Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY\
Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 9.50 Graffiti
Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-19 · Palo Alto
Cite as: Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 9.50 · Text as of 2026-10-19
9.50.010 Graffiti prohibited on public property.¶
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously apply graffiti to any property or facilities owned or controlled by the city of Palo Alto or any other public agency within the city of Palo Alto.
(Ord. 4642 § 10 (part), 2000: Ord. 4233 § 1 (part), 1994)
9.50.015 Graffiti defined.¶
"Graffiti" shall be defined, for purposes of this chapter, to mean a symbol, word, figure, or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, sprayed, painted, or otherwise applied on any surface of real or personal property without the authorization of the owner and subject to view from any street or other public property.
(Ord. 4642 § 10 (part), 2000: Ord. 4233 § 1 (part), 1994)
9.50.020 Removal of graffiti.¶
The city manager is authorized to use public funds employing city staff or contractors to remove graffiti on city property or on property of other public agencies within the city with the written consent of that public agency.
(Ord. 4642 § 10 (part), 2000: Ord. 4233 § 1 (part), 1994)
9.50.030 Restitution for the cost of graffiti removal.¶
The city attorney is authorized to request that the courts impose as restitution in any criminal or juvenile proceeding arising out of the application of graffiti to city property or the property of other public agencies within the city the obligation to reimburse the city for all costs incurred by the city in the removal of that graffiti. The city attorney is also authorized to institute and prosecute civil proceedings against any person (and, if the person is a minor, the parents of that minor under California Civil Code section 1714.1(b)) who applies graffiti in violation of this chapter to recover the city's cost of removing that graffiti.
(Ord. 4642 § 10 (part), 2000: Ord. 4233 § 1 (part), 1994)
Continue researching
Palo Alto sources →Palo Alto local, state and federal sources. Edit the document title or filters, then run your search.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code