ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA, IMPOSING A ONE PERCENT TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL USE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 the City of Hesperia (“City”) is authorized to levy a Transactions and Use Tax for general purposes, subject to majority voter approval; and WHEREAS in order for the City to maintain essential City services for residents and businesses, including paving and maintaining streets, fixing potholes, installing storm drains and related flood control infrastructure, repairing or replacing aging City infrastructure, keeping streets and public facilities safe, clean, and well-maintained, crime prevention, and 911 emergency response, it is critically important that the City have a new, long-term, source of funds for its general fund; and WHEREAS a transactions and use tax for general purposes would provide such a source of funds; and WHEREAS, the People of the City desire to add Chapter 3.17 to Title 3 of the Hesperia Municipal Code establishing a general Transactions and Use Tax (“TUT”) until ended by voters, on the sale and/or use of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City, at a rate of one percent (1.0%).
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA, DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 3.17 is hereby added to Title 3 of the Hesperia Municipal Code to read as follows:
Chapter 3.17 – Transactions and Use Tax
3.17.010 – Title
This ordinance shall be known as the “Hesperia Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance.” The City of Hesperia shall be hereinafter referred to as the “City.” This ordinance shall apply in the incorporated territory of the City.
3.17.020 – Operative Date
“Operative Date” means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the adoption of this ordinance.
3.17.030 – Purpose
This ordinance is adopted to achieve the following, among other purposes, and directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes:
To impose a retail transactions and use tax in accordance with the provisions of Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 7285.9 of Part 1.7 of Division 2, which authorizes the City to adopt this tax ordinance which shall be operative if a majority of the electors voting on the measure vote to approve the imposition of the tax at an election called for that purpose.
To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that incorporates provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use Tax Law of the State of California insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and limitations contained in Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that imposes a tax and provides a measure therefore that can be administered and collected by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in a manner that adapts itself as fully as practicable to, and requires the least possible deviation from, the existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in administering and collecting the California State Sales and Use Taxes.
To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that can be administered in a manner that will be, to the greatest degree possible, consistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize the cost of collecting the transactions and use taxes, and at the same time, minimize the burden of record keeping upon persons subject to taxation under the provisions of this ordinance.
3.17.040 – Contract with State
Prior to the operative date, the City shall contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this transactions and use tax ordinance; provided, that if the City shall not have contracted with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration prior to the operative date, it shall nevertheless so contract and in such a case the operative date shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter following the execution of such a contract.
3.17.050 – Transactions Tax Rate
For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the incorporated territory of the City at the rate of 1.0% of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory on and after the operative date of this ordinance.
3.17.060 – Place of Sale
For the purposes of this ordinance, all retail sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the tangible personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state destination or to a common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The gross receipts from such sales shall include delivery charges, when such charges are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which delivery is made. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the State or has more than one place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are consummated shall be determined under rules and regulations to be prescribed and adopted by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
3.17.070 – Use Tax Rate
An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the City of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer on and after the operative date of this ordinance for storage, use or other consumption in said territory at the rate of 1.0% of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made.
3.17.080 – Adoption of Provisions of State Law
Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance and except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance as though fully set forth herein.
3.17.090 – Limitations on Adoption of State Law and Collection of Use Taxes Wherever the State of California is named or referred to as the taxing agency, the name of this City shall be substituted therefore. However, the substitution shall not be made when:
The word “State” is used as a part of the title of the State Controller, State Treasurer, State Treasury, or the Constitution of the State of California.
The result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against this City or any agency, officer, or employee thereof rather than by or against the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, in performing the functions incident to the administration or operation of this Ordinance.
In those sections, including but not necessarily limited to sections referring to the exterior boundaries of the State of California, where the result of the substitution would be to:
Provide an exemption from this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax while such sales, storage, use or other consumption remain subject to tax by the State under the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or; Impose this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not be subject to tax by the state under the said provision of that code.
In reference to Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereof), 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 or 6828 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
The word “City” shall be substituted for the word “State” in the phrase “retailer engaged in business in this State” in Section 6203 and in the definition of that phrase in Section 6203. “A retailer engaged in business in the City” shall also include any retailer that, in the preceding calendar year or the current calendar year, has total combined sales of tangible personal property in this state or for delivery in the State by the retailer and all persons related to the retailer that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). For purposes of this section, a person is related to another person if both persons are related to each other pursuant to Section 267(b) of Title 26 of the United States Code and the regulations thereunder.
3.17.100 – Permit Not Required
If a seller’s permit has been issued to a retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an additional transactor’s permit shall not be required by this ordinance.
3.17.110 – Exemptions and Exclusions
There shall be excluded from the measure of the transactions tax and the use tax the amount of any sales tax or use tax imposed by the State of California or by any city, city and county, or county pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or the amount of any state-administered transactions or use tax.
There are exempted from the computation of the amount of transactions tax the gross receipts from:
Sales of tangible personal property, other than fuel or petroleum products, to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed principally outside the county in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government.
Sales of property to be used outside the City which is shipped to a point outside the City, pursuant to the contract of sale, by delivery to such point by the retailer or his or her agent, or by delivery by the retailer to a carrier for shipment to a consignee at such point. For the purposes of this paragraph, delivery to a point outside the City shall be satisfied:
With respect to vehicles (other than commercial vehicles) subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, and undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code by registration to an out-of-City address and by a declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, stating that such address is, in fact, his or her principal place of residence; and With respect to commercial vehicles, by registration to a place of business out-of-City and declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, that the vehicle will be operated from that address.
The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
A lease of tangible personal property which is a continuing sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, the sale or lease of tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
There are exempted from the use tax imposed by this ordinance, the storage, use or other consumption in this City of tangible personal property:
The gross receipts from the sale of which have been subject to a transactions tax under any state-administered transactions and use tax ordinance.
Other than fuel or petroleum products purchased by operators of aircraft and used or consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property for hire or compensation under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. This exemption is in addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California.
If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
If the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power over, the tangible personal property arises under a lease which is a continuing purchase of such property for any period of time for which the lessee is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by a lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, storage, use, or other consumption, or possession of, or exercise of any right or power over, tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
Except as provided in subparagraph (7), a retailer engaged in business in the City shall not be required to collect use tax from the purchaser of tangible personal property, unless the retailer ships or delivers the property into the City or participates within the City in making the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, soliciting or receiving the order, either directly or indirectly, at a place of business of the retailer in the City or through any representative, agent, canvasser, solicitor, subsidiary, or person in the City under the authority of the retailer. “A retailer engaged in business in the City” shall also include any retailer of any of the following: vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, or undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code. That retailer shall be required to collect use tax from any purchaser who registers or licenses the vehicle, vessel, or aircraft at an address in the City.
Any person subject to use tax under this ordinance may credit against that tax any transactions tax or reimbursement for transactions tax paid to a district imposing, or retailer liable for, a transactions tax pursuant to Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code with respect to the sale to the person of the property the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the use tax.
3.17.120 – Term
The tax imposed by this ordinance shall be effective until terminated or otherwise altered by a majority of the City’s voters.
3.17.130 – Amendments
All amendments subsequent to the effective date of this ordinance to Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall automatically become a part of this ordinance, provided however, that no such amendment shall operate so as to affect the rate of tax imposed by this ordinance.
3.17.140 – Audit and Review
The proceeds of the tax imposed by this ordinance, as well as the expenditure thereof, shall be audited annually by an independent accounting firm. The City Council shall discuss the results of such audit at a meeting of the City Council that is open to the public. The report of such audit shall be posted on the City’s website.
3.17.150 – Enjoining Collection Forbidden
No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in any court against the State or the City, or against any officer of the State or the City, to prevent or enjoin the collection under this ordinance, or Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected.
3.17.170 – Severability
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.” SECTION 2. CEQA. The adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq. and California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15000 et seq. (CEQA Guidelines). The general transactions and use tax this Ordinance adopts is a government funding mechanism that does not “involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment,” and thus it is not a project under CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4).
SECTION 3. Severability. If any sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance or any part hereof or exhibit hereto is for any reason held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof or exhibit thereto. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraph, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
SECTION 4. Approval by the Voters. Pursuant to California Elections Code section 9217, this Ordinance shall be deemed adopted and take effect only if approved by a majority (50% + 1) of the eligible voters of the City of Hesperia voting at the General Municipal Election of November 3, 2026. It shall be deemed adopted when the City Council has certified the results of that election by resolution and shall take effect ten (10) days thereafter.
SECTION 5. Operative Date. “Operative Date” for the Transactions and Use Tax means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the date this Ordinance is adopted, as set forth in Section 4 above.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED ______________, 2026.
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Brigit Bennington, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Melinda Sayre, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Pam Lee, City Attorney
01071.0007 2160134.1