City Council Unanimously Passes Graffiti-Resistant Coating Ordinance

Yesterday, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of a proposed ordinance that would mandate all new buildings (residential and business) have a graffiti-resistant coating applied to the exterior, reports the Daily News.

Under this new law, which would go into effect 30 days following the Mayor's approval, all new buildings will need have anti-graffiti coating that covers "the walls and doors from the ground to a height of at least nine feet." The only way to avoid having this coating put on a building, the owner must agree to take on the responsibility of having any graffiti removed "within seven days of the graffiti being applied, or within 72 hours of being notified by the department, " or face a possible $550 fine.

Despite the unanimous vote, some members of the Council expressed reservation regarding the lack of specificity in the ordinance, which does not address issues such as "the kinds of surfaces that must be protected and the types of anti-graffiti coating that can be applied," as well as "vandalism in the form of acid etchings on glass windows," which concern Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Some reactions to the vague nature of the ordinance are more bluntly-put. Remarks LA Observed:

Instead of taking steps to reduce graffiti, the City Council voted unanimously today to require new mansions behind gates in the hills of Encino be covered in graffiti-resistant surfaces. Actually, the law applies to all single-family homes anywhere in Los Angeles — but sounds stupider when you focus on just how broad of a brush the council used here.