Administration Citation

The Administrative Citation program (Huntington Beach Municipal Code 1.18) was established as an alternative enforcement tool to address discrete and transient Municipal Code violations. As an alternative to criminal prosecution in specified circumstances, use of the Administrative Citation could include: parking vehicles on front lawns, building without permits, or use of a public park after posted hours.

Any City employee or agent of the City designated by the Director of any City department has the authority and responsibility to enforce the provisions of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code. The fine amount of the citation is $100 for the 1st violation, $200 for a repeat violation, and $500 for any continuing violations.

DefinitionsCitee – Person given an administrative citation charging him or her responsible for a code violation.

Issuing Officer – Any City employee or agent of the City designated by the Director of any City department that has the authority and responsibility to enforce provisions of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code.

Hearing Officer – A volunteer appointed by the City Administrator to give ruling at the administrative hearing. Prior to conducting hearings the Hearing Officer must be certified by the City Attorney as qualified to provide fair and impartial hearings based on education, training and experience.

Administrative Citation Questions

I sent in my money for a hearing, but how do I know where to go, and when do I go there?

All that information is contained on the front side of your citation. The date is written in by the Issuing Officer.

I went to the courthouse in Westminster, why didn't they have a record of my citation?

Administrative Citations are handled “in-house” at City Hall, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. All this information can be found on the front of the citation.

Where do I send my payment?

City of Huntington Beach, P.O.Box 831, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

How do I get in touch with the City Attorney's Office designee?

If you would like to submit a written declaration, you can send it to City of Huntington Beach, City Attorney, P.O.Box 190, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, or call the Administrative Citation hotline at (714) 375-8446.

Whom can I speak with about these violations?

The Issuing Officer wants you to be in compliance and is more than willing to explain to you how to do that.

Can the City Attorney cancel my citation?

Only the Issuing Officer or Department Head can cancel the citation through a preliminary review. The City Attorney’s Office will ensure a proper judicial process.

I am going to be out of town on my hearing date, but I still want to attend a hearing. What can I do?

Follow the standard procedure to contest the citation, noting that you are not going to be available on the hearing date. If the fine deposit has been paid in a timely manner, and a hearing request has been made, the City Attorney’s Office will accommodate you. If you have further questions about this call the Administrative Citation hotline at (714) 375-8446 and leave a detailed message.

What happens if I don't pay my fine?

The City may pursue any and all legal and equitable remedies. Pursuit of one remedy does not preclude the pursuit of other remedies until the total fines, interest and penalties owed by a person under chapter 1.18 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code have been paid. Some possible remedies could include:

Refusal of City Permits, license, or other City approval pertaining to the property that is subject to the fine.
Any type of land use approval issued by the City to a person that has more than $500 in unpaid fines shall automatically be suspended.
The City Attorney at his or her discretion may issue a criminal complaint.
Penalties and interest are subject to lien assessment.

I would like a fine deposit waiver. What is "substantial evidence" establishing that I don't have the money to pay this fine?

Financial ability can usually be established with receipts, copies of bills and bank statements.

For a more in depth look at the collection of unpaid fines, refer to Huntington Beach Municipal Code 1.18.150

Contest/Appeal

TO CONTEST:

Administrative Citations You may request an Administrative Hearing to contest the citation by mailing or delivering a signed copy of the citation to the City Attorney's Office (2000 Main Street, P.O. 190, Huntington Beach, CA 92648) within 30 calendar days of the date the citation is issued. In addition, the full fine amount must also be remitted to the City Treasurer’s Office (City of Huntington Beach, 2000 Main Street, P.O. Box 711, Huntington Beach, CA 92648). The person requesting the Administrative Hearing may file a written declaration with the City Attorney’s Office before the hearing or personally attend the hearing on date, time and place specified on the front of the citation.

A failure to pay the fine deposit for the Administrative Hearing will be considered a non-appearance. Non-appearance by the citee shall constitute an abandonment of the request unless you are requesting a waiver of fine deposit.

The City Attorney’s Office, or City Attorney’s designee, shall ensure that the pertinent citation records are delivered to the Hearing Officer prior to the hearing date, and/or the Issuing Officer will be present to give his testimony regarding the citation. The City Attorney’s Office, or the City Attorney’s Office designee, shall also make available to the citee before the hearing a copy of any additional reports concerning the citation if so desired.

Decision: If the decision is to uphold the citation, the City shall keep the fine deposit as payment upon the fine. If the decision is to cancel the citation, the City shall refund the deposit within 30 days of the decision. If the citee had a fine waiver, the fine amount is due to the City. If you are aggrieved by the decision of the Hearing Officer, you may appeal to the Municipal Court in accordance of with the timelines set forth in California Government Code Section 53069.4.

Hotline: If you have further question or concerns call the Administrative Citation hotline at (714) 375-8446 and your call will be returned.

Court Appeal

You may file an appeal from the hearing officer's decision with the Municipal Court within 20 calendar days of being notified of the decision. To appeal you must pay a $25 filing fee to the court.

Questions: To address any questions or concerns, please leave a message at (714) 375-8446 and your call will be returned.

Waiver of Fine Deposit

A person who files a request for an Administrative Hearing at the same time may also request a hardship waiver of the fine deposit. The person requesting the waiver bears the burden of establishing by substantial evidence that he or she does not have the financial ability to make the deposit of the fine. The citee shall appear at the hearing or file a written declaration with the City Attorney’s Office, or the City Attorney’s Office designee, prior to the hearing. The Hearing Officer will decide the request at the hearing date, time and place specified on the citation. If approved the Hearing Officer or City Attorney’s Office, or City Attorney’s Office designee, will notify the citee of the hearing date for the citation. If denied, the citee will be required to pay the fine deposit in full prior to receiving a hearing for the citation.

Please note that failure to take action may result in additional citations and/or fines at a rate of 18% annually.

Questions: Please leave a message at (714) 375-8446 and your call will be returned to address any questions or concerns.