LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport has issued an advisory regarding the law in effect that prevents price gouging during an emergency.

The Lakeport City Council declared a local emergency last month in response to Clear Lake’s flooding.

This action automatically triggered the prohibition on price gouging under California Penal Code Section 396. The anti-price gouging law is therefore currently in effect within the city of Lakeport.

Under Penal Code Section 396, it is generally unlawful to charge a price that exceeds, by more than 10 percent, the price of the item before the declaration of an emergency.

This law applies not only to food, emergency supplies, emergency cleanup services, storage services and hotel accommodations, it also applies to rental housing.

Any person who violates Penal Code section 396 is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year.

More information is available at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/docs/6C10--Staff-report-re-anti-price-gougin-38201793000PM.pdf .