Mayor Veto & Council Override Rules - Los Angeles

General Governance and Administration California 3 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026 Flag of California

Los Angeles, California relies on the City Charter for the mayoral veto and City Council override procedures. This guide explains how the veto operates, the Council vote threshold for override, procedural steps for reconsideration and override, timelines for filing and appeals, and where to submit or challenge actions. It cites the City Charter and City Clerk procedural guidance for official steps and is current as of February 2026 where page dates are not shown. For full charter text see the City Charter[1] and for Council filing procedures see the City Clerk legislative guidance[2].

How the veto and override work

The mayor may veto ordinances and certain Council actions as defined in the City Charter. The Council may seek to override a mayoral veto by taking formal action under charter rules; the required vote threshold and procedural steps are described in the Charter and City Clerk procedures cited above. Where the Charter or Clerk pages do not show explicit deadlines or fines, this guide notes "not specified on the cited page."

Penalties & Enforcement

Mayoral veto and Council override are legislative mechanisms, not criminal or administrative penalty schemes. The Charter and legislative rules govern procedures; monetary fines are not a component of a veto/override itself. Specific enforcement for violations of enacted ordinances falls to the departments designated by each ordinance or city code section.

  • Enforcer: City Council for legislative votes; City Clerk handles filing and publication of outcomes.
  • Legal disputes or challenges: Office of the City Attorney (civil litigation, advisory opinions).
  • Timelines: specific time limits for Council action or judicial review are not specified on the cited charter or Clerk procedural pages.
  • Fines or monetary sanctions for failing to follow veto procedures: not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary remedies: ordinance invalidation, injunctions, or judicial relief depending on the case and enforcing authority.
The veto and override process is procedural and enforced through legislative records and, when contested, the courts.

Applications & Forms

No public "override" application form is required. Overrides proceed by Council motion or resolution and official filing with the City Clerk; refer to City Clerk procedures for exact filing steps and required documents. If a published form exists for related filings, it will be available from the City Clerk; otherwise the Council resolution is the operative document.

Procedural steps and common actions

  • Introduction: Council member introduces a motion or resolution to reconsider or override a veto per Charter and Council rules.
  • Scheduling: Council schedules the item for a public meeting and vote according to published agendas.
  • Vote: Council votes to sustain or override; the Charter specifies the vote threshold for override on the cited page.
  • Filing: Resulting ordinance or action is filed and published by the City Clerk for entry into the official record.
Consult the City Clerk before filing to confirm the current procedural checklist.

FAQ

What is a mayoral veto?
A mayoral veto is the chief executive's rejection of a Council-passed ordinance or action; the City Charter defines when the mayor may veto and the subsequent steps for reconsideration or override.
How many votes are needed to override a mayoral veto?
The City Charter specifies the required Council vote threshold to override a veto; see the City Charter for the exact fraction and process.[1]
Can a member of the public force an override?
Civilian residents cannot directly cast override votes; they can contact Council members, submit public comment, or use petition and advocacy channels. Formal override action requires Council motion and vote.

How-To

How to request or support a Council override:

  1. Review the mayoral veto message and the specific Charter provision governing veto and override.
  2. Contact your Councilmember to request introduction of a motion for reconsideration or override and provide supporting materials.
  3. Ensure the item is scheduled on a public Council agenda and attend or submit public comment for the hearing.
  4. On the scheduled date, the Council will vote; if the required threshold is met, the Clerk records the override and publishes the outcome.
  5. If the outcome is contested, seek guidance from the City Attorney about judicial review or declaratory relief.
Start by confirming procedural deadlines with the City Clerk to preserve any legal or filing rights.

Key Takeaways

  • The mayoral veto is a Charter power; the Council override is a formal legislative vote recorded by the City Clerk.
  • There are no fines tied to the veto process itself; enforcement and remedies arise from ordinance text and legal actions.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Los Angeles - City Charter (Charter provisions on veto and override)
  2. [2] City Clerk - Legislative procedures and filing guidance

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