Los Angeles Municipal Code § 10.2 Formalities – Approval

The City shall not be, and is not, bound by any contract unless the contract complies with the requirements of this section and all other applicable requirements of the Charter:

(a) Writing. Except in case of urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health, or property as provided in Section 371(e) of the
Charter, the following contracts must be in writing:

(1) Contracts for the sale, purchase, or other transfer of any interest in real property;

(2) Contracts for the lease of real property for one year or longer;

(3) Contracts for the sale or purchase of goods with consideration exceeding $500 that, by the contract terms, cannot be
performed within one year; and

(4) Contracts with consideration reasonably valued at more than $25,000, annually or in the aggregate.

(b) Approval. Any contract expending City funds, whether or not in writing, must be approved by the board, officer, or employee
authorized to make the contract. The contract, if in writing, shall be signed on behalf of the City by

(1) The Mayor;

(2) The General Manager, board, officer, or employee authorized to enter into the contract. The approval shall include a
certification attesting that the signatory has no personal, financial, beneficial, or familial interest in the contract; or

(3) In the case of a contract authorized by the City Council, the person authorized by the City Council to enter into the
contract. The approval shall include a certification attesting that the signatory has no personal, financial, beneficial, or familial
interest in the contract.

(c) Approval as to Form. Every contract must be approved by the City Attorney as to form, except the following:

(1) Contracts, including, but not limited to, those of the Departments of Airports, Harbor, and Water and Power, involving a
sum of $100,000 or less for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment, and the rental, repair, or maintenance thereof;

(2) Contracts of the Departments of Airports, Water and Power, Recreation and Parks, Harbor, and Library involving a sum
of $25,000 or less for professional or personal services;

(3) Contracts involving a sum of $125,000 or less for the payment of City membership dues for non-profit, inter-
government, or government- support organizations as budgeted in the General City Purposes section of the City budget;

(4) Contracts involving a sum of $25,000 or less for the payment of subscriptions for newspapers, professional journals,
online information, or research services; and

(5) Contracts not required to be made in writing or other manner as provided by ordinance that by their terms restrict the amount that is payable or can be paid to $25,000 or less in total consideration annually or in the aggregate.

SECTION HISTORY

Based on Charter, Sec. 385. Amended by: Ord. No. 154,252, Eff. 9-11-80; Ord. No. 158,965, Eff. 6-30-84; In Entirety, Ord. No. 170,313, Eff. 3-3-95, Oper. 4-25-95; Ord. No. 173,186, Eff. 5-22-00; Ord. No. 173,285, Eff. 6-26-00, Oper 7-1-00; In Entirety, Ord. No. 185,268, Eff. 1-10-18; In Entirety, Ord. No. 187,995, Eff. 11-6-23.

Section 10.2 notwithstanding, the following contracts are required to be in writing:

(a) Contracts awarding funds from the Council District Community Service account, the Neighborhood and Community
Improvement Services account, and the Cultural, Art, and City Events account of the General City Purposes Fund to nonprofit
agencies and community service groups in amounts that are more than $25,000.

(b) Contracts awarding funds by neighborhood councils, as authorized under Section 22.817 of this Code, from the Department of
Neighborhood Empowerment Fund to nonprofit corporations and public schools in amounts that are more than $5,000.

(c) Contracts awarding funds from the 53P - State AB 1290 City Fund account of the Special Revenue Fund to nonprofit agencies
and community service groups in amounts that are more than $25,000 annually or in the aggregate.

(d) During the period of a national, state, or local emergency declared in accordance with federal, state, or local law, the City
Council by resolution may, to the extent permitted by California Civil Code Section 1624 and California Commercial Code Section
2201, waive the writing requirement of Section 10.2 of this Code for amounts up to $100,000 for contracts awarding funds as provided
in Subsections (a) and (c) that are necessary to address the declared emergency. The resolution may establish a termination date for the
waiver that is prior to the termination of the declared emergency.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 172,751, Eff. 9-17-99.
Amended by: In Entirety, Ord. No. 174,662, Eff. 8-11-02; Ord. No. 180,155, Eff. 9-26-08; Subsec. (a) amended and Subsec. (c) added, Ord. No. 182,719,
Eff. 10-30-13; Subsec. (d) added, Ord. No. 186,588, Eff. 4-6-20; Subsec. (d), Ord. No. 187,554, Eff. 8-6-22; In Entirety, Ord. No. 187,995, Eff. 11-6-23.