Sonoma County warns of price gouging amid California wildfires

On Saturday, Sonoma County alerted residents that if they spot $4 cans of cat food and $5 gallons of gas in areas affected by the fire, those price hikes don’t represent savvy entrepreneurship. They may be illegal price gouging.

According to the online press release, once the state or federal governments declare a disaster, California Penal Code Section 396 forbids individuals and businesses from raising prices more than 10 percent.

The statute covers a wide range of goods, including emergency supplies, food for humans and animals, water, diapers, lumber, tools and gasoline. Transportation, storage and repair services are also covered, and the statute applies to hotels and property owners.