The purpose of this chapter is to reduce and eliminate incidents of graffiti and to provide for the prompt abatement of graffiti from public and private properties in the city and to regulate the sale and possession of materials used in acts of graffiti.
The city council finds that unwanted graffiti on public and private properties is inconsistent with the city's aesthetic standards, and unless it is quickly removed from public and private properties, other properties soon become the target of graffiti. Graffiti on public and private properties encourages other acts of malicious vandalism, and depreciates the value of the adjacent and surrounding properties. Further, the city finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious and a public nuisance, affecting the health, safety, and public welfare of the city's residents. The existence of graffiti tends to breed community discontentment and criminal activity. The unlawful placement of graffiti on public and private properties is often committed by minors using aerosol and pressurized containers of paint, broad-tipped markers and pens, glass etching tools, etching cream, and slap tags. The public's interest, convenience and necessity require the adoption and implementation of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section shall govern the construction of this chapter.
"Aerosol paint container"
means any aerosol or pressurized container, regardless of the material from which it is made, which is adapted or made for the purpose of spraying paint, or other substance capable of defacing property.
"Etching cream"
means any caustic cream, gel, liquid, or solution capable, by means of chemical action, of defacing, damaging, or destroying hard surfaces in a manner similar to acid.
"Glass etching tool"
means any etching tool or glass cutter.
"Graffiti"
means any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, character or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, affixed by a slap tag, or painted on any structural component of any building, structure, post, pole, or other facility regardless of the nature of the material of that structural component.
"Graffiti implement"
means an aerosol paint container, an indelible marker, a glass etching tool, or etching cream capable of scarring glass, metal, concrete or wood.
"Indelible marker pen"
means any indelible marker, felt tip marker or similar implement containing nonwater soluble fluid and has a flat, pointed or angled writing surface of one-eighth (1/8) inch or greater.
"Minor"
means a person under 18 years of age.
"Responsible adult"
means a parent or legal guardian of a minor.
"Slap tag"
means any material such as, but not limited to, decals, stickers, posters, or labels which may be affixed upon any structural component of any building, structure, post, pole, or other facility, which contains a substance commonly known as adhesive glue.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
It is a violation of this chapter for any person to apply graffiti to any trees or structures including, but not limited to, buildings, walls, fences, poles, signs, sidewalks, and other personal property or paved surfaces located within the city.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
A. 
Civil Remedies.
1. 
Any person, responsible adult, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter shall be responsible for payment of the costs of investigation, removal of graffiti, the amount of any reward paid pursuant to Section 8.14.120, and all attorneys' fees and legal costs incurred in any civil proceeding in a court of law.
2. 
Any person, responsible adult, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to fines and/or other penalties in accordance with Chapter 1.16, Administrative Citations, of the Moorpark Municipal Code. The amount of civil fines or penalties assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be established by resolution of the city council, and shall cover the costs associated with the costs of investigation, removal of graffiti, the amount of any reward paid pursuant of Section 8.14.120, and all attorney's fees and legal costs incurred in any civil proceedings in a court of law.
a. 
In the event a minor is assessed a civil fine or penalty, the minor may perform community service and pay city administrative fees, if any, as an alternative to paying the civil fine or penalty with prior written consent and approval from the city manager or designee. The number of community service hours required to satisfy a civil penalty shall be as specified in the resolution establishing the amount of civil fines or penalties for this chapter adopted by the city council.
b. 
A responsible adult who is assessed a civil fine or penalty may also request that the minor serve the required hours of community service as described in subsection (A)(2)(a), and pay city administrative fees, if any, as an alternative to paying the applicable civil fine or penalty.
c. 
The city manager or designee shall retain the discretion to approve the community service suggested by the minor or responsible adult. Upon approval of a written community service agreement by the city manager or designee and the responsible adult, to perform community service, the minor shall complete the required community service hours within one year of approval, and shall submit proof of completion to the city manager. Failure to receive approval to perform community service or failure to complete the required hours of service shall result in imposition of the applicable civil fine or penalty, which is immediately payable. No reduction in the fine or penalty is authorized for completion of less than the required hours of community service as set forth in subsection (A)(2)(a).
B. 
Administrative Abatement. The city may pursue any violation of this chapter through the administrative abatement process pursuant to Chapter 1.12, Nuisances, of the Moorpark Municipal Code and recover all costs incurred pursuant to that chapter.
C. 
Criminal Penalties. Any person, firm, or corporation who violates, permits, or causes to violate any provision of this chapter, or who fails to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable up to the maximum fine or imprisonment authorized under California Government Code Section 36901 and as it may be subsequently amended; or by the imposition of both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
It is unlawful for any person, other than a responsible adult, or a school teacher for purposes of instruction, to knowingly sell, exchange, give, loan or in any way furnish to any minor a graffiti implement, except on the premises of a lawful business and when used for the purposes of that business.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
A. 
Pursuant to Civil Code Section 1714.1, any act of willful misconduct of a minor which results in the placement of graffiti shall be imputed to the minor's responsible adult for all purposes of civil damages, including all attorney's fees and court costs incurred in connection with the civil prosecution of any such claim for damages. The responsible adult shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any and all civil fines, penalties, damages and costs, up to the maximum amount allowable by law, for each chargeable act of the minor.
B. 
This section in no way limits or narrows the liability of a responsible adult for acts of a minor pursuant to Civil Code Section 1714.1, Government Code Section 53069.5, Penal Code Section 640.5 or any other applicable provision of law.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
It is unlawful for any minor to have in his or her possession a graffiti implement while in any public street, park, playground, swimming pool, recreational facility or other public place. The provision of this section shall not apply to an authorized employee of the city, a public agency, or private utility, or an authorized employee of a person under contract with the city, a public agency, or private utility in the performance of official duties that necessitate the use of a graffiti implement.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it is lawful for any person to possess a graffiti implement while the person is attending, or traveling to or from a school at which such person is enrolled, if the person is participating in a class at such school, which has, as a class requirement, the need to use such a graffiti implement.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
Every person who owns, conducts, operates or manages a retail commercial establishment selling graffiti implements shall store or cause such graffiti implements to be stored in an area viewable by, but not accessible to the public in the regular course of business without employee assistance, pending legal sale of such graffiti implements.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
Any person who owns, conducts, operates or manages a retail commercial establishment which offers for sale or sells graffiti implements shall display at the location of retail sale of such graffiti implements a sign, in letters at least three-eighths (3/8) of an inch high, clearly visible and legible to customers which states as follows:
IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR THIS BUSINESS TO SELL OR GIVE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN YEARS ANY AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINER, INDELIBLE MARKER PEN, ETCHING CREAM, OR GLASS ETCHING TOOL.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
The city council may authorize the offer of rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for a violation of any provision of this chapter. The amount of any such reward and the procedures for claiming the reward shall be established, from time to time, by the city council.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
It is declared that the existence of graffiti on any building, structure, fence or landscaping is a public nuisance, affecting the health, safety, and public welfare of the city's residents, and shall be abated as such as provided in this code.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)
A. 
It is unlawful for the owners and/or persons in possession of privately-owned property to permit graffiti within the city to remain on such property for more than seven days after written notice from the city is served to remove the same, except as provided in subsection B of this section.
B. 
It is unlawful for the owners and/or persons in possession of property used for a residence to permit graffiti to remain on such property for more than seven calendar days after written notice from the city is served to remove the same where graffiti thereon can only be seen from a public alley or from public or private property not accessible by the general public.
C. 
When paint is used to cover graffiti on private property, paint matching the original surface color of the damaged item shall be utilized.
D. 
Written notice pursuant to this chapter is served and complete at the time of deposit of a copy of the notice in the U.S. mail or when personal service of the notice is effectuated.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011; Ord. 423 § 2, 2013; Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
This city council has determined that the continued existence of graffiti on buildings, structures, fences or landscaping within the city is obnoxious and a nuisance, and has the effect of encouraging the placement of more graffiti at the same location as well as on adjacent buildings, structures, fences, landscaping or other surfaces. The prompt removal of graffiti is necessary to prevent the proliferation of graffiti. Accordingly, the city may use city funds to remove graffiti from publicly or privately owned real property within the city. At the city's discretion, such removal shall be performed by the city only after a finding by the city manager that the graffiti is located on public or privately owned permanent structures located on public or privately owned real property within the city and, if on private property, after securing the consent of the owner or other person entitled to possession of the property.
(Ord. 400 § 1, 2011)