Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 4.16 Sales and Use TAX1
Petaluma Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Petaluma
Cite as: Petaluma Municipal Code Chapter 4.16 · Text as of 2026-10-04
1 Editor’s Note: For statutory provisions regarding the Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Act, see Rev. and Tax
Code § 7200 et seq. For statutory provisions authorizing cities to impose sales and use taxes, see gov. Code
§ 37101.
4.16.010 Short title.¶
This chapter shall be known as the "Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law" of the city. (Ord. 444 NCS §1; prior code
§23.5.)
4.16.020 Purpose of chapter.¶
The city council declares that-this chapter is adopted to achieve the following, among other, purposes, and directs
that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes:
A. To adopt sales and use tax regulations which comply with the requirements and limitations contained in Part
1.5 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state;
B. To adopt sales and use tax regulations which incorporate provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use
Tax Law of the state insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and limitations
contained in Part 1.5 of Division 2 of the State Revenue and Taxation Code;
C. To adopt sales and use tax regulations which impose a 0.875 percent tax from July 1, 1956 to and including
June 30, 1969; to impose a 0.900 percent tax on or after July 1, 1968 to and including June 30, 1969; to impose a
0.925 percent tax on or after July 1, 1969 to and including June 30, 1970; to impose a 0.950 percent tax on or after
July 1, 1970 to and including September 30, 1984; and to impose a 0.975 percent tax on or after October 1, 1984
and each every year thereafter and provide a measure therefor that can be administered and collected by the
State Board of Equalization in a manner that adapts itself as fully as practical to, and requires the least possible
deviation from, the existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the State Board of. Equalization
in administering and collecting the state sales and use taxes;
D. To adopt sales and use tax regulations which can be administered in a manner that will, to the degree
possible consistent with the provisions of Part 1.5 of Division 2 of the State Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize
the cost of collecting city sales and use taxes and at the same time minimize the burden of record keeping upon
persons subject to taxation under the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1587 NCS §1, 1984; Ord. 891 NCS §1; Ord. 444 NCS §2; prior code §23.6.)
4.16.030 Operative date.¶
This chapter shall become operative on July 1, 1956, and prior thereto the city shall contract with the State Board
of Equalization to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this sales and use tax;
provided, that if the city has not contracted with the State Board of Equalization, as provided in Section 4.16.020,
prior to July 1, 1956, the ordinance codiLed in this chapter shall not be operative until the Lrst day of the Lrst
calendar quarter following the execution of such a contract by the city and by the state board of equalization;
provided further, that this the ordinance codiLed in this chapter shall not become operative prior to the operative
date of the uniform local sales and use tax ordinance of the county. (Ord. 444 NCS §3; prior code §23.7.)
4.16.040 Sales tax imposition.¶
For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a tax is imposed upon all retailers in the city at the
rate of 0.875 percent from July 1, 1956 to and including June 30, 1968; to impose a 0.900 percent tax on or after
July 1, 1968 to and including June 30, 1969; to impose a 0.925 percent tax on or after July 1, 1969 to and including
June 30, 1970; to impose a 0.950 percent tax on or after July 1, 1970 to and including September 30, 1984; and to
impose a 0.975 percent tax on or after October 1, 1984 and each and every year thereafter of the gross receipts of
the retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the city. (Ord. 1587 NCS §2, 1984; Ord.
891 NCS §2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4; Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code §23.8(a)(1).)
4.16.050 Consummation of retail sales—Gross receipts.¶
For the purpose of this chapter, all retail sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the
tangible personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state destination or to a
common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The gross receipts from such sales shall include
delivery charges, when such charges are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which
delivery is made. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the state or has more than one
place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are consummated shall be determined under rules
and regulations to be prescribed and adopted by the Board of Equalization. (Ord. 891 NCS §2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4;
Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code §23.8(a)(2).)
4.16.060 Adoption of portion of State Revenue and Taxation Code—Sales¶
tax.
Except as hereinafter provided, and except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.5 of
Division 2 of the State Revenue and Taxation Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of such code, as
amended and in force and ePect on July 1, 1956, applicable to sales taxes, are adopted and made a part of this
section as though fully set forth in this section. (Ord. 891 NCS §2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4; Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code
§23.8(b)(1).)
4.16.070 Use of words in state code—Sales tax.¶
Whenever, and to the extent that in Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code the state is named or
referred to as the taxing agency, the city shall be substituated therefor. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed
to require the substitution of the name of the city for the word "state" when that word is used as part of the title of
the State Controller, the State Treasurer, the State Board of Control, the State Board of Equalization, or the name
of the State Treasury, or of the Constitution of the state; nor shall the name of the city be substituted for that of
the state in any section when the result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against the city or any agency thereof, rather than by or against the State Board of Equalization, in performing the functions
incident to the administration or operation of this chapter, and neither shall the substitution be deemed to have
been made in those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to, sections referring to the exterior boundaries
of the state, where the result of the substitution would be to provide an exemption from this tax with respect to
certain gross receipts which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax while those gross receipts remain
subject to tax by the state under the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of such Revenue and Taxation Code; nor to
impose this tax with respect to certain gross receipts which would not be subject to tax by the state under the
provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and, in addition, the name of the city shall not be substituted for
that of the state in Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereof), 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 and 6828 of
such code as adopted. (Ord. 891 NCS §2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4; Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code §23.8(b)(2).)
4.16.080 Permit issued under state code.¶
If a seller’s permit has been issued to a retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an
additional seller’s permit shall not be required by reason of this chapter. (Ord. 1111 NCS §2, 1973; Ord. 891 NCS
§2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4; Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code §23.8(b)(3).)
4.16.090 Exclusions from gross receipts.¶
There shall be excluded from the gross receipts by which the tax is measured:
A. The amount of any sales or use tax imposed by the state of California upon a retailer or consumer,
B. The gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property to operators of aircraft to be used or
consumed principally outside the city in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such
aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this state, the United States
or any foreign government.
(Ord. 1569 NCS §1, 1983; Ord. 891 NCS §2; Ord. 619 NCS §§2-4; Ord. 444 NCS §4; prior code §23.8(b)(4).)
4.16.091 Exclusions from gross receipts.¶
This section shall be operative on the operative date of any act of the Legislature of the state of California which
amends or repeals and reenacts Section 7202 of the Revenue and Taxation Code to provide an exemption from
city sales and use taxes for operators of waterborne vessels in the same, or substantially the same language as
that existing in subdivisions (i)(7) and (i)(8) of Section 7202 of the Revenue and Taxation Code as those subdivisions
read on October 1, 1983.
There shall be excluded from the gross receipts by which the tax is measured.
A. The amount of any sales or use tax imposed by the state of California upon a retailer or consumer,
B. The gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property to operators of waterborne vessels to be used
or consumed principally outside the city in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the carriage of
persons or property in such vessels for commercial purposes; -
C. The gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property to operators of aircraft to be used or
consumed principally outside the city in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such
aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this state, the United States
or any foreign government.
(Ord. 1569 NCS §2, 1983; Ord. 1111 NCS §3, 1973.)
4.16.100 Use tax imposition.¶
An excise tax is imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the city of tangible personal property
purchased from any retailer at the rate of 0.875 percent tax from July 1, 1956 to and including June 30, 1968; to
impose a 0.900 percent tax on or after July 1, 1968 to and including June 30, 1969; to impose a 0.925 percent at on
or after July 1, 1969 to and including June 30, 1970; to impose a 0.950 percent tax on or after July 1, 1970 to and
including September 30, 1984; and to impose a 0.975 percent tax on or after October 1, 1984, and each and every
year thereafter of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges
are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made. (Ord. 1587 NCS §3, 1984;
Ord. 891 NCS §3; Ord. 619 NCS §§5, 6; Ord. 444 NCS §5; prior code §23.9(a).)
4.16.110 Adoption of portion of State Revenue and Taxation Code—Use tax.¶
Except as hereinafter provided, and except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.5 of
Division 2 of the
Revenue and Taxation Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of such code, as amended and in force and
ePect on July 1, 1956, applicable to use taxes are adopted and made a part of this section as though fully set forth
in this section. (Ord. 891 NCS §3; Ord. 619 NCS §§5, 6; Ord. 444 NCS §5; prior code §23.9(b)(1).)
4.16.120 Use of words in state code—Use tax.¶
Whenever, and to the extent that, in Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the state is named or
referred to as the taxing agency, the name of this city shall be substituted therefor. Nothing in this subsection shall
be deemed to require the substitution of the name of this city for the word "state" when that word is used as part
of the title of the State Controller, the State Treasurer, the Sate Board of Control, the State Board of Equalization or
the name of the State Treasury, or of the Constitution of the state; nor shall the name of the city be substituted for that of the state in any section when the result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against
the city or any agency thereof rather than by or against the State Board of Equalization, in performing the
functions incident to the administration or operation of this chapter, and neither shall the substitution be deemed
to have been made in those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to, sections referred to the exterior
boundaries of the state, where the result of the substitution would be to provide an exemption from this tax with
respect to certain storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not otherwise be
exempt from this tax while such storage, use or other consumption remains subject to tax by the state under the
provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or to impose this tax with respect to certain
storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not be subject to tax by the state
under the provisions of that code; and in addition, the name of the city shall not be substituted for that of the
state in Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence hereof), 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 and 6828 of the Revenue
and Taxation Code, as adopted, and the name of the city shall not be substituted for the word "state" in the phrase
"retailer engaged in business in this state" in Section 6203 nor in the deLnition of that phrase in Section 6203.
(Ord. 891 NCS §3; Ord. 619 NCS §§5, 6; Ord. 444 NCS §5; prior code §23.9(b)(2).)
4.16.130 Exemptions from use tax.¶
There shall be exempt from the tax due under Section 4.16.100:
A. The amount of any sales or use tax imposed by the state of California upon a retailer or consumer,
B. The storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property, the gross receipts from the sale of
which has been subject to sales tax under a sales and use tax ordinance enacted in accordance with Part 1.5 of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by any city and county, county, or city in this state;
C. In addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the
storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased by operators of aircraft and used or
consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or
property for hire or compensation under a certiLcate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the
laws of this state, the United States or any foreign government.
(Ord. 1569 NCS §3, 1983; Ord. 891 NCS §3; Ord. 619 NCS §§5, 6; Ord. 444 NCS §8; prior code §23.9(b)(3).)
4.16.131 Exemptions from use tax.¶
This section shall be operative on the operative date of any act of the Legislature of the state of California which
amends or repeals and reenacts Section 7202 of the Revenue and Taxation Code to provide an exemption from
the city sales and use taxes for operators of waterborne vessels in the same, or substantially the same, language
as that existing in subdivision (i)(7) and (i)(8) of Section 7202 of the Revenue and Taxation Code as those
subdivisions read on October 1, 1983.
There shall be exempt from the tax due under Section 4.16.100:
A. The amount of any sales or use tax imposed by the state of California on a retailer or consumer;
B. The storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property, the gross receipts from the sale of
which has been subject to sales tax under a sales and use ordinance enacted in accordance with Part 1.5 of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code by any city and county, county or city in this state;
C. The storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased by operators of waterborne
vessels and used or consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the carriage of persons or property in
such vessels for commercial purposes;
D. In addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the
storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property purchased by operators of aircraft and used or
consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or
property for hire or compensation under a certiLcate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the
laws of this state, the United States or any foreign government.
(Ord. 1569 NCS §4, 1983; Ord. 1111 NCS §4, 1973.)
4.16.140 Adoption of state law amendments.¶
All amendments of the Revenue and Taxation Code enacted after the ePective date of the ordinance codiLed in
this chapter which relate to the sales and use tax and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.5 of Division 2 of the
Sate Revenue and Taxation Code shall automatically become a part of this chapter. (Ord. 444 NCS §6; prior code
§23.10.)
4.16.150 Enjoining collection.¶
No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in
any court against the state or the city, or against any oNcer of the state or the city, to prevent to enjoin the
collection under this chapter, Part 1.5 of Division 2 of the State Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any
amount of tax required to be collected. (Ord. 444 NCS §7; prior code §23.11.)
4.16.160 Suspension of existing sales and use tax provisions—Continuation¶
of existing rights and liabilities.
At the time this chapter goes into operation, the provisions of Ordinance Nos. 442, N.C.S., and 433, N.C.S. (existing
city sales and use tax ordinances), shall be suspended and shall not again be of any force or ePect until and unless
for any reason the State Board of Equalization ceases to perform the functions incident to the administration and operation of the sales and use tax imposed; provided, however, that if for any reason it is determined that the city
is without power to adopt this chapter or that the State Board of Equalization is without power to perform the
functions incident to the administration and operation of the taxes imposed by this chapter, the provisions of
Ordinance Nos. 442, N.C.S., and 443, N.C.S. (existing city sales and use tax ordinances), shall not be deemed to
have been suspended, but shall be deemed to have been in full force and ePect at the rate of one percent
continuously from and after July 1, 1956. Upon the ceasing of the State Board of Equalization to perform the
functions incident to the administration and operation of the taxes imposed by this chapter, the provisions of
Ordinance Nos. 442, N.C.S., and 443, N.C.S. (existing city sales and use tax ordinances), shall again be in full force
and ePect at the rate of one percent. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as relieving any person of the
obligation to pay to the city any sales or use tax accrued and owing by reason of the provisions of Ordinance Nos.
616 C.S., 619 C.S., 622 C.S., 625 C.S., 117 N.C.S. and 217 N.C.S., and all amendments thereto in force and ePect
prior to and including June 30, 1956. (Ord. 444 NCS §8; prior code §23.12.)
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