occurrence arising out of or taking place in connection with the operation of a street railroad or interurban railroad, that involves the death of any person, or any draught animal, or any injury to any person sufficient to require the service of a physician or surgeon, or the collision of one car against another or against a vehicle of any kind.

“Parkway” shall mean that portion of a public street other than a roadway or a sidewalk. (Added by Ord. No. 123,979, Eff. 4/20/63.)

“Roadway” shall mean that portion of a street which is improved or designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. (Added by Ord. No. 123,979, Eff. 4/20/63.)

“Sidewalk” shall mean that portion of a street, other than the roadway, set apart by curbs, barriers, markings or other delineation for pedestrian travel. (Added by Ord. No. 123,979, Eff. 4/20/63.)

“Street” shall mean and include all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares or other public ways in this City which have been or may hereafter be dedicated to the public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this State. (Added by Ord. No. 123,979, Eff. 4/20/63.)

No person shall place, leave or deposit in or upon any window ledge or window sill or other portion of any building more than one story in height, located within any business district, as said districts are now defined in the Vehicle Code (Statutes 1935, Chapter 27) of this State, any article or thing, unless such article or thing is securely fastened or unless a railing or other device is constructed, erected and maintained in connection with any such window ledge, window sill or other portion of said building so as to prevent any such article or thing from falling in, into or upon any street or sidewalk.

(Added by Ord. No. 176,176, Eff. 10/6/04.)

(a) For purposes of this section:

1. “Silly String” shall mean any putty-like substance that is shot or expelled in the form of string from an aerosol can or other pressurized device, regardless of whether it is sold under the name “Silly String” or

any other name.

2. “Hollywood Division” shall mean the area defined by the Los Angeles Police Department as the Hollywood Division, the geographical boundaries of which include all of that portion of Los Angeles City bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, and proceeding northerly along Normandie Avenue to Franklin Avenue, and proceeding westerly along Franklin Avenue to Western Avenue, and proceeding northerly along Western Avenue to Fern Dell Drive, and continuing northerly along Fern Dell Drive to its terminus, and proceeding due north through Griffith Park to Forest Lawn Drive at its intersection with Zoo Drive, and proceeding westerly and southwesterly along Forest Lawn Drive to Barham Boulevard, and proceeding southerly along Barham Boulevard to United States Highway 101, and proceeding southeasterly along U.S. Highway 101 to Mulholland Drive, and proceeding westerly along the various curves and courses of Mulholland Drive to the Crest of Ridge, and proceeding southerly following the Los Angeles city line along the eastern border of the Trousdale Estates area of the City of Beverly Hills to the northeast corner of the City of West Hollywood, and proceeding easterly following the Los Angeles city line bordering along its various curves and courses of the northern border of the City of West Hollywood to the eastern border of the City of West Hollywood that is to the east of La Brea Avenue, and proceeding southerly along the Los Angeles city line to Romaine Street, and proceeding westerly following the Los Angeles city line along its various curves and courses to the intersection of Romaine Street and La Cienega Boulevard, and proceeding southerly following the Los Angeles city line along its various curves and courses to Beverly Boulevard, and proceeding easterly along Beverly Boulevard to La Brea Avenue, and proceeding northerly along La Brea Avenue to Willoughby Avenue, and proceeding easterly along Willoughby Avenue to Hudson Avenue, and proceeding southerly along Hudson Avenue to Melrose Avenue, and proceeding easterly along Melrose Avenue to Gower Street, and proceeding southerly along Gower Street to Beverly Boulevard, and proceeding easterly along Beverly Boulevard to Normandie Avenue.

   3. “Halloween” shall mean the 36-hour period from 12:00 a.m. on October 31st of each year, through 12:00 p.m. on November 1st of each year.

(b) No Person, as defined in Municipal Code Section 11.01(a), shall possess, use, sell or distribute Silly String at, within or upon any public or private property that is either within public view or accessible to the public, including, but not limited to, public or private streets, sidewalks, parking lots, commercial or residential buildings, places of business, or parks within the Hollywood Division during Halloween.

(c) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor subject to the provisions of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 11.01(m).

No person shall operate or maintain upon or adjacent to any public sidewalk any hat block or other device which revolves or rotates by means of power, unless such hat block or other device is separated from the sidewalk by a suitable barrier to prevent persons using the sidewalk from coming in contact with such hat block or other revolving device, or unless such hat block or other revolving device is screened with a metal screen or a mesh not greater than one quarter of an inch in size.

(a) No person owning, leasing, occupying, having charge or control of any lot or premises, shall allow, keep or maintain any tree, bush or vegetation growing upon any lot or premises abutting any street or sidewalk or upon any street or sidewalk so that the limbs, twigs, leaves or parts of such tree, bush or vegetation interfere with or obstruct the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles along or upon said streets or sidewalks.

(b) Trees or bushes greater than fifteen feet in height growing in or upon any premises or sidewalk shall be deemed to interfere with and obstruct the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles upon said streets and sidewalks within the meaning of this section unless the lower limbs, twigs or leaves of such trees or bushes are kept removed at all times so as to have a minimum clearance of:

1. 13 feet 6 inches over that portion of State highways and major streets improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic;

2. 11 feet over that portion of local streets improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic;

3. 9 feet over the sidewalk and parkway area of all streets. (Amended by Ord. No. 106,987, Eff. 3/24/56.)

(c) No person having charge or control of any lot or premises shall allow any soil, rubbish, trash, garden refuse, tree trimmings, ashes, tin cans or other waste or refuse to remain upon any sidewalk, parkway, or in or upon any street abutting on or adjacent to such lot or premises, or which will interfere with or obstruct the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles along any such street, sidewalk or parkway. (Amended by Ord. No. 123,979, Eff. 4/20/63.)

(d) No person having charge or control of any lot, building, or premises, shall clean or sweep any dirt, rubbish or refuse from any sidewalk into the street; provided that nothing contained in this section shall prevent such person from cleaning or sweeping any dirt, rubbish, or refuse from any sidewalk and disposing of the same on or in said lot, building or premises, where such disposition does not create a nuisance and is not prohibited by any other ordinance. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,466, Eff. 7/29/76.)

(e) (Amended by Ord. No. 128,577, Eff. 11/14/64.)

1. No person having charge or control of any lot or premises, either as owner, lessee, tenant, builder, contractor, housemover, or otherwise, shall construct, deposit or maintain any structure, building, rock, brick,

broken concrete, stepping stones, sprinkler heads or any obstacle of any nature whatsoever in or upon any street, sidewalk or parkway abutting on or adjacent to such lot or premises or which will interfere with the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles along such street, sidewalk or parkway.

2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to sprinkler heads or bricks in tree wells which are properly maintained on grade with the surface of the sidewalk or parkway in which they are located.

3. The Board of Public Works may grant deviations or modifications of this subsection, upon written application therefor, so as to permit the installation and maintenance of bricks, stepping stones and similar walking surfaces in parkways, on grade with the surface thereof, whenever it is determined that the following conditions exist:

   a. That the deviation or modification requested arises from unusual or extraordinary physical conditions, and is necessary to permit the proper and lawful development and use of the applicant’s property;

   b. That the granting of the deviation or modification requested will not be contrary to the public safety, convenience, and general welfare;

   c. That the granting of the deviation or modification will not adversely affect the rights of adjacent property owners or tenants.

(f) No person shall excavate on any land sufficiently close to the property line to endanger any adjoining street, sidewalk, alley, or other public property, without supporting and protecting such street, sidewalk, alley, or other public property from settling, cracking, or other damage which might result from such excavation.

(g) Any person having charge or control of any lot or premises who violates the provisions of Subsections (a) or (c) shall be subject to the Administrative Fine amounts and criminal penalties set forth in Subsection (h). (Amended by Ord. No. 187,232, Eff. 11/18/21.)

(h) A first violation of Subsection (a) or (c) in a calendar year is subject to an Administrative Fine of $50.00. A second violation of Subsection (a) or (c) in the same calendar year is subject to an Administrative Fine of $100.00. A third violation of Subsection (a) or (c) in the same calendar year is subject to an Administrative Fine of $150.00. A fourth or subsequent violation of Subsection (a) or (c) in the same calendar year may result in the violation being prosecuted as a misdemeanor, and the violator shall be subject to all penalties applicable to criminal violations. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,232, Eff. 11/18/21.)

(i) Unless otherwise specified herein, all Administrative Citations issued for violations of this section shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Article 1.2 of Chapter 1 of this Code, including, but not limited to, the administrative hearing and appeal process and the authority of the City to use any civil remedy available to collect any unpaid Administrative Fine. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,232, Eff. 11/18/21.)

(j) It shall be a violation of this Code for a person to exceed the scope of a permit and engage in conduct that prevents the free passage of pedestrians as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 (1990), as amended from time to time. (Added by Ord. No. 187,527, Eff. 7/16/22.)

(k) It shall be a violation of this Code for a person whose activity in the public right-of-way requires a permit, fails to possess that permit, and engages in conduct that prevents the free passage of pedestrians as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 (1990), as amended from time to time. (Added by Ord. No. 187,527, Eff. 7/16/22.)

(l) A person who violates Subsections (j) or (k) is subject to an infraction pursuant to LAMC Section 11.00(m) or a citation pursuant to the City’s Administrative Citation Enforcement Program, as specified in Article 1.2 of this Code. A person who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs a City employee from enforcing Subsections (j) or (k), or who willfully refuses to comply after being requested to do so by an authorized City employee, is subject to the penalties set forth in Section 11.00 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 187,527, Eff. 7/16/22.)

An Ordinance prohibiting obstruction of streets or sidewalks is valid. In re Bodkin (1948), 86 Cal. App. 2d 208.

The public is entitled to free and unobstructed use of entire streets and sidewalks for purposes of travel subject only to reasonable and proper control of the municipality. People v. Amdur (1954), 123 Cal. App. 2d Supp. 951.

(a) No person shall construct or maintain, any permanent opening in any sidewalk, unless the same be constructed and maintained in the manner required by this section.

Every such opening in any sidewalk shall be covered with metal trap doors. The sides or ends of any such door nearest the curb shall not be less than four (4) feet from the outer edge of such curb and no such door shall be more than five (5) feet in width; provided however, that the provisions of this section regulating the width of any such door and its distance from the curb shall not apply to any such door erected, constructed or

maintained prior to the passage of Ordinance No. 20,449 (N.S.), approved June 16, 1910. Metal guards of the kind herein described shall be provided and maintained at each such opening. Each such metal guard shall reach to the height of such doors when the same are open and shall be constructed of wire mesh, the meshes of which shall not exceed three inches in the greatest dimension.

In addition to the opening hereinbefore described, an opening through a sidewalk not more than thirty inches in its greatest dimension, may be maintained for the admittance of fuel to the cellar or basement of the building fronting on such portion of such sidewalk. Every such opening shall have a metal cover flush with the surface of the sidewalk, and its upper surface shall be roughened.

All structural parts of sidewalks, including such doors and covers, shall be capable of sustaining a uniform live load of 300 pounds per square foot. (Amended by Ord. No. 113,043, Eff. 4/23/59.)

(b) No person shall open any such door, unless a metal guard is placed along the edge of and on each side of such opening and so maintained during such time as such door shall remain open; provided, however, that such metal guard need not be placed or maintained along the side of such opening on which goods, wares, merchandise or other articles are being removed from or taken into the space beneath such opening, if a person is stationed on the sides of such opening for the purpose of warning passers-by and of preventing accidents.

(c) No person shall keep open any door or cover of any opening mentioned in this section, except during such time as goods, wares, merchandise or other articles are actually being removed from or taken into the space beneath such opening.

(d) No person shall construct or maintain, in any sidewalk, any opening covered with a grating of any description, or any permanent uncovered opening provided however the Board of Public Works may grant permits for such in conjunction with the construction of rapid transit facilities/stations subject to compliance with such terms and conditions imposed by the Board, including, but not limited to, providing general liability insurance and agreeing to indemnify the City. Any grating so installed in the sidewalk and any metal exit doors shall be designed, installed and maintained to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. (Amended by Ord. No 162,778, Eff. 10/11/87.)

No person shall put, place, attach or suspend, any sprinkler, or other attachment or device used in watering or sprinkling lawns, plants or flowers, so as to cause water to be thrown from the same upon or across any public sidewalk in such manner as to prevent or interfere with the free and uninterrupted passage of any person upon such sidewalk.

(Amended by Ord. No. 184,182, Eff. 4/11/16.)

1. Declaration of Legislative Intent – Purpose. The City enacts this section to balance the needs of the residents and public at large to access clean and sanitary public areas consistent with the intended uses for the public areas with the needs of the individuals, who have no other alternatives for the storage of personal property, to retain access to a limited amount of personal property in public areas. On the one hand, the unauthorized use of public areas for the storage of unlimited amounts of personal property interferes with the rights of other members of the public to use public areas for their intended purposes and can create a public health or safety hazard that adversely affects those who use public areas. On the other hand, the City’s large and vulnerable homeless population needs access to a manageable amount of essential property for their personal use and well- being. This section attempts to balance the needs of all of the City’s residents.

2. Definitions. The definitions contained in this subsection shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this section. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

   (a) “Alley” means any Highway having a Roadway not exceeding 25 feet in width which is primarily for access to the rear or side entrances of abutting property.

   (b) “Bikeway” means all facilities that provide primarily for, and promote, bicycle travel.

   (c) “City Employee” means any full or part- time employee of the City of Los Angeles or a contractor retained by the City for the purpose of implementing this Section.

   (d) “Essential Personal Property” means any and all Personal Property that cumulatively is less than two cubic feet in volume, which, by way of example, is the amount of property capable of being carried

   within a backpack.

   (e) “Excess Personal Property” means any and all Personal Property that cumulatively exceeds the amount of property that could fit in a 60-gallon container with the lid closed.

   (f) “Highway” means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

   (g) “Parkway” means the area of the Street between the back of the curb and the Sidewalk that typically is planted and landscaped.

   (h) “Person” means any individual.

   (i) “Personal Property” means any tangible property, and includes, but is not limited to, goods, materials, merchandise, Tents, tarpaulins, bedding, sleeping bags, hammocks, sheds, structures, mat- tresses,

   couches, chairs, other furniture, appliances, and personal items such as household items, luggage, backpacks, clothing, documents, and medication. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

   (j) “Public Area” or “Public Areas” means all property that is owned, managed or maintained by the City, except property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Recreation and Parks which is governed

   by Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 63.44, and shall include, but not be limited to, any Street, medial strip, space, ground, building or structure.

   (k) “Roadway” means that portion of a Highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.

   (l) “Sidewalk” means that portion of a Highway, other than the Roadway, set apart by curbs, barriers, markings or other delineation, for pedestrian travel.

   (m) “Storage Facility” means any facility, whether operated by a public, non-profit or private provider, which allows and has capacity for voluntary storage, free of charge, for a homeless person to store Personal Property up to the equivalent of the amount of property that would fit into a single 60-gallon container with the lid closed.

   (n) “Store”, “Stored”, “Storing” or “Storage” means to put Personal Property aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, and/or to place or leave in a Public Area. Moving Personal

   Property to another location in a Public Area or returning Personal Property to the same block on a daily or regular basis shall be considered Storing and shall not be considered to be removing the Personal Property from a Public Area. This definition shall not include any Personal Property that, pursuant to statute, ordinance, permit, regulation or other authorization by the City or state, is Stored with the permission of the City or state on real property that is owned or controlled by the City.

   (o) “Street” includes every Highway, avenue, lane, Alley, court, place, square, Sidewalk, Parkway, curbs, Bikeway or other public way in this City which has been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to

   public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.

   (p) “Tent” means a collapsible shelter made of fabric such as nylon or canvas or a tarp stretched and sustained by supports, which is not open on all sides and which hinders an unobstructed view behind or into

   the area surrounded by the fabric. In order to qualify as a Tent for purposes of this subsection, a Tent, when deconstructed, must be able to fit within a 60-gallon container with the lid closed.

   (q) “Unattended” means no Person is present with the Personal Property who asserts or claims ownership over the Personal Property. Conversely, property is considered “Attended” if a Person is present with

   the Personal Property and the Person claims ownership over the Personal Property.

3. Regulation and Impoundment of Stored Personal Property; Discard of Certain Stored Personal Property.

   (a) No Person shall Store any Unattended Personal Property in a Public Area. With pre-removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a), the City may impound any Unattended Personal Property in a Public Area,

   regardless of volume. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below.

   (b) No Person shall Store any Attended Excess Personal Property in a Public Area. With pre-removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a), the City may impound any Attended Excess Personal Property Stored in a Public Area. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below.

   (c) No Person shall Store any Personal Property in a Public Area in such a manner as to obstruct City operations, including a Street or Sidewalk maintenance or cleaning. Without prior notice, the City may

   temporarily move Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, which is obstructing City operations in a Public Area, including a Street or Sidewalk maintenance or cleaning, during the time necessary to conduct the City operations. The City also may impound Personal Property that is obstructing City operations in a Public Area, pursuant to Subsection 3.(a) or 3.(b).

   (d) No Person shall Store any Personal Property in a Public Area in such a manner that it does not allow for passage as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat.

   328 (1990), as amended from time to time. Without prior notice, the City may move and may immediately impound any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, Stored in a Public Area in such a manner that it does not allow for passage as required by the ADA. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18(f) of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

   (e) No Person shall Store any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, within: (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

   (1) 10 feet of any operational or utilizable driveway or loading dock;

   (2) 5 feet of any operational or utilizable building entrance or exit; or

(3) 2 feet of any fire hydrant, fire plug, or other fire department connection.

Without prior notice, the City may move and may immediately impound any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, Stored in a Public Area in violation of this subsection. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18(f) of this Code.

(f) No Person shall Store in a Public Area that has a clearly posted closure time any Personal Property after the posted closure time. Without prior notice, the City may remove and impound Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, Stored in a Public Area that has a clearly posted closure time, provided the Personal Property is removed and impounded after the posted closure time. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below.

(g) No Person shall Store any Personal Property in a Public Area if the Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, constitutes an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public. Without prior

notice, the City may remove and may discard any Personal Property Stored in a Public Area if the Personal Property poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public.

(h) No Person shall Store any Personal Property in a Public Area if the Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, constitutes an evidence of a crime or contraband. Without prior notice, the City may

remove and may discard any Personal Property that constitutes evidence of a crime or contraband, as permissible by law.

(i) No Person shall Store any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in such a manner that obstructs or interferes with any activity in a Public Area for which the City has issued a permit. Without

prior notice, the City may move any Personal Property Stored in a Public Area in violation of this subsection. With pre-removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a), the City may impound any Personal Property Stored in violation of this subsection. Post- removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18 (f) of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

(j) No Person shall Store any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in such a manner as to obstruct any portion of a street or other public right-of-way open to use by motor vehicles, a designated

bike lane or bike path, or other public right- of-way open exclusively to use by bicycles. Without prior notice, the City may move and may immediately impound any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of this subsection. Post-removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18 (f) of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

(k) No Person shall Store any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of Section 41.18 (c) of this Code. The City may move and may immediately impound any Personal Property,

whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of this subsection. Pre-removal notice and post-removal notice will be provided by erecting signage providing notice that Storage of Personal Property is a violation of Section 41.18 , which may result in the removal or impoundment of the Personal Property. The signage also must provide information on retrieval of the Personal Property and provide notice that the Personal Property may be discarded if not claimed within 90 days. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18 (f) of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

(l) No Person shall Store any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of Section 41.18 (e) of this Code. With pre-removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a) or posted signage, the

City may impound any Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of this subsection. If the City has not posed signage, a post- removal notice shall be provided as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), below. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18 (f) of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

(m) Upon the creation of any new Storage Facility, increased capacity at an Existing Storage Facility or subsidized transportation assistance to a Storage Facility, the Chief Administrative Officer shall report to the Council to inform the Council’s consideration of whether to prohibit a Person from Storing more than Essential Personal Property in a Public Area in a specified radius from a Storage Facility, based upon the amount of the additional storage capacity and the accessibility thereto. In consideration of the CAO’s report, the Council may, by resolution, prohibit a Person within a specified radius of a Storage Facility from Storing more than Essential Personal Property in a Public Area.

4. Notice.

   (a) Pre-Removal Notice. Pre-removal notice shall be deemed provided if a written notice is provided to the Person who is Storing or claims ownership of the Personal Property, or is posted conspicuously on or

   near the Personal Property and the actual removal commences no more than 72 hours after the pre-removal notice is posted. The written notice shall contain the following:

   (1) A general description of the Personal Property to be removed.

   (2) The location from which the Personal Property will be removed.

   (3) The date and time the notice was posted.

(4) A statement that the Personal Property has been stored in violation of Section 56.11, Subsection 3.

(5) A statement that the Personal Property may be impounded if not removed from Public Areas within 24 hours.

(6) A statement that moving Personal Property to another location in a Public Area shall not be considered removal of Personal Property from a Public Area.

(7) The address where the removed Public Property will be located, including a telephone number and the internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded

Personal Property as well as information as to voluntary storage location(s).

(8) A statement that impounded Personal Property may be discarded if not claimed within 90 days after impoundment.

(b) Post-Removal Notice. Upon removal of Stored Personal Property, written notice shall be conspicuously posted in the area from which the Personal Property was removed. The written notice shall contain the following:

(1) A general description of the Personal Property removed.

(2) The date and approximate time the Personal Property was removed.

(3) A statement that the Personal Property was stored in a Public Area in violation of Section 56.11, Subsection 3.

(4) The address where the removed Personal Property will be located, including a telephone number and internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded

Personal Property.

(5) A statement that impounded Personal Property may be discarded if not claimed within 90 days after impoundment.

5. Storage and Disposal.

   (a) Except as specified herein, the City shall move Personal Property to a place of storage.

   (b) Except as specified herein, the City shall store impounded Personal Property for 90 days, after which time, if not claimed, it may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or

   return, any impounded Personal Property stored for longer than 90 days.

   (c) The City shall maintain a record of the date any impounded Personal Property was discarded.

6. Repossession. The owner of impounded Personal Property may repossess the Personal Property prior to its disposal upon submitting satisfactory proof of ownership. A Person may establish satisfactory proof of ownership by, among other methods, describing the location from and date when the Personal Property was impounded from a Public Area, and providing a reasonably specific and detailed description of the Personal Property. Valid, government-issued identification is not required to claim impounded Personal Property.

7. Ban on Erection of Tents in Certain Public Areas and Regulation of Hours in other Public Areas. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

(a) No Person shall erect, configure, construct, maintain, use, occupy, or allow to remain erected any Tent in any Public Area in violation of Section 41.18 of this Code. Without prior notice, the City may deconstruct any Tent, whether Attended or Unattended, in violation of this subsection. With pre-removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a) or posted signage, the City may impound any Tent in violation of this subsection. If the City has not posted signage, the City shall provide post-removal notice of any impounded Tent, as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), herein. A violation of this subsection is governed by Section 41.18(f) of this Code.

(b) In any Public Area not covered under Subsection 7.(a), above, no Person shall erect, configure, construct, maintain, use, occupy, or allow to remain erected any Tent in any Public Area from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (except during rainfall or when the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Without prior notice, the City may deconstruct any Tent, whether Attended or Unattended, located in any Public Area in violation of this subsection or in violation of Subsections 3.(c)-(h), hereof. With pre- removal notice as specified in Subsection 4.(a), the City may impound any Tent in violation of this subsection or Subsections 3. (c)-(h), hereof. The City shall provide post-removal notice for any impounded Tent, as set forth in Subsection 4.(b), herein.

8. Ban on Attachments to Public and Private Property.

   (a) Public Property. No Person shall erect any barrier against or lay string or join any wires, ropes, chains or otherwise attach any Personal Property to any public property, including but not limited to, a

   building or portion or protrusion thereof, fence, bus shelter, trash can, mail box, pole, bench, news rack, sign, tree, bush, shrub or plant, without the City’s prior written consent.

   (b) Private Property. No Person shall erect any barrier against or lay string or join any wires, ropes, chains or otherwise attach any Personal Property to any private property in such a manner as to create an

   obstruction on or across any Street or area where the public may travel.

   (c) Removal. Without prior notice, the City may remove any barrier, string, wires, ropes, chains or other attachment of Personal Property, whether Attended or Unattended, to any public property, or to any

   private property which creates an obstruction to any Street or area where the public may travel.

(d) Enforcement. The enforcement of a violation of this subsection in any Public Area subject to Section 41.18 of the Code is governed by Section 41.18 (f) of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

9. Illegal Dumping. Nothing herein precludes the enforcement of any law prohibiting illegal dumping, including but not limited to California Penal Code Section 374.3, and Los Angeles Municipal Code Sections 41.14, 63.44 B.13. or 190.02, or any successor statutes proscribing Illegal dumping.

10. Unlawful Conduct. Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 11.00 shall not apply to violations of this section except as follows: (Amended by Ord. No. 187,586, Eff. 9/18/22.)

    (a) No Person shall willfully resist, delay, or obstruct a City employee from moving, removing, impounding, or discarding Personal Property Stored in a Public Area in violation of Subsections 3.(a)-(c) or (f)-(h).

A violation of Subsections 3.(d)-(e), (i)-(l), 7.(a) or 8. (in any Public Area subject to Section 41.18 of this Code) is governed by Section 41.18(f) of this Code.

(b) No Person shall refuse to take down, fold, deconstruct, or put away any Tent erected or configured at any time in violation of Subsection 7.(a) or willfully resist, delay, or obstruct a City employee from

taking down, folding, deconstructing, putting away, moving, removing, impounding, or discarding a Tent, including by refusing to vacate the Tent. A violation of Subsection 7.(a) in any Public Area subject to Section 41.18 of this Code is governed by Section 41.18(f) of this Code.

(c) No Person shall refuse to take down, fold, deconstruct, or put away any Tent erected or configured between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., in violation of Subsection 7.(b), or willfully resist, delay or

obstruct a City employee from taking down, folding, deconstructing, putting away, moving, removing, impounding, or discarding the Tent, including by refusing to vacate the Tent.

(d) A violation of Subsection 9. prohibiting illegal dumping.

(e) If Subsection 3.(m) becomes operative by resolution in any area of the City subject to Section 41.18 of this Code, a violation of Subsection 3.(m) will be subject to Section 41.18(f) of this Code. If Subsection

3.(m) becomes operative by resolution in any Public Area of the City not subject to Section 41.18(f) of the Code, no Person shall willfully resist, delay or obstruct a City employee from removing or impounding any Personal Property that exceeds the limit on Essential Personal Property.

11. Designated Administrative Agency. The City’s Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation, is hereby charged with serving as the Designated Administrative Agency (DAA), for the purposes of this ordinance. The DAA shall promulgate rules, protocols and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of this ordinance, consistent with the provisions herein.

12. Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section, and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(Amended by Ord. No. 186,366, Eff. 10/31/19.)

1. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity occupying or having charge or control of any premises to place or cause to be placed, or allow to remain upon the sidewalk, or upon the street in front of, behind, or adjacent to such premises, anything which shall obstruct any portion of the public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, a sidewalk, street, alley, or parkway, without a valid permit therefor. The prohibition in this section shall not apply to any article or substance temporarily placed on the sidewalk or street during the active process of loading or unloading, but only during the minimum amount of time for the active loading and unloading to occur and provided the article or substance does impede passage as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 (1990), as amended from time to time.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to enter into a lease, rental agreement, or contract of any kind, written or oral, with or without compensation, for the use of any public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, a sidewalk, street, alley, or parkway.

3. Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section and each and every subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.

No person shall receive or deliver, any goods, wares or merchandise through any trap or opening in or upon any street or sidewalk, between the hours of four and six o’clock p.m. of any day, upon any portion of the streets and sidewalks described as follows:

Main Street, from First Street to Tenth Street;

Spring Street, from First Street to its intersection with Main Street;

Broadway, from First Street to Tenth Street;

Hill Street, from Third Street to Ninth Street;

First Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street;

Second Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street;

Third Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street;

Fourth Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street;

Fifth Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street;

Sixth Street, from Los Angeles Street to Hill Street, and

Seventh Street from Los Angeles Street to Grand Avenue.

No person shall transfer any substance, commodity or article from any freight or baggage car to any vehicle or from any vehicle to any freight or baggage car while such freight or baggage car or vehicle is standing on any street or upon any private right of way adjacent to any street.

No person shall play ball or any game of sport with a ball or football or throw, cast, shoot or discharge any stone, pellet, bullet, arrow or any other missile, in, over, across, along or upon any street or sidewalk or in any public park, except on those portions of said park set apart for such purposes.

(Repealed by Ord. No. 165,073, Eff. 9/2/89.)

No person operating any street car or interurban car, along any street or along or over a private right of way, shall stop any such car for the purpose of taking on or letting off any passengers, at such a place or in such a manner that any platform or step of such car will be over or above an unsafe place, or in such a manner that any passenger in boarding such car or in alighting therefrom at either end thereof will be compelled to step in or

upon any place dangerous to life or limb.

Every physician, surgeon, druggist or pharmacist who shall render any treatment or service to any person having a traumatic injury, shall report the same both by telephone and in writing to the Chief of Police or other person in charge of the Police Department as soon as such injury shall have been brought to the attention of such physician, surgeon, druggist or pharmacist. Such report shall state where such injured person is located, the name of such person, if known, and the character and extent of such injury.

Every person managing or in charge of any hospital, or of any ward or portion of any hospital, to which any person having a traumatic injury shall come or shall be brought, shall report the same both by telephone and in writing to the Chief of Police or other person in charge of the Police Department as soon as such injury shall have been brought to the attention of such person managing or in charge of such hospital or ward or portion thereof, and in such report shall state where such injured person is located, the name of such person, if known, and the character and extent of such injury.

(Added by Ord. No. 172,833, Eff. 10/31/99.)

Any person conducting, maintaining, managing or operating any health care facility where blood, urine or other bodily specimens are removed from any patient shall cause all such specimens to be placed in locked containers when placed or stored in areas accessible to the general public.

(a) Declaration of Purpose. Public safety is hereby declared to require that the uninterrupted operation of the aircraft and petroleum industries and of utilities supplying water, gas and electricity be protected by preventing the intrusion upon the properties thereof of idle, curious or malicious persons and of persons whose presence thereon is not necessary, and by prohibiting the loitering about such places by persons capable of inflicting harm to or of impeding the use of such vital industries and utilities.

(b) Posting – Manner of, Prescribed. It shall be the duty of each person, firm, corporation, governmental agency, department or instrumentality and of each board, commission or department of this City, which has possession and control, or which has the right to possession or control of any of the facilities, plants and utility properties enumerated in Subsection (c) hereof, to post at each entrance to any structure devoted to any use so enumerated, at each entrance to any fenced or enclosed area devoted to any such use, and at intervals not more than three hundred feet around any area devoted to such use, substantial signs not less than one square foot in area, displaying prominently the words, “TRESPASSING – LOITERING – FORBIDDEN BY LAW ”; provided, however that any public waiting room, dining room, office or other portion of any structure or premises to which general public access is required in the normal use and operation thereof or where materials are delivered to or received by the public, need not be so posted.

The “posted boundary” of any area shall be a line running from sign to sign, and such line need not conform to the legal boundary or legal description of any lot, parcel or acreage of land.

(c) Posting – Where Required. The places required to be so posted are the following:

1. Every airport, and every plant, field and structure used for the manufacture, assembling or testing of aircraft;

2. Every tank-farm, refinery, compressor- plant, or absorption plant, marine terminal, pipe line pumping station and reservoir, used for the bulk treatment, bulk handling or bulk storage of petroleum or petroleum products;

3. Every reservoir, dam and pumping station of a public water system;

4. Every reservoir, dam, generating plant, receiving station and distributing station of a utility furnishing electrical energy to the public;

5. Every gas generating plant, compression plant, gas holder and gas tank used for the production, distribution or bulk storage of gas for public use.

(d) Posting – When Optional. Any plant, facility, structure or area devoted to any purpose incident to the production, bulk treatment, bulk transportation or bulk storage of petroleum or petroleum products, or incident to the production, transmission or distribution of gas or electricity for public use, or incident to the treatment, storage or distribution of water for public use, may likewise be posted by the owner or operator in the manner hereinabove described.

(e) Trespassing – A Misdemeanor . When any such premises is posted as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to go upon or to remain upon any place within the posted boundary of any such premises, or to enter or to remain in any such posted structure, without having upon them the express written consent of the person, firm, corporation, department or agency lawfully in possession or control thereof.

(f) Loitering – A Misdemeanor . It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter in the immediate vicinity of any premises posted as provided in this section while having in their possession any explosive, or any cutting tool or device, or any substance or device of whatever character capable of doing harm or damage to any structure, machinery, equipment or other property of a similar or dissimilar character, installed or located upon such posted premises or area.

Nothing in this ordinance shall be deemed to prohibit any activity for the purpose of engaging in any organizational effort on behalf of any labor union, agents or members thereof, and/or employee groups employed or formerly employed in any place of business or manufacturing establishment mentioned herein, or for carrying on the normal activities of labor unions.

(Added by Ord. No. 183,912, Eff. 12/2/15.)

(a) For purposes of this section:

1. “Uncrewed Aircraft” shall mean an aircraft, including, but not limited to, an aircraft commonly known as a drone, that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the
aircraft.

2. “Uncrewed Aircraft System” shall mean an Uncrewed Aircraft and associated elements, including, but not limited to, any communication links and components that control the Uncrewed Aircraft.

3. “Person” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Subsection (a) of Section 11.01 of this Code.

4. “Model Aircraft” shall mean an Uncrewed Aircraft or Uncrewed Aircraft System operated by any Person strictly for hobby or recreational purposes.

5. “Civil UAS” shall mean an Uncrewed Aircraft or Uncrewed Aircraft System operated by any Person for any purposes other than strictly hobby or recreational purposes, including, but not limited to,
commercial purposes or in furtherance of, or incidental to, any business or media service or agency.

6. “Public UAS” shall mean an Uncrewed Aircraft or Uncrewed Aircraft System operated by any public agency for government related purposes.

(b) The following shall apply to the operation of any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles:

1. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles and within 5 miles of an airport without the prior express authorization of the airport air traffic control tower.

2. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles in a manner that interferes with crewed aircraft, and shall always give way to any crewed aircraft.

3. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles beyond the visual line of sight of the person operating the Model Aircraft. The operator must use the operator’s own natural vision

(which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the Model Aircraft. People other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. Visual line of sight means that the operator has an unobstructed view of the Model Aircraft. The use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision magnifying devices, and goggles or other devices designed to provide a “first-person view” from the model, do not constitute the visual line of sight of the person operating the Model Aircraft.

4. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles other than during daylight hours defined as between official sunrise and official sunset for local time.

5. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles more than 400 feet above the earth’s surface.

6. Excluding takeoff and landing, no Person shall operate any Model Aircraft within the City of Los Angeles closer than 25 feet to any individual, except the operator or the operator’s helper(s).

(c) The following shall apply to the operation of any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles:

1. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in a manner that is prohibited by any federal statute or regulation governing aeronautics.

2. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in violation of any temporary flight restriction (TFR) or notice to air missions (NOTAM) issued by the Federal

Aviation Administration.

3. No Person shall operate any Model Aircraft or Civil UAS within the City of Los Angeles in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another. The standard for what constitutes careless and reckless operation under this section shall be the same as the standard set forth in any federal statutes or regulations governing aeronautics including but not limited to Federal Aviation Rule 91.13.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any Person to violate or fail to comply with this section. Any Person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the provisions of Subsection (m) of Section 11.00 of this Code.

(e) This section shall not apply to any Public UAS operated pursuant to, and in compliance with, the terms and conditions of any current and enforceable authorization granted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(Added by Ord. No. 187,818, Eff. 6/5/23.)

(a) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this section:

1. “Catalytic converter” means any exhaust emission control device, or portion thereof, that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants.

2. “Documentation or other proof” means written document(s) clearly identifying the vehicle from which the catalytic converter originated based on the totality of the circumstances, and includes, but is not limited to, the following types of documents:

   i. Bill of sale from the original owner with photographs.

   ii. Documentation from an auto-body shop proving that the owner relinquished the catalytic converter to the auto-body shop.

   iii. Verifiable electronic communication from the previous owner to the possessor relinquishing ownership of the catalytic converter.

   iv. Photographs of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter originated.

   v. Vehicle registration associated with the catalytic converter containing an etched associated license plate number or vehicle identification number.

3. “Lawful possession” includes: (1) being the lawful owner of the catalytic converter; or (2) in possession of the catalytic converter with the lawful owner’s written consent. It is not required to prove the

catalytic converter was stolen to establish the possession is not a “lawful possession”.

4. “Person” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Subsection (a) of Section 11.01 of this Code.

(b) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a core recycler as defined in California Business and Professions Code Section 21610, to possess any catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle, unless the possessor has valid documentation or other proof to verify that they are in lawful possession of the catalytic converter.

(c) Penalty.

1. Each and every violation of this section shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to all remedies and enforcement measures authorized by the Los Angeles Municipal Code. Each and every

catalytic converter unlawfully possessed is a separate violation of this section.

2. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or by both.

3. The City Attorney may also prosecute a civil action under applicable State law to enforce this section and in any action a civil penalty may be imposed as provided by law and where appropriate, restitution ordered to aggrieved victims.

4. The remedies provided herein are not to be construed as exclusive remedies. The City is authorized to pursue any proceedings or remedies provided by law.

(d) Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this section is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the section would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.