Article 1 — Declaration of Policy

Section 53069.3 of the Government Code authorizes the City to provide for the removal of graffiti or other inscribed material from public or privately owned permanent structures located on public or privately owned real property located within the City. The City Council finds that graffiti, on public and private properties, is a blighting factor on the neighborhood, encourages other acts of malicious vandalism, causes an increase in crime and depreciates the value of the adjacent and surrounding properties.

The Council further finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious, is inconsistent with the City's property maintenance goals, aesthetic standards and unless it is quickly removed from public and private properties, other properties soon become the target of graffiti. Such defacement of property is most often committed by persons under the age of 18 years using aerosol or pressurized containers of paint, indelible markers and pens and done in connection with gang activities.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OJ4979 on 2026-07-07

City of Ojai, CA § 4-18.201

PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS, AND CONDUCT

§ 4-18.206

Article 2

Definitions

Editor's note—The words, phrases and terms, used in this chapter, shall have the meanings set forth in this article.

"Aerosol paint container" shall mean any aerosol container six ounces or less net weight contents, regardless of the material from which it is made, which is adapted or made for the purpose of spraying paint or other substances capable of defacing property with permanent, indelible or waterproof ink, paint or other liquid.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

"Glass etching tool" shall mean any professional etching tool or glass cutter.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

"Graffiti" shall mean:

• (a) Any act which results in altering or defacing of any real or personal property through the use of paint, spray paint, markers, objects or other substances capable of destroying property, which acts shall include, but not be limited to, the writing, defacing, marring, inscribing, scratching, painting or affixing of other markings on buildings or structures, including, but not limited to, walls, fences, signs, retaining walls, driveways, walkways, sidewalks, curbs, curbstones, street lamp posts, hydrants, trees, electric light or power or telephone or telegraph poles, fire alarms, drinking fountains, parking meters or trash receptacles.

• (b) Any act which results in the altering or defacing of any real or personal property through the use of paint, spray paint, markers, objects or other substances capable of destroying property, which is offensive to a reasonably sensitive person.

• (§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

"Graffiti implement" shall mean an aerosol paint container, an indelible marker, a paint stick, a glass etching tool, or any similar device.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

"Indelible marker" shall mean any marker, pen or similar implement with a tip which, at its broadest width, is greater than one-quarter (¼) inch, containing a fluid which is not soluble in water.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

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City of Ojai, CA

PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS, AND CONDUCT

§ 4-18.206

§ 4-18.207

"Paint stick" shall mean a device containing a solid form of paint, chalk, wax, epoxy, or other similar substance which is not water soluble, capable of being applied to a surface by pressure, and upon application, leaving a mark at least one-quarter of an inch in width, visible from a distance of 20 feet.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

"Responsible adult" shall mean a parent or guardian of an individual under the age of 18 years. A responsible adult may also include an agent of the parent or guardian provided said agent is over 18 years of age.

(§ 1, Ord. 701, eff. November 26, 1993, as renumbered by § 2, Ord. 800, eff. August 8, 2008)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OJ4979 on 2026-07-07

City of Ojai, CA

PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS, AND CONDUCT

§ 4-18.301

§ 4-18.303