Monrovia Municipal Code Ch. 9.48 Public Lodging

This chapter shall be known as the “Public Lodging Ordinance.”

(`83 Code, § 9.48.010) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

The purpose of this chapter is to prevent prostitution and other illegal conduct along the major streets and highways of the city, by regulating public lodgings.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.020) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

Authority for this regulation derives from the California Red Light Abatement Law, Cal. Penal Code §§ 11225 et seq., which defines every building or place used for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution as a nuisance, which shall be enjoined, abated, and prevented.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.030) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

For the purpose of this chapter, PUBLIC LODGING FACILITY shall mean any motel, hotel, lodging house, boarding house, inn, trailer court, or other similar facility.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.040) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

No person who owns, operates or manages any public lodging facility shall suffer or permit any portion thereof to be used as a house of ill fame, or for the purpose of prostitution or assignation.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.050) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

Every person who owns, operates, or manages a public lodging facility in the city shall at all times keep and maintain therein a register or other permanent document which lists the name, home street, home address, and home town of each and every guest or person who rents or occupies any room or area therein. The person who rents or occupies the room or area shall sign the register. The agent of the public lodging facility shall write opposite the person's name, the assigned room number and the time when such room is rented. No agent shall allow any guest or other person to rent or occupy any room or area until all of the proper information has been entered into the register.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.060) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

Erasures or alterations of the register required by § 9.48.060 shall not be permitted for any purpose. The register shall be made available for inspection by the City Manager or his or her designee during normal business hours, upon request.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.070) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986; Ord. 87-29 § 1, 1987)

No person shall write or knowingly permit any person to enter in the register any name other than the true name of the person registering, or the name by which such person is generally known.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.080) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

No agent of a public lodging facility shall rent or let any room or area therein, more than twice in a 24-hour period.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.090) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)

No person who owns, operates, or manages a public lodging facility shall let any room or area for hourly or other short-time rates less than a full 24 hours. Such person shall not in any way advertise that any room or area is available at hourly or other short-time rates less than 24 hours.

(`83 Code, § 9.48.100) (Ord. 86-21 § 1 (part), 1986)