Administrative Citations

If you have received an Administrative Citation it is because you were determined by one of the city's issuing officers to be in violation of a Garden Grove Municipal Code (GGMC) Ordinance. You must remit payment within forty-five (45) calendar days or contest a citation within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance date of this citation.

To Pay Your Citation

Payments are to be made by cashier’s check, personal check, money order or credit card within forty-five (45) calendar days of the receipt of the citation. DO NOT SEND CASH. Credit card payments can be made online at www.citationprocessingcenter.com or by phone at (800) 969-6158. Checks should be made payable to:

Consequences of Failure to Pay the Fine

Failure to pay the administrative fines within forty-five (45) calendar days may result in an assessment of late fees, notification to the State Franchise Tax Board, or the matter being referred to the Garden Grove Finance Director to file a claim in small claims court. Alternatively, the City may pursue any other legal remedy to collect the administrative fines. The city may also recover its collection cost(s) according to proof (GGMC 1.22.070).

Information on Contesting Your Citation

Pursuant to Garden Grove Municipal Code Section 1.22.030, any recipient of an administrative citation may contest there was a violation of the Garden Grove Municipal Code, or that he or she is the responsible person, or may contend that the amount of the fine is disproportionate in light of mitigating factors.

Follow the links to obtain a copy of the Garden Grove Municipal Code and additional information regarding the issuance of citations, including Hearing Procedures (GGMC 1.22.050), Hearing Officer’s Decision (GGMC 1.22.060), Right to Judicial Review (GGMC 1.22.080)

NOTE: AN ADVANCE DEPOSIT OF THE FINE AMOUNT MUST ACCOMPANY A REQUEST FOR HEARING.

To Request a Hearing

To request a hearing you must complete an Administrative Citation Hearing Request form. This form can be obtained at City Hall at the Business Tax counter located on the 1st floor, or online at Administrative Citation Hearing Request form. Mail your completed Administrative Citation Hearing Request form along with your cashier’s check, personal check, or money order for the total amount of your fine within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance date of this citation to:

Hearing requests received after thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance date of this citation will be denied (GGMC 1.22.030(A))

To File for a Hardship Waiver of the Citation Fine

For those unable to pay the deposit for the Administrative Fine in advance of the appeals process, Garden Grove Municipal Code (GGMC 1.22.030(D)) allows a recipient to apply for an Advance Deposit Hardship Waiver. The recipient must apply within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance date of this citation. You must file both the Advance Deposit Hardship Waiver & the Administrative Citation Hearing Request form together.

Additional Information

An administrative citation fine that has been deposited shall be refunded if, after a hearing, it is determined that the person charged in the administrative citation was not responsible for the violation, or that there was no violation, as charged in the administrative citation. The Hearing Officer may reduce the fine amount if the Hearing Officer finds, based on the totality of the circumstances, the fine is clearly disproportionate in light of mitigating factors. If an administrative citation fine that has been deposited should be reduced, the difference will be refunded, if it is determined after a hearing that the amount of the fine was clearly disproportionate in light of mitigating factors. (GGMC 122.060(C))