REGULATION OF UNATTENDED DONATION BOXES

Sacramento City Code tit. 5, ch. 5.152

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.010 Definitions.

5.152.010 Definitions. "City manager" means the city manager of the city of Sacramento or designee. "Operator" means a person who utilizes or maintains unattended donation box(es) to solicit donations of salvageable personal property. "Permittee" means the property owner who is issued a permit authorizing placement of unattended donation box(es). "Property owner" means the person who owns the real property where the unattended donation box(es) are or are proposed to be located. "Residential district" means RE, R-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R4-A, R5, RMX, and RO zoning districts as established pursuant to Title 17 of this code. "Unattended donation box" means any unattended container, receptacle, or similar device that is located on any lot within the city and that is used for soliciting and collecting donations of clothing or other salvageable personal property. This term does not include recycle bins for the collection of recyclable material governed or regulated by the Planning and Development Code or any unattended donation box located within a building. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.020 Permits.

5.152.020 Permits. A. It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any property owner or other person to place, operate, maintain or allow unattended donation boxes on real property unless the property owner first obtains a permit pursuant to this chapter and the donation box is placed, operated and maintained in accordance with all provisions in this chapter. B. The permit application shall be made on a form provided by the city manager and shall include the following information: 1. The name, address, email, website (if available) and telephone number of the applicant; 2. Written proof sufficient to establish that the operator who will utilize the unattended donation box is qualified to solicit donations of salvageable personal property pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 148.3, as amended; 3. The text of the disclosures that will be made on the unattended donation box as required by Section 5.152.040(A)(3); and 4. The physical address of the property owner's real property and a drawing sufficient to indicate the proposed location of the unattended donation box on the property owner's real property and the size of the proposed unattended donation box. C. Each application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council. This fee shall be in addition to any fee or tax imposed by the city pursuant to any other provision of this code. D. Applications shall be filed with the city manager. E. Within sixty (60) days of receiving a completed application, the city manager shall issue a permit or deny the issuance of a permit. F. The city manager shall not issue a permit unless: 1. The applicant has submitted a complete and accurate application accompanied by the applicable fee; 2. The operator who will utilize the unattended donation box is qualified to solicit donations of salvageable personal property pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 148.3, as amended; 3. The proposed location of the unattended donation box on the property owner's real property is in compliance with all applicable laws. G. If the city manager denies an application the city manager shall state, in writing, the specific reasons for denial. H. The term of the permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance. I. No person to whom a permit has been issued shall transfer, assign, or convey such permit to another person. J. Prior to expiration of the permit, the permittee may voluntarily cancel the permit by notifying the city manager in writing of the intent to cancel the permit. The permit shall become void upon the city manager's receipt of a written notice of intent to cancel the permit. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.030 Renewal of permits.

5.152.030 Renewal of permits. A. A permittee may apply for permit renewal by submitting to the city manager before the expiration of the permit, a renewal application and a nonrefundable renewal fee in an amount set by resolution of the city council. B. The city manager shall either approve or deny the renewal of a permit within sixty (60) days of receipt of the complete renewal application and payment of the renewal fee. The failure of the city manager to timely act shall constitute approval of the renewal of the permit. C. The city manager shall approve the renewal of a permit if he or she finds that no circumstances existed during the term of the permit, existed at the time of submission of an application for renewal, or existed at any time during the review of the application for renewal that are inconsistent with any finding required for approval of a new permit as specified in Section 5.152.020 or that would justify the revocation of the permit as specified in Section 5.152.050. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)5.152.030

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.040 Requirements and maintenance.

5.152.040 Requirements and maintenance. A. A permittee shall operate and maintain or cause to be operated and maintained all unattended donation boxes located in the city as follows: 1. Unattended donation boxes shall be maintained in good condition and appearance with no structural damage, holes, or visible rust, and shall be free of graffiti; 2. Unattended donation boxes shall be locked or otherwise secured; 3. Unattended donation boxes shall contain the following contact information in two-inch type visible from the front of each unattended donation box: the name, address, email, and phone number of both the permittee and operator; 4. Unattended donation boxes shall be serviced and emptied as needed, but at least every thirty (30) days; 5. Unattended donation boxes shall be no more than eighty-two (82) inches high, fifty-six (56) inches wide and forty-nine (49) inches deep. B. The permittee shall maintain or cause to be maintained the area surrounding the unattended donation box(es) free of any junk, debris or other material and shall be responsible to the extent provided by law for the cost to abate any violation. C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it is unlawful for any person to place an unattended donation box in any residential district. D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it is unlawful to locate any unattended donation box less than four hundred (400) feet from any other unattended donation box. E. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it is unlawful to locate more than one unattended donation box on each parcel of real property. F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, it is unlawful to locate any unattended donation box on required parking spaces. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.050 Revocation of permit, removal of unattended donation boxes and liability.

5.152.050 Revocation of permit, removal of unattended donation boxes and liability. The city manager shall have the right for cause to revoke any permit issued hereunder. Any of the grounds upon which he or she may refuse to issue an initial permit shall also constitute grounds for such revocation. In addition, the failure of the permittee to comply with the provisions of this chapter or other provisions of this code or other law shall also constitute grounds for revocation of the permit. The city manager shall provide a written notification to the permittee stating the specific grounds for revocation. Upon revocation, the unattended donation box shall be removed from the permittee's real property within thirty (30) days and if not removed within this time period, the city may remove, store and dispose of the unattended donation box at the expense of the permittee. Upon revocation, a permittee shall be prohibited from applying for a permit for a period of one year. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance subject to abatement pursuant to Chapter 8.04 of this code. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.060 Violation-Penalty.

5.152.060 Violation-Penalty. Any person violating any provision of this chapter is guilty of an infraction. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 5.152.070 Appeals to city council.

5.152.070 Appeals to city council. Any person aggrieved by the decision rendered by the city manager in granting or denying an application for a permit under this chapter or in revoking a permit issued under this chapter may appeal the decision to the city council in accordance with Chapter 1.24. The appeal shall be made by filing a written notice thereof with the city clerk not later than ten (10) calendar days after receiving notice of the decision of the city manager. The city council shall hold a hearing on the appeal and its decision thereon shall be final. Instead of hearing the appeal, the city council may refer the matter to a hearing examiner pursuant to Chapter 1.24. The hearing examiner's decision shall be in writing. The hearing officer's decision shall have the effect specified in Section 1.24.090 of this code, and judicial review shall be governed by Section 1.24.110 of this code. (Ord. 2010-001 § 1)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-16073Fetched: 10/24/2026