Chapter 3. Corporate Name of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 4. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3.

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to chartered cities.

Every city organized pursuant to this part shall have a name, and by such name has perpetual succession, and may sue and be sued. It shall have a common seal, alterable at the pleasure of the legislative body.

(a) Any person who uses or allows to be used any reproduction or facsimile of the seal of the city in any campaign literature or mass mailing, as defined in Section 82041.5, with intent to deceive the voters, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
  (b) For purposes of this section, the use of a reproduction or facsimile of a seal in a manner that creates a misleading, erroneous, or false impression that the document is authorized by a public official is evidence of intent to deceive.

The legislative body may, by ordinance adopted by a four-fifths vote of its members, change the name of the city. In the same manner, the legislative body may eliminate the word "city" from the corporate name and substitute the word "town" or eliminate the word "town" and substitute the word "city."

Within 10 days of the effective date of an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 34502, or within 10 days of the date the legislative body declares the vote on an ordinance passed by initiative or referendum, the city clerk shall file a copy of the ordinance with the Secretary of State, the board of supervisors of the county in which the city is located, and the local agency formation commission of the county in which the city is located.

If an ordinance proposed pursuant to Section 34502 fails passage by the legislative body or if the voters fail to confirm the ordinance, no ordinance changing the name of the city shall be considered for two years from the date of the vote of the legislative body or from the date of the election.