Cal. Codes » Penal Code / PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS / TITLE 10. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
California Codes

Cal. Penal Code § 372 (2026)

Of Crimes Against The Public Health And Safety

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every person who maintains or commits any public nuisance, the punishment for which is not otherwise prescribed, or who willfully omits to perform any legal duty relating to the removal of a public nuisance, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1951–2025 · leading case: Hayman v. Block, 176 Cal. App. 3d 629 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986).
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Hayman v. Block, 176 Cal. App. 3d 629 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 4× “" (Pen. Code, § 372.) The numerous cases cited in appellants' brief have no application to this point.”
Cnty. of Santa Clara v. Superior Court of Santa Clara Cnty., 235 P.3d 21 (Cal. 2010). · cites it 2× “(Pen. Code, § 372.) `A public or common nuisance .”
People v. Conagra Grocery Prods. Co., 227 Cal. Rptr. 3d 499 (Cal. Ct. App. 5th 2017). “( Pen. Code, § 372.) The public nuisance created by defendants is not "conforming to" the law, and permitting defendants to avoid responsibility for abating this public nuisance would allow this unlawful public nuisance to continue to exist.”
People Ex Rel. Clancy v. Superior Court, 705 P.2d 347 (Cal. 1985). “These actions are brought in the name of the People by the district attorney or city attorney.”
Lucas v. George T. R. Murai Farms, Inc., 15 Cal. App. 4th 1578 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “(Pen. Code, §§ 372, 373a [maintaining or permitting a public nuisance]); *1586 Health & Saf.”
City of Costa Mesa v. Soffer, 11 Cal. App. 4th 378 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992). “1 prescribes punishment for those convicted of storing inoperative vehicles: “It shall be unlawful, and an infraction, for any person to keep, store, or maintain upon any premises under his control any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof.”
Bd. of Supervisors v. Simpson, 227 P.2d 14 (Cal. 1951). “(Pen. Code, § 372.) It is aptly said in People v.”
Richfield Oil Corp. v. Crawford, 249 P.2d 600 (Cal. 1952). “(Pen. Code, § 372.) Thus, in practice the supervisor determines which operators are subjected to legal proceedings for violation of the well spacing statute 2 and he has the power to obtain enforcement of section 3600 according to his interpretation thereof.”
Ruben Ceron v. Eric H. Holder Jr., 712 F.3d 426 (9th Cir. 2013). · cites it 2× “, Cal. Penal Code § 372 (“Every person who maintains or commits a public nuisance .”
Coalition on Homelessness v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 90 F.4th 975 (9th Cir. 2024). “” • California Penal Code § 372: “[e]very person who maintains or commits any public nuisance, the punishment for which is not otherwise prescribed, or who willfully omits to perform any legal duty relating to the removal of a public nuisance, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Nguyen v. Superior Court, 49 Cal. App. 4th 1781 (Cal. Ct. App. 1996). “(Pen. Code, § 372; Board of Supervisors v.”
Cnty. of Santa Clara v. Superior Court, 74 Cal. Rptr. 3d 842 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008). “often coincide with criminal prosecutions. These actions are brought in the name of the People by the district attorney or city attorney.”
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