Sonora Municipal Code § 9.24 Advertising Matter

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

"Advertising matter" means and includes printed handbills, posters, dodgers, booklets, cards in excess of two and one-half inches by four inches, and any other printed advertising matter describing or calling attention to any products, business enterprise, person, firm or corporation for any purpose other than solely for religious or political purposes, but excluding a newspaper.

"Disseminate" means and includes the terms distribute, deposit, hand out, give out, deliver, and throw away, as well as causing or permitting any of the foregoing.

"Newspaper" means and is limited to a publication which has been, and at the time of its dissemination or distribution is, admitted as second class matter under applicable United States Postal Regulations, is a newspaper of general circulation under the laws of the state, and at the time of its dissemination or distribution maintains a bona fide list of paying subscribers at regular published rates.

"Person" means and includes any individual person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, Massachusetts Trust, company and corporation.

"Premises" means and includes every house, dwelling, building, structure, enclosure, business establishment, lot, yard, location, place, alley, parkway, sidewalk, street, public way and every vehicle.

"Printed" means and includes the terms mimeographed, lithographed, handwritten, stereotyped, typewritten and painted, and printing, reproduction of words, diagrams, figures and pictures, on paper, cardboard or any other substance.

(Ord. 291 § 2, 1960.)

It is unlawful for any person to disseminate advertising matter to, at, upon or onto any premises in the city, except:

A. In, at or upon a box or receptacle, other than a United States mailbox, marked with letters at least one-half-inch high "For Advertising Matter"; or

B. In, at or upon the premises of a tenant in lawful possession thereof who has signed and filed with the person disseminating the advertising matter a written request that such advertising matter be deposited on his premises. All such written requests must be maintained at all times in the office or place of business of the person disseminating such advertising matter, and shall be kept on file for a period of six months after the last dissemination of advertising matter pursuant to such request. Such written request, once made by a tenant in lawful possession of premises, shall remain applicable as to the premises described in such consent until countermanded by the tenant in lawful possession of the same premises. The owner of vacant property shall be deemed to be the tenant in lawful possession of premises for the purposes of this chapter. All such written requests shall be available for inspection by any city official of the city during all regular business hours. All advertising matter disseminated in the city shall have printed thereon or affixed in legible form the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the distribution of such advertising matter, together with a legible notice to the effect that anyone who does not desire to receive such advertising matter shall notify the said person responsible for the distribution thereof or the city clerk, in writing to that effect. Thereafter, the person thus notified shall disseminate no such advertising matter to the premises described in such notification.

(Ord. 291 § 3, 1960)

Any person violating or permitting or responsible for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in Section 1.08.010.

(Ord. 291 § 5, 1960.)