Fuels and LubricantsPrice Sign Advertising

Section § 13530

Explanation

This section clarifies that price indicators and signs related to motor vehicle fuel prices must remain consistent across different types of displays, whether they show prices per gallon or per liter. While the cash or merchandise value of trading stamps does not need to be included in fuel advertising, those selling fuel by the liter can choose to advertise the price either per liter or per gallon, unless specifically prohibited.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 13530(a) Nothing in this article applies to price indicators and signs referred to in Article 8 (commencing with Section 13470). However, any numerals designating the total price per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement adopted pursuant to Section 12107, 13404, or 13404.5 for a particular brand and grade of motor vehicle fuel permitted or required under Article 8 (commencing with Section 13470) shall, unless otherwise stated, be identical in numerical value with the price per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement for the same brand and grade of motor vehicle fuel permitted or required under this article.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 13530(b) Nothing in this chapter requires that the cash or merchandise value of trading stamps be stated on any advertising media that either advertises the stamps or advertises the price of motor vehicle fuel.
(c)CA Business & Professions Code § 13530(c) Unless otherwise prohibited, any person selling motor vehicle fuel by the liter shall be authorized to advertise its price by displaying on the advertising medium either the price per liter or the price per gallon.
price indicators fuel price motor vehicle fuel

Section § 13531

Explanation

If you sell fuel to the public, you must advertise the prices of the three main types of fuel you offer, and the signs must be visible from nearby roads. Special rules apply for areas designated as scenic or historic, where local governments can exempt places from this rule. If you don't follow these rules, you could be fined up to $500 if it's your first offense. If you've been caught two or more times, you face higher fines or even jail time. Local attorneys and officials are responsible for enforcing these rules and can take legal action if needed.

(a)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(a)
(1)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(a)(1) Every person offering for sale or selling any motor vehicle fuel to the public from any place of business shall display on the premises an advertising medium that complies with the requirements of this article and that advertises the total prices of the three major grades of motor vehicle fuel offered for sale.
(2)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(a)(2) The advertising medium shall be clearly visible from the street or highway adjacent to the premises. When the place of business is situated at an intersection, the advertising medium shall be clearly visible from each street of the intersection.
(3)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(a)(3) For purposes of this subdivision, motor vehicle fuel does not include propane or dimethyl ether-propane fuel blend.
(4)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(a)(4) For purposes of this subdivision, electricity and natural gas sold as a motor vehicle fuel shall meet only the requirements adopted pursuant to Sections 13404 and 13404.5.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(b) The governing body of any city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, exempt specified geographic areas from the provisions of this section if, pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 65300) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, the areas are designated on the local general plan as scenic corridors or historic preservation areas.
(c)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(c)
(1)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (a) is guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
(2)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(c)(2) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (a) and who has been previously convicted two or more times of a violation of subdivision (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both.
(d)CA Business & Professions Code § 13531(d) Notwithstanding Section 13590, the district attorney of each county, or pursuant to Section 41803.5 of the Government Code, the city attorney of any general law city or chartered city within each county, or the county sealer, shall, upon complaint or upon their own motion, enforce the provisions of this section and, in addition, may bring an action for injunctive relief in accordance with Section 13611.
motor vehicle fuel advertising fuel price visibility exemption for scenic areas

Section § 13532

Explanation

In California, when advertising the price of motor vehicle fuel, all ads must clearly show the total price per unit, the brand, fuel type, and grade. If the price includes discounts, it has to show the original price, the discount amount, and any conditions for the discount. Any limitations should be clearly explained. If the same type of fuel is sold at different prices, ads must show all prices and any conditions for each. Additional signage is allowed but must also include any conditions related to discounts or pricing in clear text.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a) It is unlawful for any person to display any advertising medium that indicates the price of motor vehicle fuel unless the advertising medium displays all of the following:
(1)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a)(1) The total price per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement adopted pursuant to Section 12107, 13404, or 13404.5, including all taxes, in numerals, and fractions when applicable, not less than six inches in height and of uniform size and color. For purposes of this article, fractions are considered one numeral. For purposes of this section, electricity sold as a motor vehicle fuel shall meet only the requirements adopted pursuant to Section 13404.5.
(2)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a)(2) The trademark or brand of the motor vehicle fuel in letters, figures, or numerals not less than one-third the size of the numerals designating the price.
(3)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a)(3) The word “gasoline” or the name of other motor vehicle fuel in letters not less than one-third the size of the numerals designating the price, but these words need not be more than four inches in height.
(4)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a)(4) The grade designation of the motor vehicle fuel in letters or numerals not less than one-sixth the size of the numerals designating the price, but this designation need not be more than four inches in height.
(5)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(a)(5) If motor vehicle fuel prices are advertised by the unit of measurement other than gallon, the unit shall be displayed on the advertising medium in letters not less than one-third the size of the numerals designating the price.
(b)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)
(1)Copy CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(1) It is unlawful for any person to display an advertising medium that advertises a discount or price reduction for motor vehicle fuel, unless the advertising medium contains all the following:
(A)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(1)(A) The total price per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement adopted pursuant to Section 12107, 13404, or 13404.5 from which the discount or price reduction is to be taken.
(B)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(1)(B) The amount of the discount or price reduction in cents per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement using numerals that do not exceed the height of the numerals in the advertised price.
(C)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(1)(C) The conditions of the discount or price reduction using words whose letters are not less than one-third the size of the price numerals.
(2)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(2) Any limitations under which the discount or price reduction is offered shall be explained in words whose letters are not less than one-third the size of the numerals indicating the prices.
(3)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(3) There shall be available for each customer’s reference, a chart showing the amount of discount for each type of unit being sold or fraction thereof in one cent ($0.01) increments, or the retail dispensers used to dispense motor vehicle fuel at the discount price shall be set to compute the total sale at the discounted price per gallon or liter and shall be clearly labeled “Includes Cash Discount” in letters not less than one inch in height.
(4)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(b)(4) For purposes of this subdivision, the motor vehicle fuel shall be sold in the same unit of measure in which the discount and the price from which the discount is taken are advertised.
(c)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(c) In the event that the same grade of motor vehicle fuel is sold at different prices from any single place of business, it is unlawful for any person to display any advertising medium that advertises a price of a grade of motor vehicle fuel unless the advertising medium advertises in numerals of equal size each of the higher prices, including all taxes for which the grade is sold or offered for sale, and unless the advertising medium explains the conditions, and any limitations, under which that grade is sold or offered for sale at different prices. The words of explanation shall be clearly shown in letters at least one-third the size of the numerals indicating the prices. The different prices at which the same grade of motor vehicle fuel is sold or offered for sale shall be advertised in the same unit of measure as permitted or required by law.
(d)CA Business & Professions Code § 13532(d) Nothing in this section prohibits any person who has posted or displayed a sign or advertising medium in compliance with this chapter from displaying additional signs or advertising media that state either (1) the amount of discount in cents per gallon, liter, or other unit of measurement adopted pursuant to Section 12107, 13404, or 13404.5, or (2) the total price of one or more brands or grades of motor vehicle fuel sold or offered for sale, provided the conditions and any limitations of the discount or price of the brand or grade of motor vehicle fuel are included in the additional advertising media in letters not less than one-third the size of the numerals indicating the discount or price.
fuel price advertising discount conditions motor vehicle fuel

Section § 13533

Explanation

This law states that if a business in California advertises motor oil for sale, they must clearly show both the brand and product name on the advertisement. Additionally, the brand and product information must appear in letters and numbers that are at least half the size of the numbers used to show the price.

It shall be unlawful for any person to display on or near the premises of any place of business in this state any advertising medium which advertises the price of motor oil offered for sale without conspicuously showing on the same advertising medium the brand of the motor oil and the name of the product. The letters, figures and numerals used to designate the brand and the name of the product shall not be less than one-half the size of the numerals designating the price.
motor oil advertising brand display requirement product name visibility

Section § 13534

Explanation

This section of the law specifies what types of additional advertising content can be placed on advertising media for products being sold. Generally, you can describe your products, mention sale methods like self-serve, and describe services offered, using letters of a certain size in relation to price numerals. However, the price of services cannot be included. An exception is made for electronic changeable message centers, where the product and price must be part of one clear advertising message that does not begin or end with the price information.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 13534(a) Except as provided by subdivision (b), and subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of Section 13532, it is unlawful for any person to place any additional advertising matter on any advertising medium referred to in this article except:
(1)CA Business & Professions Code § 13534(a)(1) A description of the products offered for sale in letters or numerals not larger than the price numerals.
(2)CA Business & Professions Code § 13534(a)(2) Methods of sale, such as self-serve or full-serve, in letters not less than one-third the size of the price numerals.
(3)CA Business & Professions Code § 13534(a)(3) Words describing the type of services offered at the place of business, such as food market, carwash, tune up, and the registered trademark or trade name of the service, but not the price of the service.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 13534(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to electronic changeable message centers when the advertising content includes both the product offered for sale and its price in a single advertising message, or when the product and price components of the advertising message clearly relate to one another and the price neither starts nor ends the message.
advertising medium product description self-serve

Section § 13535

Explanation

This law says that if you're selling motor vehicle fuel or lubricant without a brand name, you must use the words "no brand" in your ads where a brand name would usually appear.

If any motor vehicle fuel or lubricant is advertised for sale, but not under any brand designation, the words “no brand” shall be used on the advertising medium as a brand designation.
motor vehicle fuel lubricant no brand

Section § 13536

Explanation

This law requires that all letters, numbers, and words in advertisements must be bold and easy to read, with colors that stand out against the background. Additionally, most letters and numbers can't be more than twice as tall as they are wide.

All letters, words, figures, or numerals which are part of the advertising media referred to in this article shall have a heavy type face or stroke, shall be clearly visible, and of a color or tint that will contrast the letters, words, figures, or numerals with the background of the advertising media. The height of the letters, figures, and numerals, except the letter “l” and numeral one, shall not be more than twice the width.
advertising media heavy type face contrast

Section § 13540

Explanation

This section allows cities and counties in California to create their own rules about advertising mediums, like billboards, as long as their rules match state law on the same topics.

Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit the governing body of any city, county, or city and county from enacting ordinances, including, but not limited to, land use and zoning ordinances, which impose restrictions on the advertising medium referred to in this article, so long as any provisions of the ordinances dealing with matters specifically covered in this article are identical to this article.
local ordinances advertising restrictions land use