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Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

Chapter 2.31 — PROPERTY CONTROL

Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto

2.31.070 Unclaimed money to be deposited in general fund.

2.31.010 Surplus property and equipment - Disposal or destruction.

(a) Authority of Director of Administrative Services. All using departments shall submit to the director of administrative services, at such times and in such form as the director shall prescribe, reports showing all property which is no longer used or which has been obsolete or worn out. The director of administrative services shall have authority to sell all property which cannot be used by any department or which has become unsuitable for city use, by negotiated sales, through the acceptance of sealed bids, by public auction, or by exchange or trade-in for new property and equipment. The director of administrative services may in writing delegate any authority granted to the director pursuant to this chapter with respect to property valued at less than $5,000.00.

(b) Property with No Commercial Value. The city manager may authorize the abandonment, destruction or donation to public bodies, charitable, civic or nonprofit organizations, of city property which has no commercial value or of which the estimated cost of continued care, handling, maintenance or storage would exceed the estimated proceeds of sale. Such determination shall be made in writing and countersigned by the director of administrative services.

(c) Donations to Nonprofit Support Organizations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the city manager may adopt polices and procedures authorizing the donation of surplus property that is no longer suitable for use by the city to nonprofit organizations that are formed for the purpose of supporting city programs. The city's donation of surplus property shall be contingent on a written agreement that any profits from the sale of such items shall be used for the purchase of equipment, books or capital expenses related to the program supported by the nonprofit organization.

(d) Annual Report to Council. The city manager shall identify all property donated to nonprofit agencies pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) above. In January of each year, the city manager shall provide a report to the city council that includes an inventory of the items donated by the city and all contributions made to the city from nonprofit organizations that have received surplus city property.

(e) The city manager may delegate any authority granted to the manager pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 5019 § 2, 2008: Ord. 4462 § 2, 1997: Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.020 Police chief to receive unclaimed property.

When lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed property or money, except vehicles subject to registration under the Vehicle Code of the State of California, comes into the possession of any employee or department of the city, it shall be held for five days by such department and thereafter if unclaimed shall be delivered to the police department. However, the police department shall be notified immediately when weapons or contraband are found.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.030 Holding and storage of unclaimed property.

When lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed property or money, except vehicles subject to registration under the Vehicle Code of the State of California, comes into possession of the police department, the department shall hold and store such property in a safe place or with some responsible person until it is claimed and all just and reasonable charges, if any, for saving and storage thereof have been paid. The city manager shall establish rules and regulations for the storage of such unclaimed property and shall establish charges and fees for saving and storage of the same.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.040 Disposition of lost, stolen, or abandoned property other than vehicles.

(a) If the owner or person entitled to the possession of lost, stolen, or abandoned property or money fails to claim the property or money, within three months, and fails to pay the charges and fees established for saving and storage of the same, the police department may sell such property to the highest bidder at public auction. Notice of such sale shall be given at least five days before the time fixed therefor by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city. The notice shall give the time and place of such sale and generally describe the property to be sold. The city manager may authorize the use of unclaimed property for city purposes.

(b) Each fiscal year, the city manager may withhold from sale at public auction a number of the unclaimed bicycles with a cumulative value of not more than $5,000.00, and turn over such unclaimed bicycles to any number of charitable or nonprofit organizations, which are authorized under their articles of incorporation to participate in programs or activities designed to prevent juvenile delinquency and which are exempt from federal and state income taxation, for use in any program or activity designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. A written report of the number of unclaimed bicycles that are withheld from sale at public auction and donated to charitable or nonprofit organizations shall be made annually by the city manager to the city council.

(Ord. 4453 § 6, 1997: Ord. 4310 § 1, 1995: Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.050 Abandoned vehicles.

Abandoned vehicles on public or private property shall be disposed of as provided in this code or in the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.060 Finder may reclaim property or money.

If the true owner does not appear during the time such property or money is so held, and claim the property or money, it may be delivered back to the finder, other than a city employee who found the same while performing his regular duty, if such finder has served written notice upon the city that he wishes to assert a claim to the property or the money as a finder, and if he has complied with the requirements of the Civil Code governing

the duties and obligations of a finder.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.070 Unclaimed money to be deposited in general fund.

All money so received by the chief of police and unclaimed shall be deposited into the city within ten business days and held in trust on the books of account of the city and if not delivered to the true owner during a six-month period, or to the finder, shall thereafter be transferred to the general fund.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.080 Disposition of proceeds of sale.

After an auction of unclaimed property is completed, the proceeds of the auction shall be delivered to the supervisor of revenue collections the next business day following the auction (if the auction was conducted by city employees), or according to the terms of the contract if the auction was conducted under a contractual arrangement with a professional auctioneer. In no case shall deposit occur more than ten business days after the auction date. All proceeds shall be deposited to the credit of the general fund.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.090 Sale to vest title.

On payment of the price bid for the property sold, delivery of the property sold with a bill of sale signed by the manager of purchasing and contract administration shall vest title in the purchaser.

(Ord. 4462 § 3, 1997: Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.100 Proceedings where no bid.

In any case where there is no bid offered for the property or if the highest bid offered does not exceed the charges for saving, holding and storage and the expenses of sale, the same shall become the property of the city as compensation for expenses incurred, or if of no use or value to the city shall be disposed of in such manner as the city manager directs.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.110 Dangerous or perishable property.

Any property coming into possession of the chief of police which he determines to be dangerous or perishable may be disposed of immediately, without notice, in such manner as he determines to be in the public interest.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

2.31.120 Sections not applicable.

The provisions of Sections 2.31.020 through 2.31.080 shall not be deemed to apply to property or money subject to confiscation under the laws of the state of California or of the United States of America, and shall apply to property or money held as evidence only when the same is unclaimed by any person and no other provisions of law are applicable concerning its disposition.

(Ord. 3927 § 3 (part), 1989)

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▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
Palo Alto Municipal Code
  1. Article VIII — A. Board of Education
  2. Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. ▸Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
    Overview
    1. 2.04 Council Organization and Procedure
    2. 2.06 Official City Seal and Logo
    3. 2.07 Post-Government Employment Regulations
    4. 2.08 Officers and Departments
    5. 2.09 Conflict of Interest Code for Designated Positions
    6. 2.10 Cable Television and Open Video Systems - Award of Franch…
    7. 2.11 VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS - APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS
    8. 2.12 Emergency Organization and Functions
    9. 2.16 Boards and Commissions Generally
    10. 2.18 Public Art Commission
    11. 2.21 Architectural Review Board
    12. 2.22 Human Relations Commission
    13. 2.23 Utilities Advisory Commission
    14. 2.24 Library Advisory Commission
    15. 2.25 Parks and Recreation Commission
    16. 2.26 Visual Art in Public Places
    17. 2.27 Historic Resources Board
    18. 2.28 Fiscal Procedures
    19. 2.30 Contracts and Purchasing Procedures
    20. 2.31 Property Control
    21. 2.32 Sales and Use Tax
    22. 2.33 Transient Occupancy Tax
    23. 2.34 Real Property Transfer Tax
    24. 2.35 Utility Users Tax
    25. 2.36 Personnel Procedures
    26. 2.37 Business Tax
    27. 2.40 Municipal Elections
    28. 2.44 Official Newspaper
    29. 2.48 Solar Tax Credit
    30. 2.49 Electronic Signatures
    31. Chapter 2.04 — COUNCIL ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE
    32. Chapter 2.06 — OFFICIAL CITY SEAL AND LOGO
    33. Chapter 2.07 — POST-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS
    34. Chapter 2.08 — OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS
    35. Chapter 2.09 — CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE FOR DESIGNATED POSITI…
    36. Chapter 2.10 — CABLE TELEVISION AND OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS - AWARD…
    37. Chapter 2.11 — VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS - APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS
    38. Chapter 2.12 — EMERGENCY ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS
    39. Chapter 2.16 — BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GENERALLY
    40. Chapter 2.18 — PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
    41. Chapter 2.20 — PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
    42. Chapter 2.21 — ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
    43. Chapter 2.22 — HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
    44. Chapter 2.23 — UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
    45. Chapter 2.24 — LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION
    46. Chapter 2.25 — PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
    47. Chapter 2.26 — VISUAL ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
    48. Chapter 2.27 — HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD
    49. Chapter 2.28 — FISCAL PROCEDURES
    50. Chapter 2.30 — CONTRACTS AND PURCHASING PROCEDURES
    51. Part 6A — SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
    52. Part 1 — GENERAL
    53. Part 2 — CONTRACT TYPES
    54. Part 3 — CONTRACTING AUTHORITY
    55. Part 4 — COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS
    56. Part 5 — COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCEDURES
    57. Part 6 — CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    58. Part 7 — ETHICS IN CONTRACTING
    59. Part 6A — SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
    60. Part 8 — RECORDS AND REPORTS
    61. Part 9 — REWARDS
    62. Part 10 — STANDARDIZATION
    63. Chapter 2.31 — PROPERTY CONTROL
    64. Chapter 2.32 — SALES AND USE TAX
    65. Chapter 2.33 — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
    66. Chapter 2.34 — REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
    67. Chapter 2.35 — UTILITY USERS TAX
    68. Chapter 2.36 — PERSONNEL PROCEDURES
    69. Chapter 2.37 — BUSINESS TAX
    70. Chapter 2.40 — MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
    71. Chapter 2.44 — OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
    72. Chapter 2.48 — SOLAR TAX CREDIT
    73. Chapter 2.49 — ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
  4. Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
  5. Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  6. Title 6 — ANIMALS
  7. Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
  8. Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
  9. Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  10. Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
  11. Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
  12. Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
  13. Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
  14. Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  15. Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
  16. Title 18 — ZONING
  17. Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
  18. Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
  19. Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
  20. Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  21. Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
  22. Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
  23. Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
  24. Title 22 — PARKS

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