Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 22 — LAND USAGE›Chapter 22.12 — ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Mendocino County Municipal Code Div. VI Prohibitions and Penalties
Mendocino County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Mendocino County
Cite as: Mendocino County Municipal Code Division VI · Text as of 2026-10-04
Sec. 22.12.150 - Trespass Prohibited.¶
Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, it shall be unlawful, prohibited and a misdemeanor for any person to excavate or disturb, or to trespass for the purpose of excavating or disturbing, an archaeological site without the express permission of the landowner or other person in lawful possession of the property on which such site is located.
(Ord. 3657, adopted 1987.)
Sec. 22.12.160 - Unauthorized Trafficking.¶
It shall be unlawful, prohibited and a misdemeanor for any person in the County of Mendocino to knowingly possess, sell, buy or transport, or to offer to sell, buy or transport, any human remains, artifacts or other feature from an archaeological site which has been acquired in violation of state law or this Chapter. Any such human remains, artifacts or feature may be seized by any peace officer. All human remains shall be initially turned over to the Sheriff-Coroner and all artifacts and other features shall be turned over to the Director of the Mendocino County Museum as agent for the Commission upon the conviction of the person from whom they were seized or who has been found by a court to be in violation of this Section.
(Ord. 3657, adopted 1987.)
Sec. 22.12.170 - Fraudulent Transfers.¶
It shall be unlawful, prohibited and a misdemeanor for any person in the County of Mendocino to place, install, plant or otherwise transfer to any parcels of land any human or cultural remains or other evidence, whether real or recently manufactured, of an archaeological site for the purpose of requiring the owner, or other person in lawful possession of such parcel, to comply with the provisions of this Chapter.
(Ord. 3657, adopted 1987.)
Sec. 22.12.180 - Penalties for Violation.¶
Violation of any provision of this Chapter is a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this Chapter, or any provision thereof, shall, upon conviction, be fined in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500) or be imprisoned for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Each day of continued violation of any provision of this Chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense for which the offender may be punished.
(Ord. 3657, adopted 1987.)
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code