Chapter 5.20 — BINGO

As used in this chapter:

Bingo means a game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card which conforms to numbers or symbols selected at random and announced by a live caller. The game of bingo includes tangible cards having numbers or symbols which are concealed and preprinted in a manner providing for distribution of prizes. Electronics or video displays shall not be used in connection with the game of bingo, except in connection with the caller's drawing of numbers or symbols and the public display of that drawing, and except as provided in Penal Code Section 326.5(p) regarding cardminding devices. The winning cards shall not be known prior to the game by any person participating in the playing or operation of the bingo game. All such preprinted cards shall bear the legend for sale or use only in a bingo game authorized under California law and pursuant to local ordinance. (Prior code § 7-4.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Bingo games may be conducted within this City by organizations licensed by the City which are exempted from the payment of the bank and corporation tax by Sections 23701a, 23701b, 23701d, 23701e, 23701f, 23701g, 23701k, 23701l and 23701w L of the Revenue and Taxation Code and by mobilehome park associations, senior citizens organizations and charitable organizations affiliated with a school district; provided that, the receipts of such games are used only for charitable purposes.

The property owned or leased by or whose use is donated to the organization need not be used exclusively by or leased or donated exclusively to such organization. (Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

An eligible organization desiring to obtain such a license to conduct bingo games in the City shall file an application in writing therefor in the office of the Director on a form provided by the City. The Director shall issue the license subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.20.020. The license shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance, subject to renewal annually.

(Prior code § 7-4.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The applicant shall, at the time of issuance or renewal of any license under this chapter, pay an annual fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council. (Prior code § 7-4.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Such application for a license shall contain the following:

• A. The name of the applicant organization and a statement that applicant is an eligible

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA § 5.20.050

NORWALK CODE

§ 5.20.070

organization under Section 5.20.020;

• B. The name and signature of at least two officers, including the presiding officer of the corporation or community chest or the trustee of any trust;

• C. The particular property within the City, including the street number, owned or leased by or donated to the applicant, to be used by such applicant for an office or for performance of the purposes for which the applicant is organized, on which property bingo games will be conducted, together with the occupancy capacity of such place;

• D. The proposed day(s) of the week and hours of day for conduct of bingo games;

• E. A statement that the applicant agrees to conduct bingo games in strict accordance with the provisions of Section 326.5 of the California Penal Code and this chapter as they may be amended from time to time and agrees that the license to conduct bingo games may be revoked by the City Council upon violation of any of such provisions;

• F. Such application shall be signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury and shall be accompanied by such annual license fee as the City Council may by resolution provide and such additional information as the City Manager may require in order to properly review such application.

(Prior code § 7-4.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Upon receipt of the completed application and the fee, the Director shall refer the same to interested departments of the City, including but not limited to, the Finance Director, City Attorney, Sheriff's Department, Community Development Department and Fire Department for investigation as to whether all the statements in the application are true and the extent to which the applicant's property qualifies as property on which bingo games may lawfully be conducted, as to fire, occupancy and other applicable restrictions. (Prior code § 7-4.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Upon being satisfied that the applicant is fully qualified under this chapter to conduct bingo games in the City, the Director shall issue a license to the applicant, which shall contain the following information:

• A. The name and nature of the organization to whom the license is issued;

• B. The address or addresses at which bingo games are authorized to be conducted;

• C. The occupancy capacity of the room at any location in which bingo games are to be conducted;

• D. The date of expiration of such license;

• E. The day(s) of the week and the hours when the bingo games will be conducted.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS

§ 5.20.070

§ 5.20.090

Any license issued may have attached to it such conditions as the Director may require in order to ensure that the conduct of the bingo games will be compatible with use of the adjacent and surrounding properties.

(Prior code § 7-4.7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• A. Whenever it appears to the Sheriff's Department that the licensee is conducting a bingo game in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the Sheriff's Department shall have the authority to summarily suspend the license and order the licensee to immediately cease and desist any further operation of any bingo game.

• B. Any person who continues to conduct a bingo game after any summary suspension thereof under subsection A of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

• C. The order issued under subsection A of this section shall also notify the licensee that it shall have 10 days from the date of such order to request a hearing before the City Council to determine whether such license shall be revoked. Failure to request, in writing, such hearing before the City Council within the 10 day period, shall result in a revocation of the license.

• D. Upon such request by the licensee, whose license has been suspended under subsection A of this section, for a hearing to determine whether such license shall be revoked, the City Council shall provide such hearing within 30 days after receipt of such request or at a time thereafter agreed upon, at which hearing the suspended licensee may appear before the City Council for the purpose of presenting evidence why the license should not be revoked. No license shall be revoked under this section unless notice of the time and place of such hearing shall have first been given at least 10 days before the hearing by depositing in the United States mail a notice directed to the suspended licensee at the address given in the application. The notice shall set forth a summary of the ground advanced as the basis of the suspension and revocation. The determination of the City Council shall be final.

• (Prior code § 7-4.8; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Whenever it appears to the City Council that the licensee is conducting bingo games in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or that the license was obtained by fraudulent representation and no summary suspension is ordered under Section 5.20.080 or that the manner in which the bingo games are being operated interferes with the use and enjoyment of adjacent nearby properties, the license may be revoked; provided, however, the licensee may appear before the City Council at the time fixed by the City Council for the purpose of presenting evidence why the license should not be revoked. No license shall be revoked under this chapter unless written notice shall have first been given at least 10 days before the hearing by depositing in the United States mail a notice directed to the licensee at the address given in the application. The notice shall set forth a summary of the ground advanced as the basis of revocation; provided further, that the City Council may attach conditions to the license as will make the conduct of

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 5.20.090

§ 5.20.150

bingo games compatible with the adjacent and nearby properties. The determination of the City Council shall be final.

(Prior code § 7-4.9; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Any organization whose license is finally revoked may not again apply for a license to conduct bingo games in the City for a period of one year from the date of such revocation; provided, however, if the ground for revocation is cancellation of the exemption granted under Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code, such organization may again apply for a license upon proof of reinstatement of such exemption. (Prior code § 7-4.10; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The total value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any bingo games shall not exceed $250 in cash or kind, or both, for each separate game which is held. (Prior code § 7-4.11; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

All profits derived from any bingo game shall be kept in a special fund or account and shall not be commingled with any other fund or account. The licensee shall keep full and accurate records of income and expenses in connection with its operation, conduct promotion, supervision and any other phase of bingo games authorized by this chapter. The City shall have the right to examine and audit such records at any reasonable time. (Prior code § 7-4.12; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• A. No individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity, except the licensee, shall hold a financial interest in the conduct of any bingo game.

• B. No person shall receive or pay a profit, wage or salary from any bingo game, except that security personnel employed by the licensee in connection with the operation of a bingo game may be paid from the revenues of such game. A violation of this subsection shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000, which fine shall be deposited in the general fund of the City.

(Prior code § 7-4.13; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

A bingo game shall be operated and staffed only by members of the licensee organization. Such members shall not receive a profit, wage or salary from any bingo game. Only the licensee shall operate such game or participate in the promotion, supervision or any other phase of such game. This section does not preclude the employment of security personnel who are not members of the licensee organization at the bingo game by the licensee conducting the game. (Prior code § 7-4.14; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS

§ 5.20.150

§ 5.20.210

All bingo games shall be open to the public, and participation therein shall not be limited to members of the licensee organization.

(Prior code § 7-4.15; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.20.150, attendance at any bingo game shall be limited to the occupancy capacity of the room in which such game is conducted, as determined by the Fire Department and Building Department of the City in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The licensee shall not reserve seats or space for any person in such rooms. (Prior code § 7-4.16; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

A licensee shall conduct a bingo game only on property owned or leased by it, or on property whose use is donated to the licensee and which property is used by such organization for an office or for the performance of the purposes for which the organization is organized for at least one year prior to the filing of its application for a bingo license. The license issued under this chapter shall authorize the holder thereof to conduct bingo games only on such property, the address of which is stated in the application. In the event the described property ceases to be used as an office and as a place for performance of the purposes for which the licensee is organized, the license shall have no further force or effect. A new license may be obtained by an eligible organization, upon application under this chapter, when it again owns or leases property or receives a donation of property to use for the performance of the purposes for which the organization is organized. The property owned or leased by or whose use is donated to the organization need not be used exclusively by or leased or donated exclusively to such organization.

(Prior code § 7-4.17; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

No person under the age of 18 years of age shall be allowed to participate in any bingo game. (Prior code § 7-4.18; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

No person who is obviously intoxicated or who has alcoholic beverages in his or her possession shall be allowed to participate in or be present in any room where a bingo game is being conducted.

(Prior code § 7-4.19; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

No licensee shall conduct bingo games more than two days per week nor more than seven hours out of any 24 hour period. No bingo game shall be conducted before 12:00 noon nor after 1:00 a.m. of any day.

(Prior code § 7-4.20; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 5.20.210

§ 5.20.240

No person shall be allowed to participate in a bingo game, unless the person is physically present at the time and place at which the bingo game is being conducted. (Prior code § 7-4.21; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

It is a misdemeanor under Section 326.5 of the Penal Code of the State of California for any person to receive a profit, wage, or salary from any bingo game authorized under this chapter, a violation of which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000, which fine shall be deposited in the general fund of the City. Security personnel employed by the licensee conducting the bingo game may be paid from the revenues of the bingo games. The use of the proceeds by the licensed organization for the benefit of the organization does not constitute the payment of a profit, wage or salary to a person as provided in this section. (Prior code § 7-4.22; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

All licensees except organizations exempt from payment of the bank and corporation tax by Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall use proceeds derived from bingo games only for charitable purposes, except as follows:

• A. Such proceeds may be used for prizes.

• B. A portion of such proceeds, not to exceed 20% of the proceeds before the deduction for prizes, or $1,000 per month, whichever is less, may be used for rental of property, overhead, including the purchase of bingo equipment, administrative expenses, security equipment and security personnel.

• C. Such proceeds may be used to pay license fees.

Proceeds are the receipts of bingo games conducted by the organizations.

Organizations exempt from payment of the bank and corporation tax by Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall use profits derived from bingo games only for charitable purposes.

(Prior code § 7-4.23; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The City may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violation of this chapter.

(Prior code § 7-4.24; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS

§ 5.24.010

§ 5.24.020