CAL.Regulation
California bans marked-up resale of restaurant reservations without the restaurant's written agreement
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1640, the California Restaurant Reservation AntiPiracy Act, on September 27, 2026. It prohibits selling, transferring, or facilitating the sale or transfer of a California restaurant reservation for more than the seller paid, unless the restaurant gave a written agreement expressly authorizing the higher price. The Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorneys may seek up to $1,000 per violation plus injunctive or declaratory relief and attorney's fees.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
Key points
- "Restaurant" means a retail food establishment that prepares, serves, and vends food directly to a customer.California Legislative Information
- The only exception is a written agreement with the restaurant expressly authorizing the person to charge the higher amount.California Legislative Information
- Public enforcers may recover up to $1,000 per violation, injunctive or declaratory relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.California Legislative Information
- A person or entity suffering actual harm may recover actual damages, attorney's fees and costs, and injunctive or declaratory relief.California Legislative Information
- Civil penalties recovered by the Attorney General go to the Public Rights Law Enforcement Special Fund.California Legislative Information
- Adds Business and Professions Code sections 22599.7–22599.10; non-urgency, effective January 1, 2027; chapter number pending on LegInfo.California Legislative Information
Sources3 articles across 2 outlets
California Legislative Information
Office of the Governor
Filed under
RegulationCal.AB 1640 — California Restaurant Reservation AntiPiracy ActComplianceContractsFor practitionersFor governance