Article 1 - Identification of Shopping and Laundry Carts

California Business and Professions Code — §§ 22435-22435.8

Sections (12)

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

As used in this article:

(a)“Shopping cart” means a basket which is mounted on wheels or a similar device generally used in a retail establishment by a customer for the purpose of transporting goods of any kind.

(b)“Laundry cart” means a basket which is mounted on wheels and used in a coin-operated laundry or drycleaning retail establishment by a customer or an attendant for the purpose of transporting fabrics and the supplies necessary to process them.

(c)“Parking area” means a parking lot or other property provided by a retailer for use by a customer for parking an automobile or other vehicle.

§ 22435.1

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 291, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.

The provisions of Section 22435.2 shall apply when a shopping cart or a laundry cart has a sign permanently affixed to it that identifies the owner of the cart or the retailer, or both; notifies the public of the procedure to be utilized for authorized removal of the cart from the premises; notifies the public that the unauthorized removal of the cart from the premises or parking area of the retail establishment, or the unauthorized possession of the cart, is a violation of state law; and lists a valid telephone number or address for returning the cart removed from the premises or parking area to the owner or retailer.

§ 22435.2

Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 436, Sec. 1.

It is unlawful to do any of the following acts, if a shopping cart or laundry cart has a permanently affixed sign as provided in Section 22435.1:

(a)To remove a shopping cart or laundry cart from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

(b)To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart that has been removed from the premises or the parking area of a retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

(c)To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart with serial numbers removed, obliterated, or altered, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

(d)To leave or abandon a shopping cart or laundry cart at a location other than the premises or parking area of the retail establishment with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

(e)To alter, convert, or tamper with a shopping cart or laundry cart, or to remove any part or portion thereof or to remove, obliterate or alter serial numbers on a cart, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

(f)To be in possession of any shopping cart or laundry cart while that cart is not located on the premises or parking lot of a retail establishment, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner or retailer of possession of the cart.

§ 22435.3

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The provisions of this section are not intended to preclude the application of any other laws relating to prosecution for theft.

§ 22435.4

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

This article shall not apply to the owner of a shopping cart or laundry cart or to a retailer, or to their agents or employees, or to a customer of a retail establishment who has written consent from the owner of a shopping cart or laundry cart or a retailer to be in possession of the shopping cart or laundry cart or to remove the shopping cart or laundry cart from the premises or the parking area of the retail establishment, or to do any of the acts specified in Section 22435.2.

§ 22435.5

Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 436, Sec. 2.

(a)In any civil proceeding, any shopping cart or laundry cart which has a sign affixed to it pursuant to Section 22435.1 shall establish a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that the property is that of the person or business named in the sign and not abandoned by the person or business named in the sign.

(b)In any criminal proceeding, it may be inferred that any shopping cart or laundry cart which has a sign affixed to it pursuant to Section 22435.1 is the property of the person or business named in the sign and has not been abandoned by the person or business named in the sign.

§ 22435.7

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 785, Sec. 1. (SB 753) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)The Legislature hereby finds that the retrieval by local governmental agencies of shopping carts specified in this section is in need of uniform statewide regulation and constitutes a matter of statewide concern that shall be governed solely by this section and Section 22435.7.5.

(b)(1) A city, county,

or city and county may do either of the following with a shopping cart that has a sign affixed to it in accordance with Section 22435.1 that is located outside the premises or parking area of a retail establishment:

(A) Pursuant to an ordinance adopted by a city, county, or city and county in accordance with Section 22435.7.5, retrieve and return the shopping cart to the parking area or premises of the owner or retailer identified on the sign.

(B) Except as provided in subdivision (i), if the shopping cart is not retrieved within three business days from the date the owner of the shopping cart, or their

agent, receives actual notice from the city, county, or city and county of the shopping cart’s discovery and location, impound the shopping cart.

(2)For purposes of this subdivision, the parking area of a retail establishment located in a multistore complex or shopping center shall include the entire parking area used by the complex or center.

(c)In instances where the location of a shopping cart will impede emergency services, a city, county, or city and county is authorized to immediately impound the shopping cart from public or private property.

(d)Any city, county, or city and county that impounds a shopping cart under the

authority provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) is authorized to recover its actual costs for providing this service.

(e)Any shopping cart that is impounded by a city, county, or city and county pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be held at a location that is both:

(1)Reasonably convenient to the owner of the shopping cart.

(2)Open for business at least six hours of each business day.

(f)(1) A city, county, or city and county may fine the owner of a shopping cart in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each occurrence in excess of three during a specified six-month period for failure to retrieve shopping carts in accordance with

subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) or subdivision (c).

(2)For purposes of this paragraph, “occurrence” means a failure to retrieve a shopping cart within three business days from the date the owner of the shopping cart, or their agent, receives actual notice from the city, county, or city and county of the shopping cart’s discovery and location.

(g)Any shopping cart not reclaimed from the city, county, or city and county within 30 days of receipt of a notice of violation by

the owner of the shopping cart may be sold or otherwise disposed of by the entity in possession of the shopping cart.

(h)This section shall not invalidate any contract entered into prior to June 30, 1996, between a city, county, or city and county and a person or business entity for the purpose of retrieving or impounding shopping carts.

(i)Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), a city, county, or city and county may impound a shopping cart that otherwise meets the criteria set forth in that subparagraph without complying with the three-day advance notice requirement provided that:

(1)The owner of the shopping cart, or their agent, is provided actual notice within 24 hours following the

impound and that notice informs the owner, or their agent, as to the location where the shopping cart may be claimed.

(2)Any shopping cart so impounded shall be held at a location in compliance with subdivision (e).

(3)Any shopping cart reclaimed by the owner or their agent, within three business days following the date of actual notice as provided pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be released and surrendered to the owner or agent at no charge whatsoever, including the waiver of any impound and storage fees or fines that would otherwise be applicable pursuant to subdivision (d) or (f). Any cart reclaimed within the three-business-day period shall not be deemed an occurrence for purposes of subdivision (f).

(4)Any

shopping cart not reclaimed by the owner or their agent, within three business days following the date of actual notice as provided pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be subject to any applicable fee or fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (f) commencing on the fourth business day following the date of the notice.

(5)Any shopping cart not reclaimed by the owner or their agent, within 30 days of receipt following the date of actual notice as provided pursuant to paragraph (1), may be sold or disposed of in accordance with subdivision (g).

(j)For purposes of this section, actual notice shall require proof that the notice was delivered to the owner, or their agent, which may include, but is not limited to,

telephone, mail with delivery confirmation, or electronic transmission with delivery confirmation. The city, county, or city and county shall maintain a record of that proof of delivery.

§ 22435.8

Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 16, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.

This article shall not invalidate an ordinance of, or be construed to prohibit the adoption of an ordinance by, a city, county, or city and county, which ordinance regulates or prohibits the removal of shopping carts or laundry carts from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment except to the extent any provision of such an ordinance expressly conflicts with any provision of this article.

§ 22435.10

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

As used in this article:

(a)“In the business of shopping cart or laundry cart retrieval” means to search for, gather, and restore possession to the owner, or an agent thereof, for compensation or in expectation of compensation, of shopping carts or laundry carts located outside the premises or parking area of a retail establishment.

(b)“Shopping cart” means a basket which is mounted on wheels or a similar device generally used in a retail establishment by a customer for the purpose of transporting goods of any kind.

(c)“Laundry cart” means a basket which is mounted on wheels and used in a coin-operated laundry or drycleaning retail establishment by a customer or an attendant for the purpose of transporting fabrics and the supplies necessary to process them.

(d)“Parking area” means a parking lot or other property provided by a retailer for use by a customer for parking an automobile or other vehicle.

§ 22435.11

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

(a)Any person who engages in the business of shopping cart or laundry cart retrieval shall retain records showing written authorization from the cart owner, or an agent thereof, to retrieve the cart or carts and to be in possession of the cart or carts retrieved.

(b)A copy of the record showing written authorization shall be maintained in each vehicle used for shopping cart or laundry cart retrieval.

§ 22435.12

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

Each vehicle employed for the retrieval of shopping carts or laundry carts shall display a sign that clearly identifies the retrieval service.

§ 22435.13

Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 687, Sec. 1.

Any person who violates the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The provisions of this section are not intended to preclude the application of any other laws relating to prosecution for theft.