The purpose of this chapter is to regulate fortune-tellers, psychics and other similar practitioners. Because vulnerable individuals may fall prey to unscrupulous practitioners or persons pretending to be practitioners, the County needs to regulate these practices to protect the public.
(Added by Ord. No. 9970 (N.S.), effective 3-12-09)
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
(a) "Consideration" means a payment, fee, reward, donation, loan or anything having monetary value.
(b) "Fortune-telling" means predicting the future or reading the past, using psychic power, clairvoyance, phrenology, consulting with spirits, reading tea leaves, tarot cards or any other object or device, crystal gazing, palm reading, mind reading, telepathy, astrology, necromancy or any other type of purported occult or supernatural powers. It also includes casting spells, providing love potions, good or bad luck charms, placing or removing curses, claiming to enhance or change the course of businesses, finances, relationships or luck, claiming to find hidden property or effect the disposition of property. Fortune-telling also includes pretending to perform fortune-telling.
(Added by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 9970 (N.S.), effective 3-12-09)
It shall be unlawful for a person to engage in or offer to engage in fortune-telling for any type of consideration, in the unincorporated area of the County, without a license from the Issuing Officer. The Sheriff shall be the Issuing Officer for a fortune- telling license. A fortune-telling license shall only be issued to an individual.
(Amended by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 9970 (N.S.), effective 3-12-09; amended by Ord. No. 10313 (N.S.), effective 2-6-14)
This chapter shall not apply to any:
(a) Priest, minister, rector or other accredited representative of a bona fide church or religion where the priest, minister, rector or accredited representative holds a certificate of credit, commission or ordination under the ecclesiastical laws of a religious corporation incorporated under the laws of any state or territory of the United States of America or any voluntary religious association and who fully conforms to the rites and practices prescribed by the supreme conference, convocation, convention, assembly, association or synod of the system or faith with which the representative is affiliated. Any church or religious organization organized for the primary purpose of conferring certificates of commission, credit or ordination for a price and not primarily for the purpose of teaching and practicing a religious doctrine or belief shall not be deemed to be a bona fide church or religious organization.
(b) Person who engages in an activity defined in section 32.602(b) in a public place for the purpose of entertaining the public by giving a demonstration of fortune-telling.
(Amended by Ord. No. 9970 (N.S.), effective 3-12-09)
An application for a fortune-telling license shall be made to the Sheriff on a form provided by the Sheriff and shall be accompanied by the fee provided in section 21.1901.
(Added by Ord. No. 7309 (N.S.), effective 7-2-87; amended by Ord. No. 9970 (N.S.), effective 3-12-09)