Yorba Linda Municipal Code Ch. 8.24 Graffiti Prohibition and Removal

A. The City Council of the City specifically finds that graffiti on public or private property is a blighting factor which not only depreciates the value of property which has been the target of such vandalism but also depreciates the value of the adjacent and surrounding properties so as to create a negative impact upon the entire City. Graffiti also has been found to be a means of identification utilized by gangs and its presence may encourage further gang-related activities.

B. California Government Code Section 53069.3 authorizes the City, under certain circumstances, to provide for the removal of graffiti and other inscribed materials from private as well as public property. The Council finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious and a public nuisance and unless the City causes it to be removed from public and private property, it tends to remain. Other properties then become the target of graffiti with the result that entire neighborhoods are affected and become less desirable places in which to be.

C. It is the purpose and intent of the City Council, through the adoption of this chapter, to provide additional enforcement tools to protect public and private property from acts of vandalism and defacement, including the application of graffiti on privately and publicly owned walls and structures. Such acts are inimical to and destructive of the rights and values of private property owners as well as the total community. It is the further intent of the City Council, through the adoption of this chapter, to provide to all of those who disregard the property rights of others, that the law enforcement agencies of the City will strictly enforce the law and vigorously prosecute those persons engaging in the defacement of public and private properties.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

"Aerosol paint container"

means any aerosol container which is adapted or made for the purpose of spraying paint or other substance capable of defacing property.

"Felt tip marker"

means any tipped style marker or similar implement with a tip which, at its broadest width, is one-eighth inch or greater.

"Graffiti"

means any inscription, word, figure, or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, painted, pasted or otherwise affixed to or on any surface, regardless of the nature of the material of that structural component, to the extent the same was not authorized in advance by the owner thereof, or, despite advance authorization, is otherwise deemed by the City Council to be a public nuisance.

"Graffiti implement"

means an aerosol paint container, a felt tip marker, or any other device containing any solution or substance capable of being used to leave a visible mark at least one-eighth of an inch in width upon any surface.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person to apply graffiti to any trees or structures including, but not limited to, buildings, walls, fences, poles and signs, ("structures" hereinafter in this chapter) located within the City. It shall also be unlawful for any person to apply or affix any adhesive backed label, sticker, bumper sticker or similar item, greater than six square inches in area, to any tree or structure not owned or lawfully possessed by such person.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen years to have in his or her possession any graffiti implement while upon public property or upon private property without the consent of the owner of such private property whose consent to such possession and presence is given in writing in advance. This provision shall not apply to the possession of felt tip markers by minors attending, or traveling to or from a school at which the minor is enrolled, if the minor is participating in a class at said school which formally requires the possession of such felt tip markers. The burden of proof in any prosecution for violation of this section shall be upon the minor student to establish the need to possess a felt tip marker.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession any graffiti implement while in any public park, playground, swimming pool, recreational facility, or while in or within ten feet of an underpass, bridge abutment, storm drain, or other similar type of infrastructure not normally used by the public, except as may be authorized by the City.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

A. Pursuant to Section 53069.5 of the California Government Code, the City offers a reward in an amount as may be set by resolution of the City Council, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for violation, within the City, of California Penal Code Sections 594 or 594.3 by the use of graffiti, Penal Code Sections 640.5, 640.6, or Sections 8.24.030, 8.24.040 or 8.24.050 of this chapter. In the event of multiple contributions of information, the reward amount shall be divided by the City in the manner it shall deem appropriate. For the purposes of this section, diversion of the violator to a community service program, or a plea bargain to a lesser offense, shall constitute a conviction.

B. Claims for rewards under this section shall be filed with the City. Each claim shall:

1. Specifically identify the date, location and kind of property damaged or destroyed;

2. Identify by name the person who was convicted;

3. Identify the court and the date upon which the conviction occurred.

C. No claim for a reward shall be allowed by the City Council unless the City investigates and verifies the accuracy of the claim and determines that the requirements of this section have been satisfied.

D. The person committing the graffiti-vandalism, and if an unemancipated minor, then the parent or lawful guardian of said minor, shall be civilly liable for any reward paid pursuant to this section pursuant to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53069.5.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

The City shall reimburse to any person reporting by means of a cellular phone an act of graffiti vandalism presently occurring within the City, the amount of the actual phone charges, exclusive of taxes, incurred by said person.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

A. Furnishing to Minors Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person, other than a parent or legal guardian, to sell, exchange, give, loan, or otherwise furnish, or cause or permit to be exchanged, given, loaned, or otherwise furnished, any graffiti implement to any minor without the consent of the parent or lawful guardian which consent shall be given in advance in writing.

B. Display Requirements. No person or business engaged in a commercial enterprise shall display for sale, trade or exchange, any graffiti implement except in an area from which the public shall be securely precluded without employee assistance. Two such acceptable methods for displaying graffiti implements for sale shall be by containment in (1) a completely enclosed cabinet or other storage device which shall be permanently affixed to a building or structure, and which shall, at all times except during access by authorized representatives, remain securely locked; or (2) in an enclosed area behind a sales or service counter from which the public is precluded from entry. Nothing herein shall relieve such person or business entity from, at all times, complying with the requirements of California Penal Code Section 594.1(c) by posting signs as described therein.

C. Storage Requirements. No person or business engaged in the business of selling, providing or trading graffiti implements shall store any graffiti implement except in either (1) a completely enclosed room which shall, at all times except during access or actual occupancy by the owner or an authorized adult representative of the owner, remain securely locked; or (2) in a completely enclosed cabinet or other storage device which shall be permanently affixed to a building or building structure, and which shall, at all times except during access by the owner or an authorized adult representative of the owner, remain securely locked. For purposes of this section, an owner or authorized representative of the owner, shall be deemed to actually occupy a room even during brief periods of absence if the room is contained within a larger structure which is occupied by the owner.

D. Civil Responsibility for Damages for Wrongful Display or Storage. Any person who displays or stores, or permits the display or storage, of any graffiti implement in violation of the provisions of this section shall be personally liable for any and all costs, including attorney's fees and court costs, incurred by any party in connection with the removal of graffiti, the repair of any property containing graffiti, or such party's prosecution of a civil claim for reimbursement or damages resulting from such graffiti removal or property repair, arising from the use by any person of such wrongfully displayed or stored graffiti implement in violation of the provision of any of the California Penal Code Sections set forth in Section 8.24.060 or Section 8.24.080 of this chapter.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

A. Right of City to Require Removal. It is unlawful for any person who is the owner, or who has primary responsibility for control of property, or who has primary responsibility for the repair or maintenance of property ("responsible party" hereinafter in this section), to permit said property which is defaced with graffiti to remain so defaced for a period of seven days after service by City by first class mail of notice of same, unless (1) said person shall demonstrate by a preponderance of evidence that he or she does not have the financial ability to remove the defacing graffiti; or (2) it can be demonstrated that the responsibility party has an active program for the removal of graffiti and has scheduled the removal of the graffiti as part of that program, in which case it shall be unlawful to permit such property to remain defaced with graffiti for a period of fifteen days after service by first class mail of notice of same.

B. Declaration of Nuisance.

1. Graffiti as a Nuisance. The City Council declares and finds graffiti to be a nuisance subject to abatement according to the provisions and procedures herein contained;

2. Graffiti-Attracting Surface as a Nuisance. The existence of any surfaces of a structure on any privately-owned parcel of land which has been defaced with graffiti after removal more than five times in twelve months is deemed to be a nuisance, and may be abated by the City's requiring modification thereto, or to the immediate area surrounding same, according to the provisions and procedures set forth in Chapter 8.04 of this Code. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to: retrofitting of such surfaces at the expense of the property owner(s) of said lot, not to exceed a total cost of five hundred dollars, or at the cost of the City at the City's option, with such features or qualities as may be established by the City as necessary to reduce the attractiveness of the surface for graffiti, or as necessary to permit more convenient, expedient, or efficient removal of graffiti therefrom.

C. Right of City to Remove.

1. Use of Public Funds. Whenever the City becomes aware, or is notified and determines that graffiti is so located on public or privately-owned property viewable from a public or quasi-public place within the City, the City shall be authorized to use public funds for the removal of same, or for the painting or repairing of same, but shall not authorize or undertake to provide for the painting or repair of any more extensive area than that where the graffiti is located, unless the City Manager, or designee, determines in writing that a more extensive area is required to be repainted or repaired in order to avoid aesthetic disfigurement to the neighborhood or community, or unless the responsible party agrees to pay for the costs of repainting or repairing the more extensive area;

2. Right of Entry on Private Property.

a. Securing Owner Consent. Prior to entering upon private property or property owned by a public entity other than the City, for the purposes of removal of graffiti, the City shall attempt to secure the consent of the responsible party, and a release of the City from liability for private or public property damage.

b. Failure to Obtain Owner Consent. If a responsible party fails to remove the offending graffiti within the time herein specified, or if the City shall have requested consent to remove or paint over the offending graffiti and the responsible party shall have refused consent for entry on terms acceptable to the City consistent with the terms of this section, the City may commence abatement and cost recovery proceedings for the removal of the graffiti pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8.04 of this Code, which procedures authorize the recovery of all costs incurred by the City in abating graffiti including the recordation of a lien as to affected property.

D. Ease of Removal Provisions.

1. Common Utility Colors and Paint Type. Any gas, telephone, water, sewer, cable, telephone and other utility operating in the City, other than electric utility, shall paint their above-surface metal fixtures which are installed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, with a uniform paint type and color as directed by the City Manager;

2. Conditions on Encroachment Permits. Encroachment permits issued by the City may, among other things, be conditioned on (a) the permittee applying an anti-graffiti material to the encroaching object or structure of a type and nature that is acceptable to the City Manager, or his or her designee; (b) the immediate removal by the permittee of any graffiti; (c) the right of the City to remove graffiti or to paint the encroaching object or structure; (d) the permittee providing the City with sufficient matching paint and/or anti-graffiti material on demand for use in the painting of the encroaching object or structure containing graffiti.

3. Conditions on Discretionary Approvals. In imposing conditions upon conditional use permits, variances, building permits to the extent permitted by this Code, or other similar land use entitlements or development or design applications, the City may impose graffiti removal requirements, and any or all of the following conditions, or other similar or related conditions:

a. Use of Anti-Graffiti Material. Applicant shall apply an anti-graffiti material of a type and nature that is acceptable to the City Manager, or his or her designee, to such of the publiclyviewable surfaces to be constructed on the site deemed by the City Manager, or designee, to be likely to attract graffiti ("graffiti-attracting surfaces"),

b. Right of Access to Remove Graffiti. Applicant shall grant in writing, the right of entry over and access to such parcels, upon forty-eight hours posted notice, by authorized City employees or agents, for the purpose of removing or painting over graffiti on graffiti-attracting surfaces previously designed by the City Manager, or designee. Such grant shall be made an express condition of approval and shall be deemed to run with the land,

c. Supply City with Graffiti-Removal Material. Applicant, and any and all successors in interest, shall, for a specified period of years after approval, provide the City with sufficient matching paint and/or anti-graffiti material on demand for use in the painting over or removal of designated graffiti-attracting surfaces,

d. Owner to Immediately Remove Graffiti. Persons applying for subdivision maps shall, as part of any conditions, covenants and restrictions, covenant, which covenant shall run with the land and be for the benefit of the City, in a form satisfactory to the City, that the owners of the lots shall immediately remove any graffiti placed on publicly viewable trees and structures thereon to the City's satisfaction.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

A. Criminal penalties. Any violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable by either six months in jail, a one thousand dollar fine, or by such fine and imprisonment, and by the performance of community service in the form of graffiti clean-up to the maximum extent permitted by California Penal Code Section 594 and/or any other provision of law.

B. Additional penalties available. Whenever deemed appropriate, it is the City's intent to petition a sentencing court to impose the following additional penalties upon conviction:

1. Litter or graffiti cleanup pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 42001.7, upon conviction of violation of California Vehicle Code Sections 23111, 23112 or 23113(a);

2. Suspension or delay of issuance of a driver's license pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 13202.6 up a graffiti-vandalism conviction;

3. Performance of community service, including graffiti-removal service of up to one hundred hours by any minor determined to be a ward of the court as a result of committing a drug-related offense in the City, as provided in California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 729.8.

C. It is the City's further intent that all acts of graffiti-vandalism occurring within the City shall be prosecuted as misdemeanors pursuant to California Penal Code Section 594, et seq., or this chapter.

D. Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1714.1, any parent or legal guardian whose minor child possesses a graffiti implement shall be personally liable for any and all costs to any person or business incurred in connection with the removal of graffiti caused by the child, or by the graffiti implement, and for all attorney's fees and court costs incurred in connection with the civil prosecution of any claim for damages or reimbursement, up to ten thousand dollars.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)

A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the City through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisance.

(Ord. 93-727 § 1, 1993)