Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 8 Trades and Occupations

Section

103.202 Automobile Parking Lots.
103.203 Valet Parking.
103.203.1 Valet Parking Attendant.
103.203.2 On-Demand Valet Parking.
103.204 Towing Operation.
103.204.1 Tow Unit Operators.
103.205 Massage Therapy.
103.205.1 Massage Therapists and Practitioners.
103.205.2 Baths.
103.206 Alarm Systems.
103.206.1 Alarm Company Operators.
103.206.2 Commercial Unsecured Buildings.
103.208 Key Duplicator.
103.212 Soliciting – Peace Officers’ and Firefighters’ Organizations – Permits.
103.213 Figure Studios.

SEC. 103.202. AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOTS.¶

(a) Definitions. As used in this article:

“AUTOMOBILE PARKING LOT” or “LOT” means any lot, contiguous lots, or other parcels of land under single management or control where more than eight motor vehicles are kept stored or parked within or without a building, for a consideration, at any one time.

EXEMPTIONS:

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any automobile parking lot:

(i) Which is operated and entirely controlled by the owner or operator of an apartment house, lodging house, hotel or multiple dwelling, motel, auto court, or other place of residence, or any office building, when such lot is used exclusively, with no fee or charge, for the accommodation of the vehicles of occupants, tenants or lessees of that place of residence or office building and their guests and invitees;

(ii) Which is not operated for profit but is maintained and used exclusively for the accommodation of the vehicles of employees or customers of the owner or person in control of the lot; or

(iii) Which is directly operated and maintained by the owner or operator of any retail or wholesale store or any theatre or other business or amusement establishment, and is used exclusively for the accommodation of vehicles of the customers or patrons thereof, with no fee or charge being made therefor.

(b) Permit Required. (Amended by Ord. No. 180,922, Eff. 12/12/09.)

No person shall conduct, manage or operate an automobile parking lot without a written permit from the Board. For purposes of this section, lots or parcels of land separated by a public street or public alley shall not be deemed contiguous lots or parcels.
Companies that conduct, manage, or operate multiple automobile parking lots shall obtain a Master Automobile Parking Lot permit. The Master Automobile Parking Lot permit application shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 103.02.1 and shall separately identify each parking lot to which it applies. A Master Automobile Parking Lot permit shall apply only to those parking lots specifically identified in the permit at the time it is issued.
Companies that have obtained a Master Automobile Parking Lot permit shall file any applications for additional automobile parking lots in person only at the main office of the Office of Finance. Such applications for additional lots shall provide the location of the additional lot and the name of a qualified manager designated to conduct, manage or operate the additional lot.
The Board may grant a temporary permit for an additional parking lot on the same day the application for such parking lot is submitted to the Office of Finance provided the following conditions are met:

(i) A Master Automobile Parking Lot permit is on file at the Office of Finance;

(ii) A complete application for the additional parking lot is on file at the Office of Finance;

(iii) All permit fees and taxes owed to the City have been paid to the Office of Finance;

(iv) Documentation of the proper zoning clearance has been submitted to the Office of Finance; and

(v) A preliminary investigation by the Board does not reveal information which would normally constitute grounds for denial.

Bond Required. Before an application for a permit to operate a parking lot will be received or acted upon, the applicant must file and maintain with the Office of Finance (Amended by Ord. No. 173,300, Eff. 6/30/00, Oper. 7/1/00.) a bond in the amount of $10,000 for each parking lot, or a blanket bond in the amount of $50,000 covering all parking lots owned or operated by the same applicant. Such bond shall indemnify any person whose vehicle is accepted by the permittee for parking or storage against loss by reason of theft or other unlawful taking, or for damages to such vehicle for which the permittee is legally liable. Said bond shall provide that it will be continuous until cancelled by a 30 day written notice, and that it will cover each and every annual permit issued to the principal named until so cancelled. Notice of cancellation shall be sent by registered mail to the City Attorney 30 days in advance of the cancellation date.

All bonds shall be executed by a corporate surety approved by the Board and admitted to do business in this State. Such bond shall not be void upon the first recovery, but may be sued and recovered upon from time to time by any person aggrieved, until the whole amount is exhausted.

Liability Under Bond – Restoration. If the amount of liability under the bond is decreased for any reason, the permit shall be automatically suspended. In order to reinstate the permit, the permittee shall either file a new bond or restore the bond on file to the original amount.

(d) Disciplinary Action – Additional Ground. The following acts committed by a permittee hereunder shall be a ground for disciplinary action in addition to the grounds listed in Sec. 103.35:

The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, through carelessness, negligence or failure to make proper provision for the safeguarding of vehicles left in their custody, have knowingly or unknowingly facilitated or contributed toward the theft or conversion of any such vehicle; or of the contents thereof, or the damaging of any such vehicle; or
The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees have failed to cooperate with the police to aid in the detection of any theft or other crime committed on the premises described in the permit or which arose out of the conduct of the business for which the permit was issued; or
The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees delivered a vehicle in their custody to a person who failed to present either the parking ticket issued therefor or a memorandum written and signed in the presence of said permittee or the permittee’s attendant by the person to whom the ticket was delivered. Such memorandum must give a satisfactory reason for the inability to produce the ticket. No penalty for a violation of this subdivision shall be imposed against any permittee or attendant where the vehicle was delivered to the registered owner thereof or to any person lawfully entitled to possession of the vehicle.

(e) Handling of Vehicles.

(1) Neither the permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees shall drive, park, stand, stop or store any vehicle parked or stored in any such parking lot on, upon or across any public street, public sidewalk, public alley or other public place, or drive or move any vehicle parked or stored in any automobile parking lot, except within the property lines of such automobile parking lot. Neither the permittee nor any agent or employee shall take or drive, or permit any person to take or drive, any vehicle left in the custody of the permittee away from such automobile parking lot for any purpose without the express permission of the bailor of such vehicle or the bailor’s authorized representative, except that any such vehicle may be moved for safekeeping to another place in the event of fire, flood or other catastrophe or emergency.

(2) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees shall notify the Police Department whenever a vehicle has been left on a parking lot for a period in excess of 48 hours without a prior contractual arrangement for such period of time in order to determine whether the vehicle is stolen or abandoned. Following such notification, the permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees may remove or cause to be removed such vehicle to a facility within the City that is attended on a 24-hour basis, for the purpose of protecting the property for the account of and at the expense of the bailor of the vehicle.

(f) Guarding of Vehicles.

(1) Attendants – Receipts. There must be at least one attendant on the lot at all times during the hours the lot is open for business. At each closing time, each vehicle, except those locked by the persons bringing them to the lot, which then remains on the lot, shall be securely locked if a key thereto is available and said key deposited with a responsible person at a safe and convenient place, both previously approved by the Board, to be delivered to the person who parked the vehicle upon surrender of the parking receipt or ticket. A ticket or receipt must be delivered to each person leaving a vehicle on the lot at the time of such leaving, and must have printed on it the name of the person maintaining or operating such lot and the address thereof, and also the place where the key to the vehicle may be obtained after the lot has closed; except that a parking receipt or ticket need not be delivered at time of parking to contract or term customers of parking lots; in lieu of such ticket or receipt for contract or term customers, the parking lot shall issue a receipt to the customer at the beginning of each contract or term period for parking.

(2) Return of Vehicles. The permittee, the permittee’s agents, or employees shall deliver each vehicle to the person who left that vehicle in the permittee’s care upon presentation of the parking ticket or receipt therefor.

(3) Lots Without Attendants – Regulations. (Amended by Ord. No. 133,317, Eff. 12/23/66.) The Board may permit the operation of a parking lot without an attendant where the customer is required to drive, park and lock their vehicle if the Board finds that the design of the lot makes such operation feasible without causing traffic congestion or damage to property. In no event shall a permittee be allowed to operate a parking lot without an attendant where the vehicles are so parked that any vehicle has to be moved in order to move any other vehicle.

Each parking lot operated without an attendant which is equipped with an automatic device, whether coin operated or otherwise, which regulates ingress or egress or both ingress and egress, shall have posted on or about all such devices a sign, plainly visible to the public indicating the name, address and telephone number of a person to be contacted in case of emergency or failure of the automatic device to function. The person to be notified shall respond to any request for assistance within a reasonable time.

Each parking lot operated without an attendant shall have a workable device to inform the public when the lot is fully occupied, except that where parking is restricted to use of contract customers on a daily, weekly or monthly rental basis, a sign shall be posted informing the public of the parking restrictions applicable.

If the Board finds that the parking lot is so designed that the public can readily determine if parking spaces are open without driving onto the lot, it may exempt the lot from the requirement of an automatic device to indicate that the lot is full.

(g) Signs – Closing Time – Parking Fees.

(1) Each permittee shall install and maintain at each entrance of the lot for which the permit has been issued a sign plainly visible from the street with letters and numerals at least six inches high and one-inch stroke in contrasting colors, showing the permittee’s name, the address of the business, the time the lot closes, and the parking fees; except, however, that the name and address of the permittee need not exceed three inches in height with a one-half inch stroke, in contrasting colors. If any letters or numerals on such signs exceed 12 inches in height, then all other numerals and letters relating to parking fees shall be not less than one-half the height of the largest numeral or letter on the sign. All fractions of time shall be spelled out in letters. Parking fees shall be posted at the entrance of the lot as follows:

(i) Rates per hour;

(ii) Rates per fraction of an hour, if any;

(iii) Rates for subsequent hours or fraction thereof;

(iv) The maximum charge;

(v) The time the lot closes.

In the event that afternoon, evening, or night parking fees will be higher than the daytime fees, then such higher fees shall also be posted at the entrance of the parking lot in addition to the daytime parking fees.

Each permittee shall install and maintain in a conspicuous place on the parking lot, which place may be designated by the Board, a sign with letters and numerals at least six inches high and one-inch stroke in contrasting colors showing a complete schedule of parking fees applicable during any business day showing all rates, changes in rates and the hours such changes become effective. If any letters or numerals on such signs exceed 12 inches in height, then all other numerals and letters relating to parking fees shall be not less than one-half the height of the largest letter or numeral on the sign. All fractions of time shall be spelled out in letters.

It shall be unlawful for any permittee or the permittee’s agents or employees to charge or collect any parking fees for the parking of any vehicle at a rate in excess of the rate posted at the entrance of the lot at the time the vehicle was accepted for storage, nor shall any permittee alter or change any of their posted schedules of fees by superimposing another and different sign thereon, or otherwise, during the course of any business day while the lot is open for business; provided, however, that any posted schedule of fees may be changed prior to the opening of any lot for business at the beginning of any business day, and the fee schedule posted at the entrance of the lot may be changed at the time of change to a night rate and to a second night rate change after 1:00 o’clock a.m.

(2) Each permittee shall file with the Board and post on the parking lot within 30 days after the effective date of this subdivision a complete and accurate schedule of rates to be charged specifying therein the time and the dates for which such rates are applicable. Applicants for parking lot permits shall file such a schedule with their application and post such schedule on the lot before operating the parking lot. No charge other than the rates specified in such schedule shall be made except as hereinafter provided.

In the event a permittee desires to change their schedule of rates the permittee shall give a 10-day written notice to the Board which shall contain the new schedule of rates. A duplicate copy of such notice shall be posted for a period of 10 days in a conspicuous place in the parking lot, which place may be designated by the Board. Upon the expiration of the 10-day period, the rates may be changed in accordance with such notice.

Upon the application to the Board and a showing of hardship by the permittee, the Board may permit a downward revision of the rate schedule within the said 10-day period. (Amended by Ord. No. 113,316, Eff. 5/29/59.)

(3) When an automobile parking lot has been filled to the safe capacity stated upon the permit for that lot, the operator shall not allow the entry of additional vehicles except when vacancies are created below that safe capacity. Each time that the parking lot is filled to its safe capacity, the operator shall place a sign at the entrance thereof with the word “FULL” thereon. The letters of such word shall be at least six inches high with a one-inch stroke, and the sign and letters shall be in contrasting colors. The sign shall be affixed to a stand at least 24 inches high.

(4) Each permittee shall post prominently at the attendant’s booth or other approved location, notification of the “six-minute grace period” provided in Section 444 of the Vehicle Code where applicable.

(h) Signs – Ticket Validation. No permittee, operator, manager or any other person in charge of any parking lot shall install or maintain any billboard or sign at such parking lot indicating that the validation or endorsement of the parking receipt by any other person will be accepted in lieu of all or any portion of the parking fee, or entitle the customer to a refund thereof unless such validations or endorsements are accepted as advertised.

(i) Attendants – Identification. Attendants shall wear cards, buttons, tabs, badges or name plates with their correct, full names inscribed thereon attached to a conspicuous place on their clothing, except that where permittees have assigned non-duplicated, consecutive employee numbers to their attendants, such attendants may wear a button or tab containing such employee number in lieu of a name plate. Attendants shall identify themselves by giving their full, correct name or correct, assigned employee number to any patron of the parking lot who asks for such identification.

(j) Fencing. If the Board finds that protection is necessary to prevent theft of property, or to prevent injury or damage to pedestrians or property, it shall require that those portions of the parking lot not needed for access or egress be surrounded by a wall or fence to be approved by the Board. The height and the materials of such wall or fence shall be specified by the Board but in no event shall a fence higher than five feet be required nor shall such fence exceed in height the height of fences permitted by the provisions of Article 2, Chapter I of this Code.

(k) Investigation.

(1) Upon the filing of such application, the Board shall make such investigation as it deems necessary and if the Board finds that the conduct or operation of an automobile parking lot at the proposed location would not be detrimental or injurious to the neighborhood in general, and that the applicant is of good character and of good business repute and has not been convicted of theft or embezzlement, or of any offense involving the unlawful use, taking or conversion of a vehicle belonging to another, and is otherwise a fit and proper person to conduct an automobile parking lot, or if the applicant is a corporation, its officers, directors and principal stockholders are of good character and of good business repute and have not been convicted of theft or embezzlement, or of any offense involving the unlawful use, taking or conversion of a vehicle belonging to another, and are otherwise fit and proper persons to conduct such a lot, the permit shall issue, otherwise, the application shall be denied only after the Board shall conduct a hearing on said application.

(2) The Board shall cause to be shown on each permit issued the safe capacity of the parking lot, which safe capacity shall be determined by the Board during its investigation upon the filing of each application. Such safe capacity shall be determined by the judgment of the Board, with particular attention to ease of removal of any car from such lot within a reasonable period of time, without movement of other vehicles into the public right of way.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.203. VALET PARKING.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 182,742, Eff. 11/14/13.)

(a) Definitions. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,443, Eff. 12/27/19.)

“Master Valet Parking Operator Permit” shall mean a permit that is issued to any person engaged in the business of Valet Parking at more than one location.
“Permittee” shall mean any person permitted by the City of Los Angeles to operate a Valet Parking business that uses the public rights-of- way for pick-up, drop-off or movement of vehicles to be parked.
“Person” shall mean a natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other entity.
“Public Right-of-Way” shall mean any area dedicated for public use as a public street, pedestrian way or other thoroughfare, including but not limited to, roadways, parkways, alleys, sidewalks, and pedestrian ways.
“Valet Parking” shall mean the receiving, taking possession of, driving, moving, parking or storing of any vehicle that is left at one location to be driven to another location for parking, whether or not a charge is imposed for the valet parking service.
“Valet Parking Attendant” shall mean any employee or agent of the Valet Parking Operator who receives, takes possession of or moves any vehicle, or who handles the keys to any vehicle left with the attendant for Valet Parking.
“Valet Parking Operator” shall mean any person engaged in the business of Valet Parking.
“Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone” shall mean an area of the City designated by the Board of Police Commissioners with specific geographic boundaries and additional rules and regulations imposed on Valet Parking Operators conducting Valet Parking within the zone.
“Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone One-Day Permit” shall mean an additional permit that is required by a Valet Parking Operator in order to conduct Valet Parking within the zone.

(b) Permit Required. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,734, Eff. 2/13/17.)

No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of Valet Parking where movement of vehicles is on or over any public right-of-way or public property without a written Valet Parking Operator permit from the Board and the payment of all permit fees required pursuant to Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,443, Eff. 12/27/19.)
A Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone One-Day Permit shall also be required for a Valet Parking Operator conducting Valet Parking within a Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone; directing a person to park a vehicle in the zone; or transporting a person parked in a zone to a location outside the zone. The Board of Police Commissioners through its Executive Director may issue a Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone One-Day Permit to a Valet Parking Operator after a determination by the Executive Director that Valet Parking will not adversely affect public safety or create a public nuisance. The Executive Director, after investigation and review, may recommend to the Board of Police Commissioners the designation of a Valet Parking Residential Sensitive Zone with specific geographic boundaries and rules and regulations to be imposed on Valet Parking Operators when conducting Valet Parking within the zone. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,443, Eff. 12/27/19.)
Upon express written permission of the Board through its Executive Director, the provisions of Subsection (b) shall not apply to a Valet Parking Operator when there is a temporary disruption due to construction activity that directly interferes with the valet parking operation. The Executive Director, on behalf of the Board, may grant this permission, upon application in writing and after review of the reasons for the variance. The Executive Director will grant a variance for such permit subject to all conditions of the variance granted.
Permittees that conduct, manage or operate multiple Valet Parking locations shall obtain a Master Valet Parking Operator permit.

(i) The Master Valet Parking Operator permit application shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 103.02.1 and shall separately identify each location to which it applies. A Master Valet Parking Operator permit shall apply only to those locations specifically identified in the permit at the time it is issued.

(ii) Permittees that have obtained a Master Valet Parking Operator permit shall file applications for additional Valet Parking locations in person only at the main office of the Office of Finance. Applications for additional locations shall identify the location and the name of the Valet Parking Operator employee designated to manage, supervise or operate the location.

(iii) The Board may grant a temporary permit for an additional location on the same day the application for such location is submitted to the Office of Finance, provided the following conditions are met:

(a) A Master Valet Parking Operator permit is on file at the Office of Finance;

(b) A complete permit application for the additional location is on file with the Board;

(d) A preliminary investigation by the Board does not reveal information which would constitute grounds for denial.

(c) Additional Application Requirements. In addition to the requirements specified in Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code, each applicant for a Valet Parking Operator permit shall furnish the following information with the application:

The name and location of the businesses to be served;
The seating capacity or other occupancy capacity of the businesses to be served;
A signed statement from the owners or managers of the businesses to be served requesting the services of the applicant. The applicant shall notify the Board within fifteen (15) days of any modification, transfer, amendment or termination of any agreement requesting the services of a Valet Parking Operator.
The hours of operation and the number of employees of the applicant who will be assigned to that location;
The name and location of the parking lot where vehicles will be parked or stored for the businesses served;
The name, location and telephone number of the employee or agent of the applicant who shall be available at all times during the hours of operation for that location;
The routes to be used between the passenger loading/unloading zone or other vehicle pickup point and the parking or storage location;
A copy of the written contract between the applicant and the operator of any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location. The applicant shall notify the Board within fifteen (15) days of any modification, transfer, amendment or termination of the contract;
A signed statement from the operator of any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location as to that facility’s ability to accept the cars, the number of spaces to be reserved for the applicant’s operations, and the total number of spaces in such parking facility. In cases where the parking facility is part of a building or premises devoted to other uses that require off-street parking, the statement shall also include information as to the number of parking spaces that were required by law to be provided in the parking facility to serve such other uses when said uses were established;
A copy of a valid Automobile Parking Lot permit issued under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 103.202 to any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location, if applicable;
The location of any proposed Valet Parking signs and any proposed attendant stands;
Identify all Valet Parking equipment intended to be used during Valet Parking operations;
Proof that the applicant has insurance in force satisfying the requirements specified in subsection (d)16., below; and
Disclosure of all prior Valet Parking Operator permits issued to applicant by the City of Los Angeles.

(d) Operating Requirements.

Operating in the Public Rights-of-Way. The Permittee shall at no time, unless expressly authorized on the permit:

(i) Receive or take possession of (for the purpose of parking or temporary storage until the return of the same to the patron) a patron’s vehicle upon any portion of the public right-of- way or other public property; or

(ii) Park and leave standing any patron’s vehicle upon any portion of the public right-of- way or other public property (including any publicly owned off-street parking space); or

(iii) Use the public right-of-way for vehicle pickup and drop off locations; or

(iv) When use of the public right-of-way is permitted for Valet Parking purposes, the City may impose fees for the use of parking spaces and public streets:

a. Use of Parking Meters. The City may charge a parking meter usage fee for designated pickup and drop off valet parking locations on the public right-of- way, which fee shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.

b. Street Usage. The City may charge a street usage fee for the use of city streets and properties by valet parking operations on the public right-of-way, which fee shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.

Claim Checks. The Permittee shall issue a sequentially numbered claim check to each patron upon receipt of patron’s vehicle for valet parking. The claim check shall explicitly state the terms and conditions under which the vehicle is being accepted.
Pedestrian Walkways. The Permittee shall ensure that pedestrian walkways are not blocked at any time during valet parking operations.
Parking on Private Property. The Permittee shall at no time allow any patron’s vehicle to be parked upon private property without a signed statement of authorization by the owner or other person having legal control of such private property.
Valet Parking Attendants. The Permittee shall employ Valet Parking Attendants sufficient in number to park vehicles so that traffic on streets or sidewalks will not be impeded by the activities of the Permittee. The Permittee shall ensure that each person employed or acting as a Valet Parking Attendant has a valid permit issued by the Board.
Locking of Vehicles. The Permittee shall ensure that Valet Parking Attendants who park a vehicle lock the ignition and the vehicle, remove the key and place the key in a safe place. The Permittee shall ensure that Valet Parking Attendants do not place the key in or upon the vehicle that is parked.
Sign Requirements. Each Permittee shall maintain, at each location at which a patron surrenders their vehicle for parking, a sign plainly visible from the street with letters/numerals in contrasting colors, showing the Permittee’s name, the address and telephone number of the business, the hours of operation, the police permit number and the valet parking fees, if any. If fees are charged, such fees also shall be stated as follows:

(i) Rates per hour;

(ii) Rates per fraction of an hour, if any;

(iii) Rates for subsequent hours or fractions thereof; and

(iv) The maximum charge.

All fractions of time must be spelled out in letters. Valet parking signs must not be less than 24 by 36 inches in size. The “Valet Parking” and the maximum charge portion of the sign must have a minimum lettering/numeral size of three inches per character.

Rate Restrictions. The Permittee shall not charge any higher rates for parking than those rates posted.
Closing Time. At closing time, the Permittee shall lock all vehicles that remain in its possession or custody, except those locked by the patron. Permittee shall deposit the vehicle keys with a responsible person at a safe and convenient place, to be delivered to the person who left the vehicle with Permittee upon surrender of the claim check, or otherwise upon proof that such person has the right to possess the vehicle, and payment of any applicable fees or charges.
Parking Longer Than 48 Hours – Notice to Police. The Permittee shall notify the police whenever a vehicle has been left in its possession or custody for a period in excess of forty-eight (48) hours without a prior contractual arrangement for such period of time in order to determine whether the vehicle is stolen or abandoned.
Employee Identification, Uniforms and Safety Equipment. The Permittee shall ensure that all employees who drive a patron’s vehicle or who handle a patron’s vehicle keys have a current and valid California driver’s license and wear a standard uniform that conspicuously identifies the employee by that employee’s full name and the name of the Valet Parking business. The Permittee shall ensure that all employees who receive, take possession of, or move a patron’s vehicle upon any portion of the public right- of-way wear high-visibility safety vests.
Employee Background. The Permittee shall not allow any employee who has been convicted within the previous seven (7) years of a felony or any offense involving violence, dishonesty, automobile theft, automobile vandalism, reckless driving or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to drive a patron’s vehicle or handle a patron’s vehicle keys.
Records. Every Permittee shall maintain:

(i) A continuously updated list of the names and residence addresses of its employees who perform Valet Parking. Such list shall be maintained at the business address listed on the permit application and shall be produced on demand of any peace officer.

(ii) All financial records related to the Valet Parking operation for a minimum of three years and shall make them available to the Office of Finance for inspection at any time during the Permittee’s hours of operation.

Valet Parking Equipment. Attendant stands and other equipment may be placed on the sidewalk in the public right-of-way during Valet Parking operations, as approved by the Board.
Traffic Safety. The Permittee shall ensure that Valet Parking operation at no time interferes with the normal flow of vehicle traffic on the public right- of-way. No vehicle queuing is allowed on the public right-of-way at any time. No vehicle may stop or stand at a drop-off or loading area for longer than five minutes, except for a maximum of ten minutes where signs indicating a ten minute limit are posted.
Insurance Requirements.

(i) The Permittee shall obtain, carry, maintain and keep in full force and effect:

a. A policy or policies of comprehensive general liability insurance with minimum limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, combined single limit coverage and Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) in the aggregate against any injury, death, loss or damage as a result of wrongful or negligent acts or omissions by the Permittee, it’s agents and employees.

b. Insurance coverage commonly known as garage keeper’s legal liability coverage with minimum limits of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars ($250,000.00) per occurrence and One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in the aggregate. Garage keeper’s legal liability coverage may be secured as a separate insurance policy or secured as part of an insurance policy providing other required coverages.

c. A policy or policies of comprehensive vehicle liability insurance covering personal injury and property damage with minimum limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, combined single limit, covering any vehicle in the possession of the Permittee, its agents and employees in conjunction with the operation of vehicles pursuant to the permit.

(ii) Insurance must be placed with insurers admitted in the State of California or have a current A.M. Best rating of no less than A:6.

(iii) Deductibles not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per occurrence are authorized in connection with the comprehensive general liability coverage, garage keeper’s legal liability coverage and comprehensive vehicle liability coverage.

(iv) The Permittee shall maintain on file with the Board a certificate or certificates of insurance on the City’s form, showing that the policies of insurance required by this section are in effect in the required amounts and showing the amount of any deductibles. The policies of insurance required by this section shall contain an endorsement naming the City as an additional insured. All of the policies required under this section shall contain an endorsement specifically stating that the coverage contained in the policies affords insurance pursuant to the terms and conditions as set forth in this section.

(v) The insurance provided by the Permittee shall be primary to any coverage available to the City. The policies of insurance required by this section shall include provisions for waiver of subrogation.

(vi) The Permittee shall obtain, carry, maintain and keep in full force and effect workers’ compensation insurance as required by law.

(e) Indemnification. The Permittee, and any person acting under or pursuant to a Valet Parking Operator’s permit, agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, release and defend (even if the allegations are false, fraudulent or groundless), to the maximum extent permitted by law, and covenants not to sue, the City, its Council and each member thereof, and its officers, employees, board and commission members and representatives, from any and all liability, loss, suits, claims, damages, costs, judgments and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs of litigation) which in whole or in part result from, or arise out of: (1) any use or performance under the permit; (2) the activities and operations of the Permittee and its employees, subcontractors or agents; (3) any condition of property used in the permitted operation; or (4) any acts, errors or omissions (including, without limitation, professional negligence) of the Permittee and its employees, subcontractors or agents in connection with the Valet Parking operation.

(f) Disciplinary Action – Additional Grounds. The following acts committed by a Permittee shall be grounds for disciplinary action in addition to the grounds listed in Section 103.35:

The Permittee, its agents or employees, through carelessness, negligence or failure to make proper provision for the safeguarding of vehicles left in their custody, have knowingly or unknowingly facilitated or contributed toward the theft or conversion of any such vehicle, or of the contents thereof, or the damaging of any such vehicle; or
The Permittee, its agents or employees have failed to cooperate with the police to aid in the investigation of any theft or other crime committed on a parking lot used by Permittee, or which arose out of the conduct of the business for which the permit was issued; or
The Permittee, its agents or employees knowingly delivered a vehicle in their custody to a person neither the registered owner thereof nor entitled to possession of such vehicle; or
The Permittee’s Valet Parking operation has negatively impacted traffic or disrupted the peace and quiet within any area of the City; or
The Permittee fails to comply with all City business tax and parking occupancy tax laws; or
The Permittee fails to comply with any of the operating requirements in Subdivision (d) of this section, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board governing valet parking.

(g) Violation. Violations of the operating requirements in Subdivision (d) of this section, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board governing valet parking, shall not be prosecuted as misdemeanors, but shall be subject to administrative sanctions and civil remedies as provided by this Code, or at law or in equity, or any combination of these.

Any person operating as a Valet Parking Operator without a permit as required in Subdivision (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(h) Severability. If any portion of this section is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portions of this section shall remain in effect. The people of the City of Los Angeles hereby declare that they would have adopted each portion of this section, notwithstanding the fact that any one or more portions of this section is declared invalid or unenforceable and, to that end, the provisions of this section are severable.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.203.1. VALET PARKING ATTENDANT.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 182,742, Eff. 11/14/13.)

(a) Definitions. The words and phrases defined in Section 103.203(a) of this Code shall have the same meanings when used in this section.

(b) Permit Required.

No person shall engage in, act as or be employed as a Valet Parking Attendant until such time as said person has received a written permit from the Board and has paid all permit fees required pursuant to Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3, of this Code.
In lieu of a Board-issued temporary permit authorized by 103.06.2, a temporary permit for a period not to exceed 45 days may be issued to an applicant by the Executive Director of the Board or the Director’s designee, provided the following conditions are met:

(i) An application for a Valet Parking Attendant permit is on file with the Board and all permit fees have been paid;

(ii) A preliminary investigation by the Board’s staff does not reveal information which would constitute grounds for denial; and

(iii) The applicant possesses a valid California Driver’s License.

The Executive Director of the Board or the Director’s designee may suspend such temporary permit at any time if the Executive Director or the Director’s designee has reason to believe that any of the above conditions have not been met. The Executive Director or the Director’s designee shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the reasons for any such suspension, and the application for a permanent permit shall continue to be processed according to provisions of this Code and any applicable rules and regulations of the Board.

No permit shall be required under this section if the Valet Parking Attendant is providing valet parking services for a Valet Parking Operator who is not required to obtain a permit under Section 103.203(b).

Upon receipt of written application for a permit, the Board shall conduct an investigation to ascertain whether such permit should be issued. The permit shall be denied if the Board makes any of the following findings:

(i) The applicant has been convicted within the previous seven (7) years of a felony or any offense involving violence, dishonesty, automobile theft, automobile vandalism, reckless driving or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

(ii) The applicant has committed an act, which, if done by a permittee under this section, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of a permit.

(iii) The applicant has committed an act involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit with the intent to substantially benefit themself or another, or substantially injure another, or an act of violence, which act or acts are substantially related to the duties of the Valet Parking Attendant.

(iv) The applicant has knowingly made a false, misleading or fraudulent statement of fact to the City in the permit application process.

(v) The applicant has not satisfied the requirements of this Code.

(d) Identification Card. Every person possessing either a temporary or permanent permit to act as a Valet Parking Attendant shall at all times while engaged as a Valet Parking Attendant visibly display upon their person, a valid identification card issued by the Board identifying the bearer as a Valet Parking Attendant, and shall make such card, available for inspection upon request, to any police officer or other City official charged with enforcement of this section.

The identification card shall be returned to the Board immediately upon suspension, revocation or termination of employment as a Valet Parking Attendant.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.203.2. ON-DEMAND VALET PARKING.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 184,450, Eff. 10/9/16.)

(a) Definitions. The words and phrases defined in Section 103.203(a) of this Code shall have the same meaning when used in this section. In addition thereto, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings when used in this section:

“On-Demand Valet Parking Operator” means any person engaged in the business of Valet Parking who offers, makes available or provides prearranged valet parking services using an Internet- enabled application or digital platform to connect potential patrons with valet parking attendants who are employees or agents of the On-Demand Valet Parking Operator.

(b) Permit Required.

No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of On-Demand Valet Parking where the movement of vehicles is on or over any public right-of-way or public property without a written On- Demand Valet Parking Operator permit from the Board and the payment of all permit fees required pursuant to Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code.

(c) Additional Application Requirements. In addition to the requirements specified in Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code, each applicant for an On- Demand Valet Parking Operator permit shall furnish the following information with the application:

The name and location of the parking lots where vehicles will be parked or stored;
The name, address and telephone number of the employee or agent of the applicant who shall be available at all times during the hours of operation of the business;
A copy of the written contract between the applicant and the operator of any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location. The applicant shall notify the City within fifteen (15) days of any modification, transfer, amendment or termination of the contract;
A signed statement from the operator of any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location as to that facility’s ability to accept the cars, the number of spaces to be reserved for the applicant’s operations, and the total number of spaces in such parking facility. In cases where the parking facility is part of a building or premises devoted to other uses that require off-street parking, the statement shall also include information as to the number of parking spaces that were required by law to be provided in the parking facility to serve such other uses when said uses were established;
A copy of a valid Automobile Parking Lot permit issued under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 103.202 to any parking facility designated as the parking or storage location;
Proof that the applicant has insurance in force satisfying the requirements specified in Section 103.203(d)16.; and
Disclosure of all prior On-Demand Valet Parking Operator permits issued to applicant by the City of Los Angeles.

(d) Operating Requirements.

Operating in the Public Right-of-Way. The Permittee shall at no time, unless expressly authorized on the permit:

(ii) Park and leave standing any patron’s vehicle upon any portion of the public right-of- way or other public property (including any publicly owned off-street parking space); or

(iii) Use the public right-of-way for vehicle pickup and drop off locations, not including a legal parking space.

Claim Checks. The Permittee shall issue an electronic sequentially numbered claim check to each patron upon receipt of patron’s vehicle for valet parking. The electronic claim check shall explicitly state the terms and conditions under which the vehicle is being accepted.
Pedestrian Walkways. The Permittee shall ensure that pedestrian walkways are not blocked at any time during valet parking operations.
Parking on Private Property. The Permittee shall at no time allow any patron’s vehicle to be parked upon private property without a signed statement of authorization by the owner or other person having legal control of such private property.
Pre-arranged Valet Parking Services. Neither the Permittee nor any Valet Parking Attendants employed by the Permittee shall conduct valet parking services unless a request for such services has been made by using the prearranged On-Demand Valet Parking Internet-enabled application or digital platform.
Valet Parking Fees. The Permittee shall display the valet parking fees and rates, including the maximum charge, on the Permittee’s website and Internet-enabled application or digital platform used by the Permittee to offer, make available or provide prearranged Valet Parking. In addition, the Permittee shall also display the Permittee’s name, address and telephone number of the business, the hours of operation and the police permit number.
Unclaimed Vehicles. The Permittee shall notify the police whenever a vehicle has been left in its possession or custody for a period in excess of twenty- four (24) hours without a prior contractual arrangement for such period of time.
Employee Identification, Uniforms and Safety Equipment. The Permittee shall ensure that all employees who drive a patron’s vehicle or who handle a patron’s vehicle keys have a current and valid Valet Parking Attendant permit as required under Section 103.203.1, and wear a standard uniform that conspicuously identifies the employee by that employee’s full name and the name of the Valet Parking business. The Permittee shall ensure that all employees who receive, take possession of or move a patron’s vehicle upon any portion of the public right- of-way wear high-visibility safety vests.
Employee Background. The Permittee shall not allow any employee who has been convicted within the previous seven (7) years of a felony or any offense involving violence, dishonesty, automobile theft, automobile vandalism, reckless driving or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to drive a patron’s vehicle or handle a patron’s vehicle keys.
Records. Every Permittee shall maintain:

Traffic Safety. The Permittee shall ensure that Valet Parking operation at no time interferes with the normal flow of vehicle traffic on the public right- of-way. The Permittee shall adhere to all traffic and parking regulations.

(f) Disciplinary Action – Additional Grounds. The following acts committed by a Permittee shall be grounds for disciplinary action in addition to the grounds listed in Section 103.35:

The Permittee, its agents or employees, through carelessness, negligence or failure to make proper provision for the safeguarding of vehicles left in their custody, have knowingly or unknowingly facilitated or contributed toward the theft or conversion of any such vehicle, or of the contents thereof, or the damaging of any such vehicle; or
The Permittee, its agents or employees failed to cooperate with the police to aid in the investigation of any theft or other crime committed on a parking lot used by Permittee, or which arose out of the conduct of the business for which the permit was issued; or
The Permittee, its agents or employees knowingly delivered a vehicle in their custody to a person not the registered owner or entitled to possession of such vehicle; or
The Permittee’s Valet Parking operation negatively impacted traffic or disrupted the peace and quiet within any area of the City; or
The Permittee failed to comply with any City business tax and parking occupancy tax laws; or
The Permittee failed to comply with any of the operating requirements in Subdivision (d) of this section, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board governing valet parking.

(g) Violation. Violations of the operating requirements in Subdivision (d) of this section, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Police Commissioners governing valet parking, shall not be prosecuted as misdemeanors, but shall be subject to administrative sanctions and civil remedies as provided by this Code, or at law or in equity, or any combination of these.

Any person operating as a Valet Parking Operator without a permit as required in subdivision (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.204. TOWING OPERATION.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 139,363, Eff. 11/23/69.)

(a) Towing Operation Defined. As used in this article, “towing operation” means the activity of towing vehicles for compensation within the City of Los Angeles. Towing operation includes the storing of vehicles and all other services performed incident to towing.

EXEMPTIONS:

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any towing operation:

(1) That provides tow service exclusively to members of an association, automobile club or similar organization, and receives remuneration only from the sponsoring association, automobile club or similar organization;

(2) That provides tow service without charge or fee for other vehicles owned or operated by the individual or organization furnishing tow service;

(3) That provides tow service for other vehicles owned or operated by the individual or organization furnishing the tow service, but which are being operated under terms of a rent or lease agreement or contract, and such towing is performed on a non-profit basis or said fee is a part of the rent or lease agreement or contract;

(4) That, being located in another city, enters the City of Los Angeles on a non- emergency towing assignment for the purpose of towing a disabled vehicle back to said city for repair.

A non-emergency towing assignment includes towing of vehicles that have been involved in a collision, but have been removed from the scene, that have experienced mechanical failure, but have been removed from the roadway and no longer constitute a hazard; or that, being mechanically operative, are towed for convenience. All non- emergency towing assignments require prior authorization by persons listed in (f)(1), (2), (3) or (4). Persons soliciting for such non-emergency towing assignments within the City of Los Angeles shall be deemed to come within the provisions of this article and are required to have a permit as specified herein.

(b) Permit Required. No person shall engage in, manage, conduct or operate a towing operation business without a written permit from the Board.

(c) Business Location. Any person conducting a towing operation-business shall maintain a physical location from which said business is conducted. Such physical location shall provide an office with an adjacent yard for vehicle storage. Such location shall be approved by the Board prior to the permit being issued.

(d) Change of Location. A change of location may be endorsed on a permit by the Board upon an application by the permittee accompanied by the change of location fee prescribed by Section 103.12 of this Code.

(e) Towing Authorization. A permittee shall not attach a vehicle to a tow unit without first receiving written authorization to do so by the registered owner, legal owner, driver, or other person in control of said vehicle. Such authorization shall list the services offered and the rates and charges required therefor. A copy of such authorization shall be furnished to the person authorizing the tow. Such copy shall list the name, address and telephone number of the towing operation business and the days and hours the business is open for release of vehicles. Such copy shall also be signed by the tow unit operator performing the authorized service.

(f) Itemized Statement – When Required. A permittee shall hereunder furnish an itemized statement to the person authorizing the towing service, or the person’s agent. Such permittee shall furnish an itemized statement of services performed, labor and special equipment used in completing tow of vehicle and of the charges made therefor upon the request of:

(1) The registered owner; or

(2) The legal owner; or

(3) The insurance carrier of either (1) or (2); or

(4) The duly authorized agent of (1), (2), or (3).

Such permittee shall furnish a copy of the statement to any person authorized to receive the statement without demanding payment as a condition precedent.

(g) Vehicle Repair or Alteration – When Permitted. A permittee hereunder shall refrain from making any repairs or alterations to a vehicle without first being authorized by one of the persons listed in (f) (1), (2), (3), or (4). Parts or accessories shall not be removed from vehicles without authorization except as necessary for security purposes. Under such circumstances, the parts or accessories removed shall be listed on the itemized statement and stored in the business office. This section shall not be construed to prohibit permittees from making emergency alterations necessary to permit the removal by towing of such vehicle.

(h) Disciplinary Action – Additional Grounds. The following acts committed by a permittee hereunder shall be grounds for disciplinary action in addition to the grounds listed in Section 103.35 of this Code.

(1) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, obtained a tow contract by use of fraud, trick, dishonesty or forgery; or

(2) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, stopped on any street, highway or other public thoroughfare to render assistance to a person or disabled vehicle without first being requested to do so; or

(3) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, towed a vehicle to a location other than listed as the business address of such permittee without first receiving authorization to do so by the person authorizing the tow; or

(4) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, after towing a vehicle to the business location of permittee, without authorization, towed such vehicle to another location for storage; or

(5) The permittee, the permittee’s agents or employees, have conspired with any person to defraud any owner of any vehicle, or any insurance company, or any other person financially interested in the cost of the towing or storage of any vehicle, by making false or deceptive statements relating to the towing or storage of any vehicle; or

(6) The permittee, the permittee’s agent or employees, removed a vehicle involved in a collision prior to arrival by police, and; a person, as a result of such collision, suffered death or injury, or the driver of an involved vehicle, or a party to such collision, was under the influence of an intoxicant of any nature, or there is evidence that such vehicle was involved in a hit and run collision; or

(7) The permittee, the permittee’s agent or employees, have charged for services not performed, equipment not employed or used, services or equipment not needed, or have otherwise materially misstated the nature of any service performed or equipment used.

(8) Failure of the permittee, the permittee’s agent or employees, while on duty as an Official Police Garage Tow Unit Operator to wear the uniform of an Official Police Garage Tow Unit Operator as specified by the Board. (Amended by Ord. No. 143,624, Eff. 8/24/72.)

(i) Prerequisite to Application.

(1) Insurance Required. Before an application for a permit to operate a towing operation will be received or acted upon, the applicant must file with the City Attorney satisfactory evidence of insurance written by an insurance company admitted to do business in this State.

(2) Insurance Coverage – Minimum Required. Applicants are required to have minimum coverage as follows:

(A) Bodily injury – $100,000 any one person, $300,000 covering two or more persons in any one accident.

(B) Property damage – $25,000 each accident.

(j) Release of Vehicle. Permittees shall provide for release of vehicles Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding officially recognized holidays. Permittees may additionally release vehicles on other days and hours.

Upon the application to the Board and a showing of hardship by the permittee, the Board may permit an adjustment in the days and hours during which vehicles are to be released.

(k) Rates and Charges – Signs – Change of.

(1) Permittees shall maintain a sign listing the rules and charges of all services offered. Such sign shall be conspicuously placed in the office or other place where customer financial transactions take place. The letters on such sign shall be a minimum of one inch high with one quarter inch stroke. The letters shall be a contrasting color from the background.

(2) Applicants for towing operation permits shall file a schedule of rates and charges for each service offered with their application. No charge other than the rates and charges specified in such schedule shall be made except as herein provided.

Changes in rates and charges shall be made by written notice containing the new schedule of rates and charges to the Board at least 10 days prior to becoming effective. A duplicate copy of such notice shall be posted for a period of 10 days in the office next to the posted schedule of the existing rates and charges. Upon the expiration of the 10-day period the rates and charges shall be changed in accordance with such notice.

The Board may, upon a showing of hardship, permit a revision of the rate and charge schedule within the 10-day period.

(l) Notification to the Police Department – When Required. The Board may require a permittee to make notification to the Police Department whenever a vehicle is towed under the provisions of this article. Such notification shall be made as prescribed by the Board.

(m) Tow Unit Operator – Identification. A tow unit operator shall wear their name insignia attached in a conspicuous place on their clothing. A tow unit operator shall identify themself by giving their full, correct name to any patron of the towing operation upon request.

(n) Tow Unit – Identification. A tow unit shall have the permittee’s Police Commission identification number on both sides of the unit in a conspicuous place. Such marking shall be in addition to those required by the California Vehicle Code and shall meet the same requirements.

(o) Investigation. Upon the filing of such application the Board shall make investigation as it deems necessary, and if the Board finds that the conduct or operation of a towing operation would not be detrimental or injurious to the public welfare, and that the applicant is of good character and of good business repute, and has not been convicted of theft or embezzlement, or of any offense involving the unlawful use, taking or conversion of a vehicle belonging to another, and is otherwise a fit and proper person to conduct a towing operation, or if the applicant is a corporation, its officers, directors and principal stockholders are of good character and of good business repute, and have not been convicted of theft or embezzlement, or of any offense involving the unlawful use, taking or conversion of a vehicle belonging to another, and are otherwise fit and proper persons to conduct such business, issue the permit, otherwise, the application shall be denied only after the Board shall conduct a hearing on said application.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.204.1. TOW UNIT OPERATORS.¶

(Amended by Ord. No. 152,905, Eff. 10/19/79.)

(a) Permit Required. (Amended by Ord. No. 158,406, Eff. 11/20/83.)

(1) No person shall operate or drive a tow unit nor shall any person be employed as a tow unit operator until such time as said person has received a written permit from the Board to act as a tow unit operator except that any person employed as a tow unit operator may operate a tow truck without permit while under the immediate and direct supervision of a permitted tow unit operator for a period of not to exceed seven consecutive calendar days from the initial date of employment.

(2) In addition to or in lieu of a Board-issued temporary permit authorized by 103.06(b), a temporary permit not to exceed 45 days may be issued to an applicant by the Secretary of the Board provided the following conditions are met:

a. An application for permit is on file at the main office of the City Clerk and all permit fees have been paid; and

b. A preliminary investigation by Commission staff does not reveal information which would normally constitute grounds for denial; and

c. The applicant possesses a valid California Driver’s license.

The Secretary of the Board may suspend such temporary permit at any time if the Secretary has reason to believe that any of the above conditions have not been met. The Secretary shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for any such suspension, and the application for a permanent permit shall continue to be processed according to provisions of this Code and any applicable rules and regulations of the Board.

(b) Identification Card. Every person possessing either a temporary or permanent permit to act as a tow unit operator shall at all times while directly engaged in the operation of a tow unit carry upon their person an identification card issued by the Board identifying the bearer as a tow unit operator and shall display such card to any police officer upon request. The identification card shall bear the name, physical description, business address, and photograph of the permittee and the name and address of the garage employing the permittee.

The identification card shall be returned to the Board immediately upon suspension, revocation or termination of employment.

(c) Official Police Garage Tow Unit Operator. As used in this article, Official Police Garage Tow Unit Operator means the driver of a tow unit employed by an Official Police Garage to respond to police-initiated requests for tow service. No person shall operate as tow unit bearing an Official Police Garage insignia without written permission from the Board.

(d) Change of Location. A change of location may be endorsed on a permit by the Board upon a written application by the permittee accompanied by a change of location fee prescribed in Section 103.12 of this Code.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.205. MASSAGE THERAPY.¶

(Amended by Ord. No. 183,603, Eff. 7/25/15.)

The City recognizes that the practice of massage therapy without sufficient training and standards can be dangerous to the public. State law has been created to provide for consistent statewide certification and oversight of massage therapy professionals, and to ensure that schools approved by the California Massage Therapy Council are providing the appropriate level of instruction. The purpose and intent of this section is to regulate massage businesses in order to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare.

(a) Definitions. Unless the context or subject matter clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings when used in this section.

“Board” means the Board of Police Commissioners.
“California Massage Therapy Council” or “CAMTC” means the State nonprofit organization created to regulate and issue massage practitioner and therapist certificates pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4600 et seq.
“Massage” means any method of pressure on or friction against, or stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, pounding, or stimulating the external parts of the body with the hands or other parts of the body, or any other type of system for treating or manipulating the human body with or without the aid of any mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or with or without supplementary aids such as rubbing alcohol, liniments, antiseptics, oils, powder, creams, lotions, ointments or other similar preparations commonly used in this practice.
“Massage Establishment” means any business or establishment having a fixed place of business where any person engages in, conducts, carries on, or permits to be engaged in, conducted, or carried on, any massage as defined in this section, for any form of consideration or gratuity.
“Out-Call Massage Business” means any business or enterprise that engages in or performs massage for any form of consideration or gratuity at a location other than a Massage Establishment.
“Operator” means any person who supervises, manages, directs, organizes, controls or in any other way is responsible for or in charge of the overall operation, conduct or activities of a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business.
“Owner” means any of the following:

(i) The sole proprietor of a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business. As used in this section, the term “sole proprietor” means a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business where the owner owns 100% of the business and is the only person who provides massage services for that Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business pursuant to a valid and active State certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council; or

(ii) All general partners of a partnership that owns and operates a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business; or

(iii) All officers of a corporation and all persons who own a controlling interest in a corporation or other limited liability entity that owns and operates a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business.

“Massage Therapist” means a person who is certified as a “Massage Therapist” by the California Massage Therapy Council under Chapter 10.5 of the California Business and Professions Code.
“Massage Practitioner” means a person who is certified as a “Massage Practitioner” by the California Massage Therapy Council under Chapter 10.5 of the California Business and Professions Code.
“Permit” means the permit required to be obtained from the Board for the operation of a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business.

(b) Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business – Permit Required. No person shall engage in, promote, advertise, conduct, or carry on, in or upon any premises within the City of Los Angeles, the operation of a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business without a permit duly issued by the Board pursuant to this subsection for each business location. This required permit shall be in addition to any business tax registration certificate required by ordinance.

Application for Permit. Permit applications shall be made in accordance with Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code.
Additional Requirements. In addition to those requirements specified in Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code, each applicant for a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business permit shall furnish the following information to the Board: all convictions for any crime involving conduct which requires registration under California Penal Code Section 290, or of conduct which is a violation of California Penal Code Sections 266i, 314, 315, 316, 318, 647(a), 647(b), or any crime involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or moral turpitude. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,710, Eff. 3/10/17.)

If public protest or adverse information concerning the applicant is received, the Board or, upon its direction, a Hearing Examiner may hold a public hearing to gather input from the public before issuance of a permit for the operation of a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business. All relevant information so obtained shall be used by the Board in determining whether or not to issue a permit for a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business. Public hearings shall be held in accordance with Chapter X, Article 3, Division 3 of this Code.
Record. The hearing procedure shall be recorded or summarized as directed by the Board. When proceedings are recorded and not summarized, they shall be transcribed at the request of any party or interested person upon the prepayment of a fee as set forth in Section 102.18. One copy of such transcript shall be furnished to the Board to be placed in its files.
Hearings. The public hearing shall be conducted by the Board or a Hearing Examiner at the Board’s direction. After the conclusion of a public hearing conducted by a Hearing Examiner, the Hearing Examiner shall submit their report to the Board setting forth their conclusions and recommendations in writing and stating briefly the reasons therefore.

(d) Massage Establishment – Operating Requirements.

Hours and Conditions of Operation. No Massage Establishment shall operate, nor shall any massage be administered in any Massage Establishment, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The hours of operation must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the lobby within the Massage Establishment and in any front window clearly visible from outside of the Massage Establishment.

(i) Each person employed or acting as Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist shall have a valid certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council. It shall be unlawful for any owner, operator, responsible managing employee, manager or permittee in charge of, or in control of, a Massage Establishment to employ or permit a person to perform massage, as defined in this section, who is not in possession of a valid, unrevoked Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council. After December 31, 2015, all Massage Therapist permits previously issued by the Board shall be null and void, and in order to provide massage services in the City, a person must possess a valid, unrevoked California Massage Therapy Council Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist certificate.

(ii) The possession of a valid Massage Establishment permit does not authorize the possessor to perform work for which state certification as a Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist is required.

(iii) The Massage Establishment shall be supervised during all hours of operation by an operator specified in the permit application.

Posting Requirements.

(i) A recognizable and legible sign complying with the requirements of this Code shall be posted at the main entrance identifying the business as a Massage Establishment.

(ii) A list of services available and the cost of such services shall be posted in an open and conspicuous place on the premises. The services shall be described in readily understandable language. No services shall be performed and no sums shall be charged for such services other than those posted. Nothing herein prohibits a voluntary tip from being paid by the patron.

(iii) The Massage Establishment permit and a copy of the certificate and photo of each and every California Massage Therapy Council certified Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist employed in the establishment shall be displayed in an open and conspicuous place on the premises.

Instruments, Equipment and Personnel.

(i) Disinfecting agents and sterilizing equipment shall be provided for any instruments used in performing any massage.

(ii) Pads used on massage tables shall be covered in a professional manner with durable, washable plastic or other waterproof material.

(iii) Clean and sanitary towels, sheets and linens shall be provided for each patron receiving massage services. No common use of towels or linens shall be permitted. Towels, sheets and linens shall be provided in sufficient quantity and shall not be used by more than one person unless they have been first relaundered. Heavy white paper may be substituted for sheets, provided that such paper is used once for each person and then discarded into a sanitary receptacle. Separate closed cabinets or containers shall be provided for the storage of clean and soiled linen and shall be plainly marked: “clean linen” and “soiled linen”.

(iv) All employees, including certified Massage Practitioners and Massage Therapists, shall not wear clothing that is transparent, see- through or exposes the certificate holder’s undergarments.

Personnel Lists.

(i) The operator shall maintain on the premises of the Massage Establishment evidence that demonstrates that all persons providing massage services are certified by the California Massage Therapy Council. The operator shall make the state certificates immediately available for inspection upon demand of a representative of the Police Department or any other representative charged with enforcement of this section. Additionally, the operator shall be required to file copies of each state certificate with the Board within ten days of a Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist beginning work at the Massage Establishment. Information required by this section shall be maintained at the Massage Establishment for a minimum of two years following the date that the person ceases to be employed or provide services at the Massage Establishment.

(ii) The operator shall have a continuing obligation to notify the Board in writing of any changes in Massage Practitioners, Massage Therapists and managers within ten days of such change.

(iii) The operator shall maintain on the premises of the Massage Establishment a register of all non-state certified persons employed, working or providing other services at the massage business. The register shall be maintained for a minimum of two years following the time that a person ceases to be employed or provide services at the Massage Establishment. The operator shall make the register immediately available for inspection upon demand of a representative of the Police Department, any health officer or any other official charged with enforcement of this section. The register shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:

(a) Name, nicknames and/or aliases;

(b) Home address and contact phone number;

(d) The date of employment, and termination, if any;

(e) The duties of each person.

(iv) Every permittee operating a Massage Establishment under a permit issued pursuant to this section shall keep a record of the date and hour of each treatment, the name and address of the patron, the name of the employee administering such treatment and the type of treatment administered. Such record shall be maintained on a professionally printed form provided by the permittee. The information furnished or secured as a result of any such record shall be confidential. Any unauthorized disclosure or use of such information shall constitute a misdemeanor. Such records shall be maintained for a period of one year.

Prohibited Conduct.

(i) No person shall enter or remain in any part of a Massage Establishment location while in the possession of, consuming or using any alcoholic beverages or drugs, except pursuant to a prescription for such drugs. The owner, operator, responsible managing employee, manager or permittee shall not permit any such person to enter or remain upon such premises.

(ii) No storage or sale of sexually oriented material and/or sexually oriented merchandise, as defined by LAMC 103.01, shall be permitted within the Massage Establishment.

(iii) No operator shall hire, employ or allow a person to perform massage services unless such person possesses a valid state certificate. Each operator shall verify that all persons performing massage services hold the appropriate state certificate required by this section.

(iv) No audio or video recording or monitoring of the performance of massage services without the prior knowledge and written consent of the patron.

(v) No Massage Establishment shall place, publish or distribute, or cause to be placed, published or distributed, any advertising matter that depicts any portion of the human body that would reasonably suggest to prospective patrons that any service is available other than those services described in this section and posted on the premises as required by this section, nor shall any Massage Establishment employ language in the text of any advertising that would reasonably suggest to a prospective patron that any service is available other than those services described in this section and posted on the premises as required by this section.

(vi) No Massage Practitioner, Massage Therapist or employee shall expose their genitals, buttocks or, in the case of a female, her breast or make intentional contact with the genitals or anus of another person.

(vii) The Massage Establishment shall not refuse service on the basis of a customer’s sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation or other arbitrary factor proscribed by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code Section 51, et seq.

Building and Facility Requirements. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,444, Eff. 9/28/16.)

(i) Adequate dressing rooms shall be provided for patrons. Dressing rooms will be used only by patrons of the same sex at the same time. Dressing rooms need not be separate from the room in which the massage is being performed. If the massage takes place without disrobing of patrons, then separate dressing rooms are not required for each patron. A location for each patron served to safely store their valuables shall be provided.

(ii) Toilet facilities shall be provided for patrons and shall consist of at least one unisex toilet with lavatories or wash basins provided with soap. Both hot and cold running water shall be provided at all times in the toilet room or vestibule.

(iii) Minimum ventilation shall be provided in accordance with the Building Code of the City of Los Angeles. The premises shall be equipped with lighting fixtures of sufficient intensity to illuminate all interior areas of the premises accessible to patrons with an illumination of not less than two foot-candles evenly distributed as measured at floor level.

(iv) All walls, ceilings, floors, pools, showers, bathtubs, wet and dry heat rooms, steam or vapor rooms, tables and all other physical facilities shall be in good repair and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Wet and dry heat rooms, steam or vapor rooms or cabinets, showers, compartments and toilet rooms shall be thoroughly cleaned at least once each day the business is in operation. Bathtubs shall be thoroughly cleaned after each use.

(v) No Massage Establishment located in a building or structure with exterior windows fronting a public street, highway, walkway, or parking area shall block visibility into the interior reception and waiting area through the use of curtains, closed blinds, tints or any other material that obstructs, blurs, or unreasonably darkens the view into the premises.

(vi) The front door of the Massage Establishment and the doors of the interior treatment rooms in which massages are being performed must remain unlocked during all hours of operation unless the Massage Establishment is owned by one individual with one or no employees or independent contractors. No electronic locking device may be utilized on any entrance door. No warning devices such as buzzers may be installed.

(vii) No part of the Massage Establishment shall be used for residential sleeping purposes.

Inspections.

(i) The Chief of Police or the Chief’s authorized representative shall have the right to enter each and every part of the Massage Establishment for the purpose of making unscheduled inspections to observe and enforce compliance with applicable regulations, laws, and provisions of this section. It shall be unlawful for any permittee to fail to allow an inspection of the premises or hinder the inspection in any manner.

(e) Out-Call Massage Business – Operating Requirements.

No out-call massage may be administered between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
The Massage Practitioner and Massage Therapist shall have their CAMTC identification card in their possession while providing massage services.
A record of treatment shall be maintained by each Massage Practitioner and Massage Therapist employed by the business. Such records shall be maintained for a period of one year.
No person operating an Out-Call Massage Business shall allow a person to perform massage therapy unless such person has a valid, unrevoked CAMTC Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist certificate.
The operating requirements set forth in Section 103.205(d)(3) shall apply to an Out-Call Massage Business.
No Out-Call Massage Business shall place, publish or distribute, or cause to be placed, published or distributed, any advertising matter that depicts any portion of the human body that would reasonably suggest to prospective patrons that any service is available other than those services described in this section, nor shall any Out-Call Massage Business employ language in the text of any advertising that would reasonably suggest to a prospective patron that any service is available other than those services described in this section.
No Massage Practitioner, Massage Therapist or employee shall expose their genitals, buttocks or, in the case of a female, her breast or make intentional contact with the genitals or anus of another person.
The Out-Call Massage Business shall not refuse service on the basis of a customer’s sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation or other arbitrary factor proscribed by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code Section 51, et seq.
Upon any change of employees, the permittee shall inform the Board within ten days of such change.

(f) Massage Establishment / Out-Call Permit Issuance and Denial. Upon receipt of written application for a permit, the Board shall conduct an investigation to ascertain whether such permit should be issued. The permit shall be denied if the Board makes any of the following findings:

The applicant or any person who will be employed in the Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business has been convicted within the previous five years of a violation of Health and Safety Code Section 11550 or a violation of Penal Code Sections 266i, 314, 315, 316, 318, 647(a), 647(b); or has been convicted in any other state of any offense which, if committed in California, would have been punished as one or more of the above-mentioned offenses; or that any such person is required to register under the provisions of Penal Code Section 290. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,444, Eff. 9/28/16.)
The applicant or any person who will be employed in the Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business who has been convicted of any felony offense within the previous five years involving the sale of a controlled substance specified in Health and Safety Code Sections 11054, 11055, 11056, 11057 or 11058; or has been convicted in any other state of any offense which, if committed in California, would have been punishable as one or more of the above mentioned offenses.
The applicant or any person who will be employed in the Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business who has committed an act which, if committed by a permittee under this Section, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of the permit.
The operations of the Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business would constitute a public nuisance.
The applicant has knowingly made a false, misleading or fraudulent statement of fact in the permit application process.
The application does not contain material information required by this section.
The applicant has not satisfied the requirements of this Code.

(g) Violation. Violations of the operating requirements in Subdivision (d) or (e) of this section, or any rules or regulations adopted by the Board governing Massage Establishments or Out-Call Massage Businesses, shall not be prosecuted as misdemeanors, but shall be subject to administrative sanctions and civil remedies as provided by this Code, or at law or in equity, or any combination of these.

Any person operating as a Massage Establishment or Out-Call Massage Business without a permit as required in Subdivision (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(h) Severability. If any provision of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, that invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this ordinance which can be implemented without the invalid provisions, and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each provision thereof irrespective of whether any one or more provisions are found invalid, unconstitutional or otherwise unenforceable.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.205.1. MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND PRACTITIONERS.¶

(Title and Section amended by Ord. No. 183,603, Eff. 7/25/15.)

(a) Definitions. The words and phrases defined in Section 103.205(a) of this Code, shall have the same meanings when used in this section.

(b) Effective January 1, 2016, all persons performing massage services from any location in the City shall be required to possess a valid, unrevoked California Massage Therapy Council Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist certificate. All Massage Therapist permits issued by the Board prior to January 1, 2016, shall be considered null and void.

(c) Exemptions. The provisions of Subsection (b) shall not apply to the following classes of individuals, and no permit shall be required of such persons, while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective professions:

Physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, osteopaths, podiatrists, acupuncturists or physical therapists who are duly licensed to practice their respective professions in the State of California.
Nurses who are registered under the laws of the State of California.
Barbers and beauticians who are duly licensed under the laws of the State of California.
Athletic trainers employed by, or on behalf of, an amateur, semi-professional or professional athletic team performing or training within California.
Coaches and athletic trainers of accredited high schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities.
Hospitals, nursing homes, sanitariums, or other health care facilities duly licensed by the State of California.
Any other business or profession exempted by state law.

(d) Penalty. Any person operating as a Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist without a certificate as required in Subdivision (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) Severability. If any provision of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, that invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of this ordinance which can be implemented without the invalid provisions, and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each provision thereof irrespective of whether any one or more provisions are found invalid, unconstitutional or otherwise unenforceable.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.205.2. BATHS.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 148,154, Eff. 4/17/76. )

(a) Definitions. The words and phrases defined in Section 103.205 (a) of this Code, shall have the same meanings when used in this section. In addition thereto, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings when used in this section.

(1) As used herein, “Bath” means the activity of providing facilities for: steam baths; electric light bath; electric tub baths; shower baths; sponge bath; sun bath; mineral bath; Russian, Swedish or Turkish bath; public bathing, which has in connection therewith, a steam room, dry hot room, plunge, shower bath or sleeping accommodations; hydro- therapeutic pool, which is designed for whole or partial immersion of the human body for recreation or therapeutic use by one or more persons at a time and which is either drained or is not drained, cleaned, or refilled for each user, and may include but not be limited to hydrojet circulation, hot water, cold water, mineral water, oil, air induction bubbles or any combination thereof; therapeutic pools which may include whirlpools, hot tubs, baths, and cold water plunges; or any other type bath for treating the human body. (Amended by Ord. No. 159,306, Eff. 9/27/84.)

(b) Bath Business – Permit Required. No person shall engage in, manage, conduct or operate a “Bath” business without a written permit from the Board.

(1) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any treatment administered in good faith in the course of any healing art or profession by any person licensed or permitted to practice any such art or profession under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code of California or any other law of this state.

(c) Employees. No person shall be permitted to work in a “Bath” business in any capacity that would require such person to touch the body of another without such person being previously authorized to do so by the Board consistent with provisions of Section 103.205.1 of this ordinance. No person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be permitted to work on the premises.

(d) Persons Under Eighteen – Admission. No person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be allowed on the premises of a “Bath” business, unless accompanied by one of their parents or guardians.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.206. ALARM SYSTEMS.¶

(Title Amended by Ord. No. 156,362, Eff. 3/15/82.) (Section Amended by Ord. No. 176,223, Eff. 11/8/04.)

(a) Definitions. Unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, terms defined here shall have the following meaning when used in this chapter:

(1) Alarm System. Any assembly of equipment and devices installed on premises, buildings or structures for the purpose of signaling the presence of an Emergency or hazard requiring urgent attention, excepting any system, device, or mechanism primarily protecting a motor vehicle.

(2) Alarm System User. The person who controls both the Alarm System and the premises upon which it is installed, or the person who controls the premises and is the subscriber, client or customer of an Alarm Company Operator, as that term is used in Section 103.206.1 of this Code.

(3) Burglar Alarm System. An Alarm System designed or used to detect and report an unauthorized entry or attempted unauthorized entry upon the premises, building or structure protected by the system.

(4) Department. The Los Angeles Police Department.

(5) Emergency. The commission or attempted commission of a robbery, burglary, or other criminal activity.

(6) False Alarm. The activation of an Alarm System resulting in a response by the Department where an Emergency of the kind for which the Alarm System was designed to give notice does not exist.

(7) Private Guard Responder. A guard employed by an Alarm Company Operator, private guard company, or person or entity authorized by the Alarm System User to be responsible for Verification of an unauthorized entry, attempted unauthorized entry, or other crime which may have occurred at the premises, building or structure protected by the Alarm System.

(8) Robbery Alarm System. An Alarm System designed or used for alerting others of a robbery or other crime in progress which involves potentially serious bodily injury or death. For purposes of this definition, a Robbery Alarm System includes duress, panic, hold-up and robbery-in- progress alarms.

(9) Verification. Confirmation of an unauthorized entry or attempted unauthorized entry upon the premises, building or structure protected by the Burglar Alarm System. Confirmation may be made by the Alarm System User, other person at or near the scene of the activation, Private Guard Responder or Alarm Company Operator, and shall be based on a physical observation or inspection of the premises, or by remote visual inspection of the premises. For purposes of this definition, remote visual inspection of the premises is a visual inspection of the premises protected by the Burglar Alarm System which is accomplished through the use of a video camera or other similar device to capture and transmit visual images of the premises to the Alarm System User, Alarm Company Operator, Private Guard Responder, or person or entity authorized by the Alarm System User. The visual images must be sufficiently discernable to permit the viewer to confirm that an unauthorized entry, attempted unauthorized entry, or other crime has occurred at the premises protected by the Burglar Alarm System.

(b) Permit Requirement. No person shall install, connect, activate, operate or use an Alarm System without a valid Alarm System permit having been issued for that purpose.

(c) Permit Application. Application for an Alarm System permit must be in writing on a form provided by the Board. Applications must be accompanied by the permit fee established in Section 103.12.

(d) Permit Denial, Suspension and Revocation. The Board of Police Commissioners may suspend or revoke the permit of any Alarm System User whose Alarm System has experienced more than ten (10) False Alarms within a 365 day period. Failure to pay a False Alarm fee or penalty assessment within sixty (60) days of billing shall be grounds for revocation of a permit. Beginning February 1, 2005, and thereafter, no permit shall be issued or renewed until all Alarm System permit fees, False Alarm fees, late fees or penalty assessments due and owing are paid.

(e) False Alarm Fees and Penalties.

(1) False Alarm Fees. Alarm System Users shall pay a False Alarm Fee of $260.00 for each False Alarm. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,897, Eff. 5/4/26.)

(2) Penalty Assessments. All penalties assessed under this section shall be in addition to any False Alarm fee.

(i) Permitted Alarm System. In addition to the False Alarm fee an Alarm System User with a valid permit shall pay a penalty assessment of $50.00 for the second False Alarm within 365 days of the first False Alarm. The penalty assessment will increase by $50.00 increments for each additional False Alarm incurred during a 365 day period.

(ii) Non-permitted Alarm System. In addition to the False Alarm fee an Alarm System User who does not possess a valid permit on the date of the False Alarm shall pay a penalty assessment of $100.00 for the first False Alarm. The penalty assessment will increase by $100.00 increments for each additional False Alarm incurred during a 365 day period.

(f) Late Permit Penalties. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,718, Eff. 6/20/11.) An alarm system user who fails to obtain an original permit as required by this Section shall pay a Late Permit Penalty of $15.00 in addition to the permit fee established in Section 103.12. An Alarm System User who fails to pay the Annual Police Permit Fee before January 1, of each calendar year as required by Section 103.07(a), shall be assessed a Late Permit Penalty as follows:

(1) If the Annual Police Permit Fee is paid between January 1, and March 31, a $15.00 Late Permit Penalty shall be assessed.

(2) If the Annual Police Permit Fee is paid after March 31, a $30.00 Late Permit Penalty shall be assessed.

Any Late Permit Penalty shall be in addition to the original permit fee established in Section 103.12.

(g) Waiver of Fees. The Board of Police Commissioners may waive the fees and penalties provided it has adopted and follows guidelines for the waiver of fees.

(h) The Department shall advise the Office of Finance of all applicable fees and penalties. The Office of Finance shall bill the charges to the Alarm System User. The charges shall be due and payable to the Office of Finance within 30 days of the billing date.

(i) If the Office of Finance determines for any billing that a discrepancy exists between the charges paid and the amount due pursuant to this section, which results in an underpayment or overpayment in an amount of $3.00 or less, the Office of Finance may accept and record the billing as paid in full, without other notification to the person billed.

(j) If the Office of Finance determines that any amount due pursuant to this section cannot be collected or that efforts to collect this sum would be disproportionately costly in relation to the probable outcome of the collecting efforts relative to the amount due, the Office of Finance may prepare a report setting forth the findings and reason for that determination and submit that report to a Board of Review constituted under Section 11.04 of this Code and authorized to act as provided in that section. Upon unanimous approval of the finding by the Board of Review, the Office of Finance may remove any unpaid sum owing or believed to be owing from the active accounts receivable of the Department. The removal however shall not preclude the City from collecting or attempting to collect the sum if it later proves to be collectible, as provided by Section 11.04. In the event the City files an action in court to recover the sum, the City shall be entitled to recover its costs and attorney’s fees in addition to the amount due and owing.

(k) Additional Duties of Alarm System User.

(1) The Alarm System User shall display on the premises, building or structure, at or near the main entrance, the Alarm System permit number and the telephone number of the person designated to respond to the location in the event of an alarm. Numbers shall be clearly visible and readable from the exterior of the premises. The premises shall display the street address at or near the front of the premises and at other places where access is available, such as, from an alley or parking lot. The street address shall be clearly visible.

(2) All Alarm System notifications to the Department shall begin with the Alarm System User’s name, complete address including unit or apartment number, Alarm System permit number and shall include the state alarm company operator license number.

(3) The Alarm System User or a designee of the Alarm System User shall respond to the premises following activation of an alarm at the premises after being requested to do so by the Department. The response shall be made within a reasonable time and, in any event, not later than sixty (60) minutes after being requested to do so by the Department.

(4) The Alarm System User shall abide by all additional rules and restrictions adopted by the Board.

(l) Impermissible Systems and Uses.

(1) No person shall operate or use any Alarm System that emits a sound similar to that of an emergency vehicle siren or a civil defense warning system.

(2) No person shall operate or use an Alarm System that emits an audible sound where the emission does not automatically cease within thirty (30) minutes.

(3) No person shall operate or use a Robbery Alarm System for any purpose other than reporting robberies or other crimes involving potential serious bodily injury or death.

(4) No person shall operate or use a Burglar Alarm System for any purpose other than detecting and reporting an unauthorized entry or an attempted unauthorized entry upon the premises, building or structure protected by the system.

(5) No person shall operate or use an Alarm System that has been disapproved by the Board of Police Commissioners.

(6) No person shall operate or use a Burglar Alarm System that causes a request for service to be placed with the Department or with a 9-1-1 emergency service number prior to Verification if the Burglar Alarm System has already experienced two False Alarms within a 365 day period. Verification is not required for a Robbery Alarm System activation or for activations that occur at premises, buildings or facilities controlled or monitored by federal, state or local agencies, or the location of a licensed firearms business.

(7) No Alarm Company Operator shall cause a request for service to be placed with the Department until such time as it has made (2) attempts to verify the need for service by telephonic means. This provision does not modify or limit subsection l.(6).

(8) No Alarm Company Operator shall, within seven (7) days following a new Alarm System installation, cause a request for service to be placed with the Department prior to Verification.

(9) No person shall provide false information which causes the Department to dispatch officers to the location of an Alarm System.

(10) No person shall operate or use a Burglar Alarm System which causes a request for service to be placed with the Fire Department for any purpose other than for an emergency fire response.

(m) Violation. Violation of this section, other than by failure to pay a fee or penalty assessment, shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.206.1. ALARM COMPANY OPERATORS.¶

(Amended by Ord. No. 180,490, Eff. 3/7/09.)

(a) Definitions. The definitions contained in California Business and Professions Code Sections 7590.1 and 7590.2 shall be applicable to this section unless otherwise provided.

(b) Business Tax Registration. No person shall engage in the business of Alarm Company Operator without having first obtained a Business Tax Registration Certificate from the Office of Finance.

(1) An Alarm Company Operator shall not install an Alarm System, as defined in Section 103.206, unless either:

(A) The Alarm System User or customer has already obtained a valid Alarm System permit issued by the Board of Police Commissioners for the premises, building, or structure at which the Alarm System is to be installed, or;

(B) The Alarm Company Operator collects a completed Alarm System permit application and applicable permit fee from the customer and files it on behalf of the customer as required by Sections 103.12 and 103.206 before installing the Alarm System.

(2) An Alarm Company Operator that installs any Alarm System pursuant to paragraph (B) of subdivision (1) shall, no later than the last day of each month, remit to the Office of Finance all Alarm System permit fees and completed permit applications collected that month, accompanied by a remittance form approved by the Office of Finance.

(d) Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.206.2. COMMERCIAL UNSECURED BUILDINGS.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 170,801, Eff. 1/21/96.) (Sec. No. Corrected by Ord. No. 170,910, Eff. 3/22/96.)

A. As used in this section, the following definition shall apply:

Secured Building Fee. A fee imposed pursuant to this section to recover the costs of securing a building.

B. Every person who has ownership or control of any business operated in any commercial building shall, upon the request of a member of the Los Angeles Police or Fire Department, provide the names and non-business telephone numbers of at least two persons who shall have authority to take control of and secure the property in the event the property is found in an unoccupied and unsecured condition. Such information shall be provided, received and maintained in confidence for the exclusive use by those departments to satisfy the purposes of this section. Information received by one department shall be transferred to the other department.

C. Any unoccupied and unsecured commercial building, for which the information required in Subsection A has been obtained and to which police have responded after actuation of a burglary alarm or other call for police service, is declared to be a public nuisance. Upon discovery after such response the Los Angeles Police Department may cause telephonic notice to be given to one or both of the persons whose name and non-business telephone numbers have been provided by the owner or person having control of the business pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this section. The telephonic notice provided for herein shall include the address of the building and the nature of the unsecured condition, shall cite this code section, and shall state that unless a representative of the owner or person having control thereof secures the building within one hour of the notice the City will secure the building and charge the owner of the business for the cost thereof.

D. If telephonic contact with either of the persons identified pursuant to Subsection A of this section cannot be made within one hour of the initial effort to make contact after response to a burglar alarm or if notice is given in accordance with the provisions of Subsection C of this section and the owner or the owners representative does not secure the building within one hour of such notice, the City or its contractor may enter upon the property and secure the building.

E. The Department shall give the owner of the business written notice of any action to secure any building in accordance with Subsection D of this section. Such notice shall be in a form prescribed by the Board.

F. All expenses incurred by the City pursuant to Subsection D of this section shall become an indebtedness of the owner of the business operated within the building.

G. Duties of the Department.

The Department shall develop written procedures to provide for training and the uniform implementation of this section.
The Department shall develop any form or document necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
The Department shall develop an administrative appeal hearing procedure to determine whether the indebtedness incurred under this section was assessed to the proper person or was properly assessed.

H. Duties of the Office of Finance. (Amended by Ord. No. 173,300, Eff. 6/30/00, Oper. 7/1/00.)

The Office of Finance shall bill the owner of the business for any indebtedness incurred under this section as reported by the Department. The bill shall be due and payable to the Office of Finance within fifteen days of the billing date.
If the Office of Finance determines for any billing that a discrepancy exists between the service fee paid and the amount billed which results in an underpayment or overpayment in an amount of three dollars or less, the Office of Finance may accept and record the billing as paid in full without other notification to the person billed.
If the Office of Finance determines that any amount of the service fee billed hereunder cannot be collected or that efforts to collect would be disproportionately costly in relation to the probable outcome of the collection efforts, the Office of Finance may prepare a report setting forth the findings and reasons therefor and request that the Board of Review authorize the removal of any unpaid amount from the active accounts receivable of the Department pursuant to Section 11.04 of this Code. Upon unanimous approval of the Board of Review, the Office of Finance may remove from the active accounts receivable any service fee owing. If the Board of Review does not unanimously approve the findings, the matter shall be returned to the Office of Finance. Any removal, however, shall not preclude the Office of Finance from collecting or attempting to collect any such sum that later proves to be collectible as provided by Section 11.04.
At least monthly the Office of Finance shall report to the Department the outstanding accounts receivable, collections and write offs of service fees.
Administrative Cost. The total cost covered in Paragraph 1 of this subsection shall include, in addition to the cost to perform the actual work, an amount equal to forty percent of such cost to cover the cost of the City administering any contract and supervising the work required.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.208. KEY DUPLICATOR.¶

(Title and Section amended by Ord. No. 167,322, Eff. 11/9/91.)

(a) Definition. As used in this article “key duplicator” means any person whose trade or occupation is the duplicating of keys for locks or similar devices. State licensed new car dealers and used car dealers or auto repair technicians who hold valid permits are not required to obtain key duplicator permits if they make automobile keys as an incident to their regular business.

(b) Permit Required. No person shall engage in, manage, carry on or conduct the business of a key duplicator without a written permit from the Board. A permit shall not be required of each person performing mechanical key duplication, provided that there is a key duplicator permit for each location at which such mechanical key duplication is performed.

(c) Keys to be Stamped. It shall be unlawful for any key duplicator to fail to stamp the serial number of such duplicator’s permit upon any key duplicated, sold or given away.

(d) Change of Location. A change of location may be endorsed on a permit by the Board upon written application by the permittee accompanied by the change of location fee prescribed in Section 103.12.

(e) Duplication Prohibited. No person shall duplicate any key which is stamped “Do Not Duplicate” or otherwise stamped or marked in a similar manner.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.211. HANDBILL DISTRIBUTION.¶

(Repealed by Ord. No. 170,421, Eff. 4/19/95.)

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.212. SOLICITING – PEACE OFFICERS’ AND FIREFIGHTERS’ ORGANIZATIONS – PERMITS.¶

(Amended by Ord. No. 161,622, Eff. 10/5/86.)

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

“Organization” shall mean any actual or purported peace officers’ or firefighters’ organization.
“Promoter” shall mean any person who for pecuniary compensation or consideration, other than as an employee, conducts a solicitation or is engaged in the business of conducting solicitations on behalf of or in the name of any organization.
“Solicitor” shall mean any person, other than a promoter or a bona fide peace officer or firefighter, who for pecuniary compensation or consideration conducts a solicitation or makes a collection for or on behalf of or in the name of an organization or a promoter for an organization.
“Solicitation” shall mean any oral or written request for a contribution or donation to, or the purchase of any membership in, an organization, or the purchase of any ticket to any benefit, show or other entertainment or event, or any subscription to or any advertising space in any magazine or other publication.

(b) Organizations.

No organization shall conduct a solicitation nor authorize any person to conduct a solicitation on its behalf without a valid permit from the Board of Police Commissioners authorizing such solicitation. Each permit issued under this subsection shall be accompanied by a form issued by the Board which shall bear on its face the name and address of the organization for whom the solicitation is conducted; an identification number; the date of its expiration; the percentage of anticipated collections that the organization will receive; the percentage of anticipated collections that will be retained by or paid to any promoter and/or any solicitor; the percentage of voting members of the organization who are either active or retired peace officers or firefighters; if the solicitation is for advertising, the state-wide circulation of the publication in which the solicited advertisement will appear; the percentage of the total contribution or purchase price which may be deducted as a charitable contribution under both federal and state law; and if no portion of the contribution or purchase price is deductible, a statement that “This contribution or purchase is not tax deductible.”
Each organization, at the time of application for a permit to solicit, shall file with the Board a statement of any agreement made with any promoter or solicitor, together with a true copy of each such agreement which may be in writing. Within 48 hours after any change in any such agreement or the making of any new or further such agreement, a true copy of such change or new or further agreement, if in writing, or written details thereof, if not in writing, shall be filed with the Board.
Each organization shall maintain a system of accounting whereby all transactions are entered upon its books or records, either on the cash or accrual basis, according to established and customary accounting principles.
Within 30 days after the termination of its solicitation, each organization shall file with the Board an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury setting forth the total amount collected in the solicitation, the total amount received by the organization and the detailed expenses of the solicitation.

(c) Solicitations. (Amended by Ord. No 164,871, Eff. 6/23/89.) Each person shall, when conducting a solicitation, have the permit and accompanying form, or facsimiles thereof, required under Subsection (b) of this section on their person. When making a personal solicitation or collection each person shall exhibit such permit and accompanying form to the person solicited or from whom collection is being made. Each person soliciting or collecting on behalf of an organization shall state to the person solicited their true name and, if employed by or under contract to a promoter, the promoter’s name and whether or not the promoter is a professional fund raiser. Each person soliciting as an employee of an organization shall inform the person solicited that the person soliciting is an employee of the organization. No person shall attempt to collect a contribution or payment prior to 48 hours after any person has agreed to make such contribution or payment. Each person receiving a contribution or payment pursuant to a solicitation shall deliver a signed receipt to the person making the contribution or payment. If a publication or program is produced for an organization, such publication or program shall be provided to the Board within ten (10) days after publication or the date of the event for which the program was prepared.

(d) Promoters.

No promoter shall conduct any solicitation without a valid permit from the Board. A promoter holding a valid permit from the Board shall not conduct any solicitation on behalf of or in the name of any organization without first notifying the Board. It shall be the responsibility of each promoter to notify the Board in writing of all contracts and working agreements with each organization with which the promoter is associated. Insofar as applicable, each promoter shall comply with, and shall be responsible for each solicitor operating under the promoter’s direction and control complying with, the provisions of Subsection (c) of this section.
At the time of filing an application for a promoter’s permit the applicant shall file with the Board satisfactory proof of the existence of a good and sufficient surety bond or bonds, in the aggregate sum of not less than $5,000.00, running to each organization for whom the applicant proposes to solicit. Such bond or bonds shall be issued by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of California and shall provide for the reimbursement for direct loss of money or property sustained through any dishonest or criminal act on the part of the applicant. Such bond or bonds or a substitute or substitutes therefor shall remain in force and effect for the entire period of the promoter’s permit.

(e) Solicitors.

No solicitor shall conduct any solicitation or make any collection without a valid permit from the Board. Each solicitor shall be under the direction and control of a promoter holding a valid permit from the Board or an organization holding a valid permit from the Board. Each solicitor shall comply with the provisions of Subsection (c) of this section.
At the time of filing an application for a solicitor’s permit the applicant shall file with the Board satisfactory proof of the existence of a good and sufficient bond or bonds, in the sum of not less than $1,000.00 each, running to each organization for whom the applicant proposes to solicit or collect. Such bond or bonds shall be issued by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of California and shall provide for the reimbursement for direct loss of money or property sustained through any dishonest or criminal act on the part of the applicant. Such bond or bonds or a substitute or substitutes therefor shall remain in force and effect for the entire period of the solicitor’s permit.

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 103.213. FIGURE STUDIOS.¶

(Added by Ord. No. 121,058, Eff. 2/15/62.)

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for the regulation in accordance with the public interest of the operation within the City of studios as defined in this section, wherein bona fide artists and art students may practice and develop their talents in portraying the human form, subject to such controls as will prevent the operation of such studios as places which appeal primarily to the prurient interests of members of the public.

(b) Definitions. As used in this article, the following words shall mean:

“Studio.”

(i) Any premises on which there is conducted the business of furnishing models who pose for the purpose of being sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured, photographed or otherwise similarly depicted in the nude by persons who pay a fee, or other consideration or compensation, or a gratuity, for the right or opportunity so to depict the model, or for admission to, or for permission to remain upon, or as a condition of remaining upon the premises.

(ii) Any premises where there is conducted the business of furnishing or providing or procuring for a fee or other consideration or compensation or gratuity, models to be sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured, photographed or otherwise similarly depicted in the nude.

“Model.” Any person who poses to be sketched, painted, drawn, sculptured, photographed or otherwise similarly depicted.
“Nude” shall include:

(i) Completely without clothing.

(ii) With any pubic area exposed, or with the pubic area covered in such a manner that the private parts are visible or the form thereof discernible.

(iii) With the breasts exposed by a female so that the nipples thereof are exposed.

No person shall operate a studio without first obtaining a permit from the Board. No permit shall be issued except upon a finding by the Board that the studio is proposed to be operated for the purpose of providing facilities for use by persons pursuing a course of study including the artists portrayal of the nude human form, and by persons who engage in artistic portrayal of the nude human form, and by persons who engage in artistic portrayal as a means of livelihood.
An applicant for a studio permit shall file a verified application therefor with the Board on such forms and containing such information as the Board may require.
No studio permit shall be issued to any person under 18 years of age, nor to a corporation, any of whose officers are under 18 years of age. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,116, Eff. 12/31/72.)

EXCEPTIONS:

(i) No permit shall be required for any studio operated by any public junior college, state college, The University of California or any governmental agency.

(ii) An exemption from the requirement that a permit be obtained may be granted for any studio upon a showing satisfactory to the Board that the applicant for such permit has met the requirements established in Division 21 of the Education Code for the issuance or conferring of, and is in fact authorized thereunder to issue and confer a diploma or honorary diploma.

(iii) An exemption from the requirement that a permit be obtained may be granted for any studio upon a showing satisfactory to the Board that the applicant therefor is a tax exempt, non-profit corporation devoted to the development of art and its appreciation.

(d) Required Revocation or Denial.

In addition to the grounds for permissive denial or revocation stated in this article, the Board shall refuse to issue, or shall revoke, a permit required or issued under the provisions of this section upon a finding that the applicant or permittee is not of good moral character. Anyone convicted of a morals offense shall be deemed not to be of good moral character for the purposes of this section.
The Board shall also revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this section upon a finding that a model under 18 years of age was permitted or allowed to pose in the nude on the premises, or that a person under 18 years of age or persons other than those described in the first paragraph of subsection (c) hereof were admitted to any part of the premises in which a model was posing in the nude. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,116, Eff. 12/31/72.)

Exceptions & meaning →