Municipal Code, Complete - City of Santa Barbara

Sections:
5.40.010 Permit Required - Application -
Approval - Denial - Appeal.
5.40.020 Permit - Exemptions.
Chapter 5.40
FORTUNETELLING
5.40.010 Permit Required - Application - Approval - Denial - Appeal.
5.40.030 Penalty for Violation - Unpaid Fees,
Debt to City - Action Brought.
It shall be unlawful for any person, whether acting as principal, agent, clerk, employee or otherwise, to commence
or carry on or engage in the profession, calling, art, occupation or business of astrology, palmistry, phrenology, life
reading, fortunetelling, cartomancy, crystal gazing, clairvoyance, clairaudience, magic, necromancy, psychism,
psychometry, mind reading, mental telepathy, automatic writing, spirit writing, trance mediumship, sandgazing,
materialization, ballot reading, conducting trumpet seances, prophecy, augury, divination, the making, giving or
selling of charms, potions, talismans, or magic articles, without first having made application in writing to the Tax
and Permit Inspector for a permit to do so, which permit shall be issued by the Tax and Permit Inspector only after
order by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the City. Further the Board of Police and Fire
Commissioners may in its discretion grant or deny any application presented to it under this chapter; and, the decision
of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners with respect to the granting or denying of any such application shall
be final and conclusive upon all persons and parties concerned, unless set aside or reversed or modified by the City
Council, upon the aggrieved permittee's appeal duly filed pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.30.050 of this Code.
No privilege shall be exercised under any permit hereunder save and except after the payment to the City of the
permit fee fixed by Chapter 5.04 of this Code.
Each permit issued hereunder shall continue in force and effect from and after its issuance only throughout and
during the month of its issuance and the consecutive months thereafter for which the permit fee payable monthly in
advance shall have been paid. (Ord. 5136, 1999; Ord. 2853 §1, 1961; prior Code §27.67.)
5.40.020 Permit - Exemptions.
This chapter shall not, nor shall anything in this chapter contained, apply to any ordained or duly accredited
clergyman, minister, pastor or missionary of any form of religious belief or accredited to or ordained by any bona fide
church, ecclesiastical organization or religious corporation, while engaged in ministering as such or conducting the
religious worship, work or offices of the church, ecclesiastical organization, religious corporation, or religious belief;
nor, to the faith, practice or teaching of any religious body or religious belief; provided, that the fees, gratuities,
emoluments or profits shall be paid solely to or for the benefit of the church, ecclesiastical organization, religious
corporation, religious body or faith concerned.
Further, this chapter shall not, nor shall anything in it contained, apply to any person exercising or demonstrating
or exhibiting any profession, calling, art, occupation or business above specified in any regular theater permitted by
this City or in any scientific demonstration conducted in any public educational institution in this City. (Ord. 2853
§2, 1961; prior Code §27.68.)
136 rev. 12/31/99