HOW TO USE THIS CODE

WHAT IS THE TUSTIN CITY CODE?

The Tustin City Code is a compilation of City laws or ordinances organized or codified into a structure called a "Code". A Code is maintained and updated in order to represent the current laws of a City through the most recent updating which normally occurs quarterly. At the time of the updating, obsolete sections are removed and amended or new legislation is inserted.

HOW IS THE CODE ORGANIZED?

This Code is organized into nine major divisions called "Articles" which represent a functional division of City laws. This aids in locating particular laws by considering the Article which best describes the general category within which the specific law would fall. Thus a zoning regulation or subdivision regulation would be found in Article 9 entitled Land Use, whereas a taxicab regulation would be found in Article 3 entitled Business Regulations.

Within each Article are several "chapters" which further divide the functional categorization. A chapter may or may not be further divided into "parts". The basic unit of the Code, however, is the "section". A section can be further divided into various levels of subsections depending upon the complexity of the particular law.

HOW IS THE CODE NUMBERED?

Sections of the Code, the basic unit, are assigned a four digit number which identifies the Article, chapter and part (if applicable) within which the section falls as follows:

first digit - represents the Article

second digit - represents the chapter

third digit - represents the part, if used

fourth digit - represents the unique section within the part (the third and fourth digit perform this function if the chapter is not divided into parts).

A section is frequently divided into subsections by adding a lower case letter to the section number. A brief subject title is used with each section number and the lettered subsections to aid the user in locating the proper reference the user is seeking. For example, subsection "a" entitled "Issuance" under Section 5402 entitled OWNERSHIP CARD/BICYCLE PLATE describes the basic manner by which Bicycle Ownership Cards and License Plates will be issued. Incidentally, Section 5402 represents a section under Article 5 entitled PUBLIC SAFETY, and Chapter 4 entitled BICYCLE LICENSING.

HOW ARE PAGE NUMBERS ASSIGNED?

Each page is labeled across the top from left to right by the words "TUSTIN CITY CODE" the title of the chapter, and the page number. The page number used is the first section number, plus subsection identifiers if appropriate, found on the page. The pages; and therefore the articles, chapters, parts, sections and subsections; are arranged in ascending order. The section numbers therefore create a dynamic page numbering system which allows insertion or deletion of pages, without destroying a numbering system, much in the same manner as a telephone book or encyclopedia volume is indexed.

HOW ARE THE SOURCE OF SECTIONS AND THE REVISION DATE OF PAGES SHOWN?

Each four digit section, and even subsections where considered desirable, is identified at its close by a parentheses showing a notation such as "(Ord. No. 370, Sec. 2)". This means that that particular section was adopted by Ordinance No. 370 as or contained in section "2". In this way, the source and authority of a particular law and its effective date can be verified with reasonable ease.

Original code pages are not identified as being revised, but all subsequent page revisions are shown by a notation in the lower left corner of the page such as Rev: 1-78 indicating the page was updated with current provisions as of January, 1978. Proper updating of the Code is highly essential as the legal ramifications of attempting to enforce an obsolete Code section are obvious. If any question arises as to the current nature of a page or section, one may consult the master copy in the City Clerk's Office.

WHAT ARE THE REFERENCE TOOLS CONTAINED IN THE CODE?

There are many aids in using the Code.

First:
The nature of the functional organization of the Code provides an easy method of finding material sought as does the extensive index tab system of Articles and Chapters.

Second:
A Table of Contents is provided in three parts at the front of the Code.

a. a summary of Articles

b. a summary of Chapters

c. a detailed table of sections

Third:
An extensive subject index is placed in the appendix at the end of the Code.

Fourth:
A listing of all ordinances and the location in the code where they may be found is present in the appendix as is a list of all uncodified ordinances.

WHAT ARE UNCODIFIED ORDINANCES?

Uncodified Ordinances are ordinances which do not represent the laws of the City but instead represent special declarations which do not require codification because of their special application, limited application time wise, identification of specific properties or streets to which more general restrictions apply, etc. These ordinances are listed in the Appendix and include such materials as:

a.

zone changes

b.

pre-zoning actions

c.

budget and tax levys

d.

bond issuance actions

e.

specific locations where traffic regulations are to be applied

CONCLUSION

The suggestions and comments of the users of this Code are solicited as it is the desire of the City Clerk and City Attorney to continually improve and make this Code of greater use and more convenient.