Formalities - Approval.
Los Angeles Administrative Code § 10.2
in effectSec. 10.2. Formalities - Approval.
The City shall not be, and is not, bound by any contract unless the contract complies with the requirements of this section and all other applicable requirements of the Charter:
(a) Writing. Except in case of urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health, or property as provided in Section 371(e) of the Charter, the following contracts must be in writing:
(1) Contracts for the sale, purchase, or other transfer of any interest in real property;
(2) Contracts for the lease of real property for one year or longer;
(3) Contracts for the sale or purchase of goods with consideration exceeding $500 that, by the contract terms, cannot be performed within one year; and
(4) Contracts with consideration reasonably valued at more than $25,000, annually or in the aggregate.
(b) Approval. Any contract expending City funds, whether or not in writing, must be approved by the board, officer, or employee authorized to make the contract. The contract, if in writing, shall be signed on behalf of the City by
(1) The Mayor;
(2) The General Manager, board, officer, or employee authorized to enter into the contract. The approval shall include a certification attesting that the signatory has no personal, financial, beneficial, or familial interest in the contract; or
(3) In the case of a contract authorized by the City Council, the person authorized by the City Council to enter into the contract. The approval shall include a certification attesting that the signatory has no personal, financial, beneficial, or familial interest in the contract.
(c) Approval as to Form. Every contract must be approved by the City Attorney as to form, except the following:
(1) Contracts, including, but not limited to, those of the Departments of Airports, Harbor, and Water and Power, involving a sum of $100,000 or less for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment, and the rental, repair, or maintenance thereof;
(2) Contracts of the Departments of Airports, Water and Power, Recreation and Parks, Harbor, and Library involving a sum of $25,000 or less for professional or personal services;
(3) Contracts involving a sum of $125,000 or less for the payment of City membership dues for non-profit, inter-government, or government- support organizations as budgeted in the General City Purposes section of the City budget;
(4) Contracts involving a sum of $25,000 or less for the payment of subscriptions for newspapers, professional journals, online information, or research services; and
(5) Contracts not required to be made in writing or other manner as provided by ordinance that by their terms restrict the amount that is payable or can be paid to $25,000 or less in total consideration annually or in the aggregate.
SECTION HISTORY
Based on Charter, Sec. 385.
Amended by: Ord. No. 154,252, Eff. 9-11-80; Ord. No. 158,965, Eff. 6-30-84; In Entirety, Ord. No. 170,313, Eff. 3-3-95, Oper. 4-25-95; Ord. No. 173,186, Eff. 5-22-00; Ord. No. 173,285, Eff. 6-26-00, Oper 7-1-00; In Entirety, Ord. No. 185,268, Eff. 1-10-18; In Entirety, Ord. No. 187,995, Eff. 11-6-23.
Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/laac/0-0-0-37937Fetched: 10/24/2026