ORDINANCE NO. XXXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 6.24.030 OF
THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING SECTION
6.24.070 TO CHAPTER 6.24 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO THE SALE AND USE OF GLUE TRAPS AND
FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, in accordance with evolving standards of morality, scientific discovery, and human experience, the City Council recognizes the importance of preventing unnecessary suffering by various animals caused by the use and implementation of glue traps; and WHEREAS, it is desirable to the City whenever possible to protect the public health and welfare, including local wildlife, all of which increases the sustainability and quality of life for Laguna Beach residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, there are more humane way to regulate and address problems and issues caused by unwanted animals in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to prohibit the use and sale of glue traps throughout the City.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES ORDAIN, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Findings and Recitals. The above recitals and findings are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference as though fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Amendment of Section 6.24.030 (Unlawful use of equipment). Section
6.24.030 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (added language in underline, removed language in strikethrough):
Attachment 1
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§ 6.24.030 Unlawful use of equipment.
It shall be unlawful to use on animals any equipment, device, firearm, substance or material that is, or could be, injurious or cause unnecessary cruelty to any such animal. For avoidance of doubt, this prohibition includes the use of any glue trap as defined and prohibited by Section 6.24.070. This section does not outlaw humane devices or methods for killing vermin, or outlaw the use of firearms by peace officers for such purposes, when authorized by written policy as set forth by the animal services manager City Manager or the City Manager’s designee; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the sale, placement, setting, or use of glue traps prohibited by Section 6.24.070.
SECTION 3. Addition of Section 6.24.070 (Sale and Use of Glue Traps Prohibited).
Section 6.24.070 is hereby added to Chapter 6.24 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, to read as follows:
§ 6.24.070 Sale and Use of Glue Traps Prohibited.
(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:
(1) “Animal” shall mean any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, such as rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects.
(2) “Glue Trap” shall mean a device that is designed to, or is capable of being used to, capture any animal by means of an adhesive substance or similar viscid substance.
(3) “Person” includes a natural person, a corporation, a partnership, limited partnership, or other unincorporated association, a general partner of a partnership or limited partnership, a limited liability company, a public entity, a trust, or any other corporate form cognizable under California law.
(4) “Sell” or “sale” shall mean any transfer, exchange, barter, gift, offer for sale or distribute for a commercial purpose in any manner or by any means whatsoever. (b) Prohibitions.
(1) It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or display for sale, glue traps within the City of Laguna Beach.
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(2) It is unlawful to set, place, or otherwise use a glue trap, or permit another person to set, place, or use a glue trap, to capture or kill any animal within the City of Laguna Beach.
(c) Enforcement.
(1) Peace officers, code enforcement officers, and other persons designated by the City Manager shall enforce this section. The City Manager may publish written regulations in the manner required by law for the publication of ordinances and may take any and all other actions rational and necessary to enforce this section. (2) In addition to any other remedies available by law and under this Code, a violation of this section is subject to the administrative enforcement provisions of Chapter 1.15 of this Code.
(3) The remedies specified in this section shall be cumulative and the City may resort to any other remedy available at law or in equity and resort to any one remedy shall not cause an election precluding the use of any other remedy with respect to a violation.
(4) The City Attorney may seek injunctive, legal, or other equitable relief to enforce this section.
SECTION 4. Environmental Review. The City Council finds that the adoption of this ordinance is not a project within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines section 15378 because prohibiting the use and sale of glue traps within Laguna Beach has no potential for resulting in direct or indirect physical change in the environment, as other forms of rodent control remain available. Further, the adoption of this ordinance is an organizational and administrative activities of governments that will not result in the physical change in the environment are not considered projects for CEQA purposes and thus is not a project under CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (b)(5).
Finally, and in the alternative, the adoption of this ordinance is exempt under CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308 as an action it is an action taken by a regulatory agency to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. 6 -4- Ord. XXXX
SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the final decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrases or portions might be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its passage and adoption pursuant to California Government Code Section 36937.
SECTION 7. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted according to law.
ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2026.
Mark Orgill, Mayor
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________
Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney
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I, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. XXXX was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on _______________, 2026, and was finally adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on _______________, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER(S):
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER(S):
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER(S):
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER(S):
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, CA
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