Government Code section 34090

Unless otherwise provided by law, with the approval of the legislative body by resolution and the written consent of the city attorney, the head of a city department may destroy any city record, document, instrument, book, or paper, under the department head’s charge, without making a copy thereof, after the same is no longer required.
This section does not authorize the destruction of:

(a)

Records affecting the title to real property or liens thereon.

(b)

Court records.

(c)

Records required to be kept by statute.

(d)

Records less than two years old.

(e)

The minutes, ordinances, or resolutions of the legislative body or of a city board or commission.
This section shall not be construed as limiting or qualifying in any manner the authority provided in Section 34090.5 for the destruction of records, documents, instruments, books, and papers in accordance with the procedure therein prescribed.

Source: Section 34090, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=34090.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2019; accessed Nov. 10, 2025).

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Verified:
Nov. 10, 2025

§ 34090's source at ca​.gov