As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms shall have the meaning described in this section:
(a) 
Person.
The term "person" includes any firm, association, partnership, or corporation, as well as a natural person. The term "person" as applied to partnerships or other associations includes their members, and as applied to firms and corporations includes their officers and employees.
(b) 
Canvassing.
The term "canvassing" includes door to door soliciting or soliciting by the use of circulars, visitations, telephone calls or any other means, whether or not the canvasser or his employer has been invited or requested by the owner as defined in (c), to obtain a listing of real property or to confer with the owner regarding a real estate transaction. The term "canvassing" as defined shall not apply when such soliciting is restricted to a specific house on a particular day.
(c) 
Owner.
The term "owner" includes the lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent or other person having the right of ownership or possession or the right to sell, rent, or lease any real property.
(d) 
Purchaser.
The term "purchaser" includes any occupant, prospective occupant, lessee, prospective lessee, buyer, prospective buyer, or any agent of these.
(Ord. 1188 § 1 (part), 11-27-1972)
It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation to commit any one or more of the following acts:
(a) 
To induce directly or indirectly or attempt to induce directly or indirectly the sale or listing for sale of real property by representing that an adverse change has occurred or will or may occur with respect to the racial, religious, or ethnic composition of the block, neighborhood or area in which the property is located;
(b) 
To induce directly or indirectly, or attempt to induce directly or indirectly, the representing that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, religion, or national origin in the area will or may result in:
(1) 
The lowering of property values,
(2) 
An increase in the criminal or antisocial behavior in the area,
(3) 
A decline in the quality of the schools serving the area;
(c) 
To make any misrepresentations concerning the listing for sale or the anticipated listing for sale, or the sale of real property in the area for the purpose of inducing or attempting to induce the sale or listing for sale of real property;
(d) 
To make any representation to any prospective purchaser that any block, neighborhood, or area has, will, or might undergo change with respect to the religious, racial or ethnic composition of the block, neighborhood, or area for the purpose of discouraging the purchase of property in a particular area;
(e) 
To place a sign purporting to offer for sale any property that is not in fact offered for sale;
(f) 
To advertise for sale or rental property which is not actually for sale or rental;
(g) 
To engage in, or hire, or conspire with others to commit acts or activities of any nature, the purpose of which is to coerce, cause panic or unrest, create or play upon fear, with the purpose of inducing or attempting to induce the sale or listing for sale of real property;
(h) 
To solicit a listing from any homeowner who has previously requested in writing that such person refrain from soliciting such homeowner;
(i) 
To engage in any economic reprisal or any other form of intimidation against any person because that person has filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or conference under the terms of this chapter;
(j) 
To employ, aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce any person to engage in any of the practices forbidden by this chapter.
(Ord. 1188 § 1 (part), 11-27-1972)
Any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the city jail of the city of South Gate or in the county jail of Los Angeles for six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment as the committing magistrate may direct.
(Ord.1188 § 1 (part), 11-27-1972; Ord. 2011 § 1 Exh. A (part), 8-27-1996)
If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, shall for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this chapter.
(Ord. 1188 § 1 (part), 11-27-1972)