The statutory references listed below refer the code user to state statutes applicable to California cities. They are current through June 2023. (NOTE: The list of references includes references applicable to cities, generally; certain references may be applicable solely to chartered cities and others may not be applicable to chartered cities.)
Subject
Reference
Accessory dwelling units
Gov’t Code § 65852.150 et seq.
Administrative fines and penalties
Gov’t Code § 53069.4
Alternative forms of government
Gov’t Code § 34851 et seq.
Authority to adopt, amend, revise or repeal city charters
Cal. Const. Art. XI, § 3 et seq.
Citations for infractions and misdemeanors
Penal Code §§ 853.5 – 853.85
Classifications of cities
Gov’t Code §§ 34100 – 34102
Code adoption
Gov’t Code §§ 50022.1 – 50022.10
Conflict of interest code
Gov’t Code § 87100 et seq.
Elections
Gov’t Code §§ 34050 and 36503 and Elec. Code §§ 1301, 9200 et seq., and 10100 et seq.
Expedited judicial review of First Amendment cases
Civ. Proc. Code § 1094.8
False petitions
Gov’t Code § 34093
General powers
Gov’t Code § 37100 et seq. and Cal. Const. Art. XI, § 7
Imprisonment
Gov’t Code §§ 36901, 36903 – 36904
Initiative and referendum
Cal. Const. Art. XI, § 7.5 and Elec. Code §§ 9200 et seq., and 9235 et seq.
Judicial review of city decisions
Civ. Proc. Code § 1094.6
Ordinances
Gov’t Code § 36900 et seq.
Penalties for ordinance violations
Gov’t Code § 36900 et seq.
Police power
Cal. Const. Art. XI, § 7
Procedure for enactment or revision of city charters
Gov’t Code § 34450 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Chief of police
Gov’t Code § 41601 et seq.
City assessor
Gov’t Code § 41201 et seq.
City attorney
Gov’t Code § 41801 et seq.
City clerk
Gov’t Code § 40801 et seq.
City manager
Gov’t Code §§ 34851 – 34859
City officers generally
Gov’t Code § 36501
City records
Gov’t Code §§ 34090 – 34090.7
City treasurer
Gov’t Code § 41001 et seq.
Election of legislative body by districts
Gov’t Code § 34870 et seq.
Elective mayor
Gov’t Code §§ 34900 – 34906
Fire department
Gov’t Code § 38611
Legislative body
Gov’t Code § 36801 et seq.
Local emergencies
Gov’t Code §§ 8630 – 8634
Local planning agencies
Gov’t Code § 65100 et seq.
Mayor
Gov’t Code §§ 36801 – 36803 and 40601 et seq.
Meetings (“Ralph M. Brown Act”)
Gov’t Code § 54950 et seq.
Peace officer standards and training
Penal Code § 13500 et seq.
Personnel system
Gov’t Code § 45000 et seq.
Retirement systems
Gov’t Code § 45300 et seq., and 53060.1
The California Emergency Services Act
Gov’t Code § 8550 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Bradley-Burns Bill of Rights
Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 7221—7226
Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law
Rev. & Tax. Code § 7200 et seq., and Gov’t Code § 37101
Chartered city special assessment procedure
Gov’t Code § 43240
Claims against public entities
Gov’t Code § 900 et seq.
Contracting by local agencies (“Local Agency Public Construction Act”)
Pub. Cont. Code § 20100 et seq.
Development fees
Gov’t Code § 66000 et seq.
Financial powers
Gov’t Code § 37200 et seq.
Fiscal year in chartered cities
Gov’t Code §§ 43120 and 43122
Graffiti prevention tax
Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 7287—7287.10
Local agency service fees and charges
Gov’t Code § 66012 et seq.
Property tax assessment, levy and collection
Gov’t Code § 43000 et seq.
Public works and public purchases
Gov’t Code § 4000 et seq.
Special gas tax street improvement fund
Sts. & High. Code § 2113
The Documentary Transfer Tax Act
Rev. & Tax. Code § 11901 et seq.
Transfer of tax function to county
Gov’t Code § 51500 et seq.
Transient occupancy tax
Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 7280—7283.51
Unclaimed property
Civ. Code § 2080 et seq.
Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act
Pub. Cont. Code § 22000 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Alcoholic beverages—Local authority
Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 23790 – 23791
Authority to license businesses
Gov’t Code § 37101 and Bus. & Prof. Code § 16000 et seq.
Automatic checkout systems
Civ. Code § 7100 et seq.
Bingo
Penal Code §§ 326.4 and 326.5
Charitable solicitations
Bus. & Prof. Code § 17510 et seq.
Commercial filming
Gov’t Code § 65850.1
Community antenna television systems
Gov’t Code § 53066 et seq.
Gambling Control Act
Bus. & Prof. Code § 19800 et seq.
Massage parlors
Gov’t Code § 51030 et seq.
Pet Boarding facilities
Health & Safety Code § 122380 et seq.
Private Investigator Act
Bus. & Prof. Code § 7512 et seq.
Taxicabs and vehicles for hire
Veh. Code §§ 16500 et seq., 21100(b) and 21112 and Gov’t Code § 53075 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Animals generally
Food & Agric. Code § 16301 et seq.
Cruelty to animals
Penal Code § 596 et seq.
Dangerous and vicious dogs
Food & Agric. Code § 31601 et seq.
Dogs and dog licenses
Gov’t Code § 38792 and Food & Agric. Code § 30501 et seq.
Rabies control
Health & Safety Code § 121575 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Delinquent garbage fees
Gov’t Code §§ 38790.1 and 25831
Fire prevention
Health & Safety Code § 13000 et seq.
Fireworks (permits)
Health & Safety Code § 12640 et seq.
Fireworks (State Fireworks Law)
Health & Safety Code §§ 12500 et seq.
Garbage and refuse collection and disposal
Pub. Res. Code § 49000 et seq., and Gov’t Code § 38790
Graffiti abatement
Gov’t Code §§ 38772 and 53069.3
Hospitals
Gov’t Code § 37600 et seq.
Littering
Penal Code § 374 et seq.
Local control of cannabis
Bus. & Prof. Code § 26200 et seq.
Medical cannabis ordinances
Health & Safety Code § 11362.83
Military equipment
Gov’t Code § 7070 et seq.
Noise control
Health & Safety Code § 46000 et seq. and Gov’t Code § 65302(f)
Nuisance abatement
Gov’t Code § 38771 et seq., and Penal Code §§ 370, 372 and 373a
Single-user restrooms
Health & Safety Code § 118600
Weed and rubbish abatement
Gov’t Code § 39501 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Crimes against property
Penal Code § 450 et seq.
Crimes against public health and safety
Penal Code § 369a et seq.
Crimes against public justice
Penal Code § 92 et seq.
Crimes against the person
Penal Code § 187 et seq.
Crimes against the public peace
Penal Code § 403 et seq.
Crimes involving sexual assault and against public decency
Penal Code § 261 et seq.
Criminal storage of firearms
Penal Code 25100 et seq.
Minors
Penal Code §§ 853.6a, 858(b); Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 100 et seq., 742.10 et seq. (graffiti)
Weapons
Penal Code §§ 12001 et seq., 16000 et seq., 17500 et seq., and 19910 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Autonomous vehicles
Veh. Code §§ 38750—38755
Bicycles, electric bicycles, pedicabs (definitions)
Veh. Code § 231 et seq., 21100(h), 21206 and 39000 et seq.
Bicycles
Veh. Code §§ 21100 et seq., 21200 et seq., and 39000 et seq.
Curb markings
Veh. Code § 21458
Establishments of crosswalks
Veh. Code § 21106
Local traffic rules and regulations
Veh. Code § 21100 et seq.
One-way street designations
Veh. Code § 21657
Pedestrian rights and duties
Veh. Code § 21949 et seq.
Penalties
Veh. Code § 40000.1 et seq.
Speed limits
Veh. Code § 22348 et seq.
Stopping, standing, and parking
Veh. Code § 22500 et seq.
Through highways
Veh. Code §§ 21101(b), 21353 and 21354
Traffic control devices
Veh. Code § 21350 et seq.
Traffic signs, signals and markings
Veh. Code § 21350 et seq.
Turning movements
Veh. Code § 22100 et seq.
Vehicle weight limits
Veh. Code § 35700 et seq.
Violations
Veh. Code § 40000.1 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Advertising displays; signs
Gov’t Code §§ 38774 and 65850(b); Bus. & Prof. Code § 5200 et seq.
Constructions of sidewalks and curbs
Sts. & High. Code § 5870 et seq.
Improvement Act of 1911
Sts. & High. Code § 5000 et seq.
Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972
Sts. & High. Code § 22500 et seq.
Municipal parks
Pub. Res. Code § 5181 et seq.
Obstructions and encroachments of public ways
Gov’t Code § 38775
Tree Planting Act of 1931
Sts. & High. Code § 22000 et seq.
Underground utility districts
Sts. & High. Code § 5896.1 et seq. and Gov’t Code § 38793
Subject
Reference
Connection fees
Gov’t Code § 66013
Inventory of known lead user service line
Health & Safety Code § 116885
Municipal sewers
Gov’t Code § 38900 et seq., and Health & Safety Code § 5470 et seq.
Municipal water systems
Gov’t Code § 38730 et seq.
Water wells
Water Code § 13700 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Adoption of construction codes
Health & Safety Code §§ 17922, 17958 and 17958.5
Authority to regulate buildings and construction
Gov’t Code §§ 38601(b) and 38660
Inspection warrants
Civ. Proc. Code § 1822.50 et seq.
Manufactured housing and mobilehomes
Health & Safety Code §§ 18000 et seq., 18200 et seq.
Signs
Gov’t Code §§ 38774 and 65850(b); and Bus. & Prof. Code § 5200 et seq.
State Housing Law
Health & Safety Code § 17910 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Subdivision Map Act
Gov’t Code § 66410 et seq.
Subject
Reference
Family day care homes
Health & Safety Code § 1597.30 et seq.
Local authority to regulate land use
Gov’t Code § 65850
Local planning generally (“Planning and Zoning Law”)
Gov’t Code § 65000 et seq.
Local zoning administration
Gov’t Code § 65900 et seq.
Open-space zoning
Gov’t Code § 65910 et seq.
Zoning fees and charges
Gov’t Code § 66014
Subject
Reference
Drought tolerant landscaping
Gov’t Code § 53087.7
Online resource center—Municipal storm water permit compliance
Water Code § 13383.9
Short-lived climate pollutants
Health & Safety Code § 39730.5 et seq., and Pub. Res. Code § 42652 et seq.
The California Environmental Quality Act
Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq.
The California Noise Control Act of 1973
Health & Safety Code § 46000 et seq., and Gov’t Code § 65302(f)
Wildfire mitigation (electric utilities and electrical cooperatives)
Pub. Util. Code § 8387