Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 1. Section 1.
This act shall be known as the “Food and Agricultural Code.”
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC
in effectCal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 5. Section 5.
All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, hold office under any of the laws that are repealed by this code, which offices are continued by this code, continue to hold the offices according to their former tenure.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 7. Section 7.
(a)
Any person in whom the enforcement of any provision of this code is vested shall have the authority, as a public officer, to arrest, without a warrant, another person whenever such officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has, in his presence, violated any provision of this code, the violation of which is declared to be public offense. If such violation is a felony, or if the arresting officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has violated a provision of this code which is declared to be a felony, although no felony has in fact been committed, he may make an arrest although the violation or suspected violation did not occur in his presence.
In any case in which an arrest is made pursuant to this authority for an offense declared to be a misdemeanor or an infraction, the arresting officer may, instead of taking the person arrested before a magistrate, follow the procedure prescribed by Chapter 5C (commencing with Section 853.5) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, unless the arrested person demands to be taken before a magistrate. The provisions of such chapter shall thereafter apply with reference to any proceeding based upon the issuance of a citation pursuant to this authority.
(b)
There shall be no civil liability on the part of, and no cause of action shall arise against, any person, acting pursuant to subdivision (a) and within the scope of his authority, for false arrest or false imprisonment arising out of any arrest which is lawful or which the arresting officer, at the time of such arrest, had reasonable cause to believe was lawful. No such officer shall be deemed an aggressor or lose his right to self-defense by the use of reasonable force to effect the arrest or to prevent escape or to overcome resistance.
(c)
Any person in whom the enforcement of any provision of this code is vested may serve all processes and notices throughout the state; provided, that county employees authorized to enforce the provisions of this code are authorized to serve processes and notices only within the boundaries of the county which employs them.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 9. Section 9.
Unless a different penalty is expressly provided, a violation of any provision of this code is a misdemeanor.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 11. Section 11.
Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required by this code to be kept or made in writing, it shall be in the English language.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 15. Section 15.
Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this state, the reference applies to all amendments and additions to it.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 19. Section 19.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future, the present tense.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 21. Section 21.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 24.5. Section 24.5.
Inasmuch as plants growing in native stands or planted for ornamental purposes contribute to the environmental and public health and welfare needs of the people of the state, the Legislature hereby finds and declares that such plants shall be considered as a part of the agricultural industry for the purpose of any law that provides for the protection of the agricultural industry from pests.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 25. Section 25.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in the following sections govern the construction of this code.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 26. Section 26.
“Commissioner” means any county agricultural commissioner.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 33. Section 33.
“Greenhouse” means a structure covered with transparent or translucent materials for the purpose of admitting natural light and controlling the atmosphere for growing plants, including floricultural, ornamental, or other nursery and agricultural products.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 36. Section 36.
“Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 41. Section 41.
“Section” means a section of this code, unless some other statute is specifically mentioned.
Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 47. Section 47.
“Shall” is mandatory, and “may” is permissive.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026