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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 104Pt. 1Ch. 4Art. 6§ 107170 Health Violation Penalties

§ 107170 Health Violation Penalties

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 107170 Health Violation Penalties

This law says if you break it or help someone break it, you can be fined up to $5,000 for each day you’re guilty, can go to jail for up to 180 days, or both. If you break it on purpose or very carelessly and it puts people’s health in danger, you can also get a civil fine up to $5,000 per day.

Key Takeaways

  • •Breaking the rule can lead to a daily fine up to $5,000 and up to 180 days in jail.
  • •Doing it on purpose or very carelessly, especially when it endangers health, adds a civil fine of up to $5,000 per day.
  • •The fine is calculated by multiplying $5,000 by the number of days the violation continued and by each separate offense.

Example

A small factory releases a strong chemical smell for three days, ignoring the safety rules.

Because the factory broke the rule and caused a health risk, the law lets the state fine the factory $5,000 for each of the three days ($15,000 total) and could also send the owner to jail for up to 180 days.

How to Calculate

Penalty = $5,000 × Number of Days × Number of Offenses

  1. Figure out how many days the violation lasted.
  2. Count how many separate offenses (different times or places) occurred.
  3. Multiply $5,000 by the days and then by the offenses.

A restaurant illegally serves spoiled food on two separate nights, each night lasting 2 days of investigation.

Result: Penalty = $5,000 × 2 × 2 = $20,000 total fine

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 107170 Health Violation Penalties

(a) A person or entity that violates, or aids or abets the violation of, this article or a regulation adopted pursuant to this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day, per offense or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 180 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment. (b) A person or entity who intentionally or through gross negligence violates a provision of this article or regulation adopted pursuant to this article, or who fails or refuses to comply with a cease and desist order or other order of the department issued thereunder, and the action causes a substantial danger to the health of others, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per day, per offense. (c) The remedies under this section are in addition to, and do not supersede or limit, any and all other remedies, civil or criminal. (Repealed and added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 46. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

misdemeanorfine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000)imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 180 dayscivil penaltysubstantial danger to the health of others

Related Statutes

  • § 107075 Radiologic Technology Violations
  • § 117555 Illegal Waste Dumping Prohibition
  • § 1620 Penalties For Violations
  • § 105254 Lead Hazard Certification Requirements
  • § 105256 Lead Hazard Abatement Orders

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 107170.
View Official Source