Thank you
Someone from our team will get in touch with you shortly
Right of Referendum in California
What Is the Right of Referendum?
Purpose and Scope
“The right of referendum preserves the opportunity by the governed to respond collectively to, and change, the actions of those who govern.” (Kuhs v. Super. Ct. (1988) 201 Cal.App.3d 966, 974.)
The origins of section 3753 can be traced to former Political Code section 4058 as enacted and amended at an extra session in 1911. In pertinent part, that section required a referendum petition be signed "by qualified electors of the county equal to ten percent of the entire vote cast therein for all candidates for Governor of the state at the last preceding general election at which a Governor was voted for." This statutory definition obviously does not include a gubernatorial primary.
In 1939 the Legislature passed “An act to establish an Elections Code, thereby consolidating and revising the law relating to elections....” (1939 Stats., ch. 26, at 49.) In setting out the requirements for a valid referendum petition, the new Elections Code eliminated the reference to a "general election" and adopted the language presently under review herein. It required the petition contain "at least 10 percent of the entire vote cast within the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election." (Sylva v. Board of Supervisors (1989) 208 Cal.App.3d 648, 652 citing Former sections 1652 and 3753.)
Referendum Petition Specified Requirements
The effective date of an ordinance must be suspended and the legislative body must reconsider the ordinance if a petition protesting the adoption of the ordinance is:
- circulated by a proper person,
- submitted to the elections official of the legislative body of the city during normal business hours within 30 days of the ordinance’s attestation, and
- and is signed by not less than 10% of the voters of the city according to the county elections official’s last official report of registration to the Secretary of the State.
(Elec. Code Sec. 9237.)
Each section of the referendum petition shall contain:
- the identifying number or title and
- the text of the ordinance that is the subject of the referendum.
(Elec. Code Sec. 9238(b).)
The petition sections shall also be designed so that each signer shall personally affix all of the following:
- his signature,
- his printed name,
- his residence address,
- the name of his incorporated city.
(Elec. Code Sec. 9020(a) (incorporated by Sec. 9238(b)).)
In addition, each section shall have attached thereto the declaration of the person soliciting the signatures (i.e., the circulator). (Sec. 9238(c).) The declaration must certify under penalty of perjury, inter alia:
- the circulator’s name,
- the circulator’s residence address, and
- the dates between which all the signatures to the petition were obtained.
(Elec. Code Sec. 104 (incorporated by Sec. 9022 and Sec.9238(c).)
Such declarations are prima facie evidence that the signatures are genuine and that the persons signing are qualified voters. (Sec. 9022(d) (incorporated by Sec. 9238(c)).) Unless and until otherwise proven upon official investigation, it shall be presumed that the petition presented contains the signatures of the requisite number of qualified voters. (Id.)
Filing Deadlines
Elections Code section 3753 requires referendum petitions be filed prior to the effective date of the challenged ordinance:
“If a petition protesting against the adoption of an ordinance is presented to the board of supervisors prior to the effective date of the ordinance, the ordinance shall be suspended and the supervisors shall reconsider the ordinance. The petition shall be signed by voters of the county equal in number to at least 10 percent of the entire vote cast within the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.” (Kuhs v. Super. Ct. (1988) 201 Cal.App.3d 966, 969-70.)
Elections Code section 3751 provides: “Except an ordinance granting a franchise, the following ordinances shall take effect immediately:
- Those calling or otherwise relating to an election.
- Those specifically required by law to take immediate effect.
- Those fixing the amount of money to be raised by taxation or the rate of taxes to be levied.”
- Those for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety. The ordinances referred to in this subdivision shall contain a declaration of the facts constituting the necessity and shall be passed by a four-fifths vote of the board of supervisors.”
(Kuhs, supra, 201 Cal.App.3d at 970.)
Difference Between Referendum and Initiative
“A referendum and an initiative do not have the same effect. A referendum suspends the effect of an ordinance until the issue is resolved by the voters at the next election. An initiative does not become effective until passed by the voters. Availability of an initiative does not remedy denial of the right to a referendum.” (Kuhs, supra, 201 Cal.App.3d at 971 citing Beck v. Piatt (1972) 24 Cal.App.3d 611, 617.)
In construing Elections Code section 3751 we are in a very real sense construing the scope of the right of referendum as it pertains to county measures; if the ordinance becomes effective on the 30th day then proponents of a referendum in reality have but 29 days in which to qualify their petition. Thus, we must be guided in our construction of Elections Code section 3751 by the general rule that referendum provisions are to be construed liberally in favor of the right of referendum. (Kuhs v. Super. Ct. (1988) 201 Cal.App.3d 966, 972-73 citing Geiger v. Board of Supervisors (1957) 48 Cal.2d 832, 839; see also Beck v. Piatt, supra, 24 Cal.App.3d at 616.)
Documents for Right of Referendum in California
74 pages
Electronically Filed by Superior Court of California, County of Orange, 10/10/2022 11:32:34 AM. 30-2022-01285500-CU-MC-CJC - ROA # 2 - DAVID H. YAMASAKI, Clerk of the Court By K. Trent, Deputy Clerk. 1 ERNIE ZACHARY PARK, State Bar #82616 BEWLEY, LASSLEBEN & MILLER, LLP 2 13215 E. Penn Street, Suite 510 3 Whittier, CA 90602-1797 (562) 698-9771; (562) 309-8063 Fax 4 Ernie.park@bewleylaw.com 5 Attorneys …
Case #
Case Filed
Oct 10, 2022
6 pages
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 BUCHALTER A Professional Corporation GLENN P. ZWANG (SBN: 112295) JAMES B. WRIGHT (SBN: 063241) ZACHARY B. YOUNG (SBN: 288553) 55 Second Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94105-3493 Telephone: (415) 227-0900 Fax: (415) 227-0770 Email: gzwang@buchalter.com Attorneys for Plaintiff and Cross-Defendant GOLDEN GATEWAY CENTER, A California limited partnership ELECTRONICALLY FILED Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco 01/04/2019 Clerk of the Court …
Case #
Case Filed
Oct 14, 2015
County
San Francisco County, CA
Filed Date
Jan 04, 2019
Court Category
CONTRACT/WARRANTY
11 pages
2 Robert C. Holtzapple (State Bar No. 145954) tholtzapple@fbm.com Anthony P, Schoenberg (State Bar No. 203714) tschoenberg@fbm.com Carly O. Alameda (State Bar No. 244424) calameda@fbm.com Nathan P. Anderson (State Bar No. 312628) nanderson@fbm.com David G. Hofmayer (State Bar No. 316108) dhofmayer@fbm.com Farella Braun + Martel LLP 235 Montgomery Street, 17" Floor San Francisco, California 94104 Telephone: (415) 954-4400 Facsimile: (415) 954-4480 Attorneys for Defendants and Cross- C…
Case #
Case Filed
Oct 14, 2015
County
San Francisco County, CA
Filed Date
Dec 26, 2018
Court Category
CONTRACT/WARRANTY
85 pages
Robert C. Holtzapple (State Bar No. 145954) rholtzapple@fbm.com Anthony P. Schoenberg (State Bar No. 203714) tschoenberg@fbm.com Carly O. Alameda (State Bar No. 244424) calameda@fbm.com Nathan P. Anderson (State Bar No. 312628) nanderson@fbm.com David G. Hofmayer (State Bar No. 316108) dhofmayer@fbm.com Farella Braun + Martel LLP 235 Montgomery Street, 17" Floor San Francisco, California 94104 Telephone: (415) 954-4400 Faesimile: (415) 954-4480 Attorneys for Defendants and Cross- Comp…
Case #
Case Filed
Oct 14, 2015
County
San Francisco County, CA
Filed Date
Dec 26, 2018
Court Category
CONTRACT/WARRANTY
67 pages
1 JASON M. HEATH, State Bar No. 180501 County Counsel 2 NATALIE C. KIRKISH, State Bar No. 300101 Assistant County Counsel 3 Office of the Santa Cruz County Counsel 701 Ocean Street, Room 505 4 Santa Cruz, California 95060 Telephone: (831) 454-2040 5 Fax: (831) 454-2115 Email: natalie.kirkish@santacruzcountyca.gov Exempt from filing fees 6 pursuant to Govt.
157 pages
1 OAKEN INJURY LAW LLP MATTHEW R. BRADLEY, SBN 330890 2 E-mail: matthew@oakenlaw.com 3 1024 Iron Point Road Folsom, CA 95630 4 Tel: (916) 936-3333 5 Fax: (916) 936-1122 6 Attorney for Plaintiff, 7 MARY CATHERINE KIDD 8 9 SUPERIOR COURT OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10 COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO 11 12 MARY CATHERINE KIDD, CASE NO. 13 Plaintiff, COMPLAINT F
County
Sacramento County, CA
Filed Date
Sep 04, 2026
Court Category
Unlimited Civil
157 pages
1 OAKEN INJURY LAW LLP MATTHEW R. BRADLEY, SBN 330890 2 E-mail: matthew@oakenlaw.com 3 1024 Iron Point Road Folsom, CA 95630 4 Tel: (916) 936-3333 5 Fax: (916) 936-1122 6 Attorney for Plaintiff, 7 MARY CATHERINE KIDD 8 9 SUPERIOR COURT OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10 COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO 11 12 MARY CATHERINE KIDD, CASE NO. 13 Plaintiff, COMPLAINT F
County
Sacramento County, CA
Filed Date
Sep 03, 2026
Court Category
Unlimited Civil
157 pages
1 OAKEN INJURY LAW LLP MATTHEW R. BRADLEY, SBN 330890 2 E-mail: matthew@oakenlaw.com 3 1024 Iron Point Road Folsom, CA 95630 4 Tel: (916) 936-3333 5 Fax: (916) 936-1122 6 Attorney for Plaintiff, 7 MARY CATHERINE KIDD 8 9 SUPERIOR COURT OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10 COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO 11 12 MARY CATHERINE KIDD, CASE NO. 13 Plaintiff, COMPLAINT F
County
Sacramento County, CA
Filed Date
Sep 01, 2026
Court Category
Unlimited Civil
47 pages
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Herman Franck, Esq. (SBN. 123476) Elizabeth Betowski, Esq. (SBN. 245772) FRANCK & ASSOCIATES 1750 Prairie City Road, Ste. 130, #254 Folsom, CA 95630 Telephone (916) 256-6266 Email: Franckhermanlaw88@yahoo.com Attorney for Plaintiffs Esteban Diaz and Esteban Diaz Marble Tile and Stone, LLC SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SONOMA ESTEBAN DIAZ; ESTEBAN DIAZ (Case No. 25CV04270 MARBLE TILE
43 pages
1 CYNTHIA D. STELZER, ESQ. (SBN 228462) KIMBALL, TIREY & ST. JOHN LLP 2 7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 900 San Diego, CA 92108 3 Telephone: (619) 231-1422 Facsimile: (619) 234-7692 4 Email: Cynthia.stelzer@kts-law.com 5 Attorneys for PLAINTIFF BKM PACIFIC COAST
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 25, 2026
County
San Diego County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 25, 2026
Court Category
Commercial - Breach of Contract
34 pages
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Andrew Wolff, Esq. (SBN 195092) LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW WOLFF, PC 1615 Broadway, 4th Floor Oakland, California 94612 Telephone: (510) 834-3300 Facsimile: (510) 834-3377 Required for electronic service: info@awolfflaw.com andrew@awolfflaw.com Attorney for Plaintiff SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA UNLIMITED JURISDICTION KAYLA SIMMONS-KING,
County
Alameda County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 21, 2026
Court Category
Landlord-Tenant - Implied Warranty of Habitability
71 pages
1 Paul Mankin, Esq. (SBN 264038) Joseph G. Rocco, Esq. (SBN 326862) 2 Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC 1010 Turquoise St., Ste. 320 3 San Diego, CA 92109 Telephone: (800) 219 – 3577 4 Email: Pmankin@paulmankin.com Jrocco@paulmankin.com 5 Armin Kolenovic, Esq. (SBN 315634) 6 McManus Kolenovic, PC 2122 Island Avenue 7 San Diego, CA 92102 Telephone: (619) 818-8372 8 Fax: (619) 793-1553 Email: Armin@mklegalgrp.com 9 10 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 11
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 20, 2026
County
San Diego County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 20, 2026
Court Category
Real Estate - Landlord-Tenant Dispute
29 pages
1 LAW OFFICES OF JASON A. BEZIS Electronically Filed California State Bar No. 225641 by Superior Court of CA, 2 County of Santa Clara, 3661-B Mosswood Drive 3 Lafayette, CA 94549-3509 on 8/19/2026 11:56 AM (925) 708-7073 Reviewed By: B. Roman-Antunez 4 Jaso
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Case Status
Active
County
Santa Clara County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 19, 2026
Court Category
Writ of Mandate Unlimited (02)
71 pages
1 Paul Mankin, Esq. (SBN 264038) Joseph G. Rocco, Esq. (SBN 326862) 2 Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC 1010 Turquoise St., Ste. 320 3 San Diego, CA 92109 Telephone: (800) 219 – 3577 4 Email: Pmankin@paulmankin.com Jrocco@paulmankin.com 5 Armin Kolenovic, Esq. (SBN 315634) 6 McManus Kolenovic, PC 2122 Island Avenue 7 San Diego, CA 92102 Telephone: (619) 818-8372 8 Fax: (619) 793-1553 Email: Armin@mklegalgrp.com 9 10 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 11
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 19, 2026
County
San Diego County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 19, 2026
Court Category
Real Estate - Habitability
218 pages
10 il 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 LAW OFFICES OF JASON A. BEZIS California State Bar No. 225641 3661-B Mosswood Drive Lafayette, CA 94549-3509 (925) 708-7073 Jason@BezisLaw.com Attorney for Petitioners Electronically Filed by Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Clara, on 8/19/2026 11:56 AM Reviewed By: B. Roman-Antun Env. #24871516 Case #26CV500944 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA QUENTIN L. KOPP, DAWN DAVIS, B
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Case Status
Active
County
Santa Clara County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 19, 2026
Court Category
Writ of Mandate Unlimited (02)
2 pages
1 NIELSEN, PETERSON & NIELSEN LLP Jonathan Nielsen (SBN: 239416) 2 Kirt J. Peterson (SBN: 245071) 5700 Moon Drive 3 Ventura, CA 93003 Telephone: (805) 639-8600 4 Facsimile: (805) 228-4669 Email: nielsen@npnlaw.com 5 Attorneys for Plaintiff, 6 ELIZABETH KIESSELBACH 7 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 8 FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 9 10 ELIZABETH KIESSELBACH ) Case No.: 11
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 19, 2026
Case Status
Pending
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 19, 2026
Court Category
Other Personal Injury/Property Damage/Wrongful Death (General Jurisdiction)
21 pages
1 NIELSEN, PETERSON & NIELSEN LLP Jonathan Nielsen (SBN: 239416) 2 Kirt J. Peterson (SBN: 245071) 5700 Moon Drive 3 Ventura, CA 93003 Telephone: (805) 639-8600 4 Facsimile: (805) 228-4669 Email: nielsen@npnlaw.com 5 Attorneys for Plaintiff, 6 ELIZABETH KIESSELBACH 7 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 8 FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 9 10 ELIZABETH KIESSELBACH ) Case No.: 11
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 19, 2026
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 19, 2026
Court Category
Landlord/Tenant - Habitability
130 pages
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Michael C. Cohen, Esq., Bar No. Jacqueline B. Cohen, Esq., LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL C. COHEN 101 Broadway Street Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 832-6436 Email: mcohen@cohenlegalfirm.com Email: jcohen@cohenlegalfirm.com Attorneys for Plaintiff, WILLIAM JOHNSON and SHAHRA SIDDIQI Bar No. 65487 362958 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA WILLIAM JOHNSON, SHAHRA SIDDIQI Plaintiff, vs. CV TRALEE VILLAGE LLC; WESTHOME
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 18, 2026
County
Alameda County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 18, 2026
Court Category
Housing - Violation of Fair Employment and Housing Act
38 pages
26CV500944 Santa Clara – Civil M. Bui 1 LAW OFFICES OF JASON A. BEZIS Electronically Filed California State Bar No. 225641 by Superior Court of CA, 2 Coun
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Case Status
Active
County
Santa Clara County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 17, 2026
Court Category
Writ of Mandate Unlimited (02)
35 pages
10 u 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 EXCELSIS LAW, P.C. ZAINAH ALFI (SBN 304164) zalfi@excelsislaw.com C. GENEVIEVE JENKINS (SBN 271128) cgjenkins@excelsislaw.com 1901 Avenue of the Stars, 2nd Floor Los Angeles, California 90067 Telephone: (213) 340-0300 Facsimile: (213) 340-0200 Attorneys for Plaintiffs, KEYONA BROWN and KASSIDY SCHRUBY SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES KEYONA BROWN, an individual; KASSIDY SCHRUBY, a minor, by
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 11, 2026
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 11, 2026
Court Category
Landlord-Tenant - Habitability
2 pages
10 u 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 EXCELSIS LAW, P.C. ZAINAH ALFI (SBN 304164) zalfi@excelsislaw.com C. GENEVIEVE JENKINS (SBN 271128) cgjenkins@excelsislaw.com 1901 Avenue of the Stars, 2nd Floor Los Angeles, California 90067 Telephone: (213) 340-0300 Facsimile: (213) 340-0200 Attorneys for Plaintiffs, KEYONA BROWN and KASSIDY SCHRUBY Electronically FILED by Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 8/11/2026 4:49 PM David W. Slayton, Executive Officer
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Case Status
Pending
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 11, 2026
Court Category
Other Non-Personal Injury/Property Damage tort (General Jurisdiction)
56 pages
1 CYNTHIA D. STELZER, ESQ. (SBN 228462) KIMBALL, TIREY & ST. JOHN LLP 2 7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 900 San Diego, CA 92108 3 Telephone: (619) 231-1422 Facsimile: (619) 234-7692 4 Email: Cynthia.stelzer@kts-law.com 5 Attorneys for PLAINTIFF WCI 2024 LL, LLC, a Delaware
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 07, 2026
County
San Diego County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 07, 2026
Court Category
Commercial - Breach of Lease and Guaranty
150 pages
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Tue VEEN FRM LLP 2OHAIGHT STREET SANFRANOSCO, Ck a4102 Tel tis} 673-4800 woiveenfirmzom JOSEPHINE L. ALIOTO, NO. 282989 JESSICA NG, NO. 352917 THE VEEN FIRM LLP 20 Haight Street San Francisco, California 94102 Telephone: (415) 673-4800 Facsimile: (415) 771-5845 JA.Team@VeenFirm.com Attorneys for Plaintiffs MATTHEW CORBETT and MARISSA BOTTOMS Electronically Filed by Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Clara, on 8/6/2026 5:02 PM Reviewed By: S. Rodriguez Env.
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 06, 2026
Case Status
Active
County
Santa Clara County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 06, 2026
Court Category
Wrongful Eviction Unlimited (33)
180 pages
1 Matthew F. Chalmers (SBN 309306) Email: matt.chalmers@birchcitadel.com 2 Amir A. Shirazi (SBN 357485) 3 Email: Amir.Shirazi@birchcitadel.com BIRCH CITADEL, P.C. 4 103 Cardini Lane Lincoln CA 95648 5 Telephone: (916) 272-1546 6 Attorneys for Plaintiff 7 Nicole Grayson 8 9 10 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 11 FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 12 NICOLE GRAYSON, an individual
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 06, 2026
Court Category
Landlord/Tenant - Breach of Implied Warranty of Habitability
87 pages
1 John M. Yenokian, Esq. (SBN: 317023) 2 john@myjusticelawyerca.com MY JUSTICE LAWYER, P.C. 3 201 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 200 Glenda
Case #
Case Filed
Aug 02, 2026
County
Los Angeles County, CA
Filed Date
Aug 02, 2026
Court Category
Landlord-Tenant - Implied Warranty of Habitability
