 Vacant Building Ordinance
The City of Sacramento's reputation of being a great place to live is due in large part to the quality of our neighborhoods.
As part of making the City of Sacramento the most livable city in the nation, the vacant building ordinance was streamlined to encourage vacant buildings to be maintained and occupied. Vacant buildings that are not maintained contribute to the detriment of neighborhoods, property values and aesthetics of our city. In addition, this ordinance promotes safe living and working environments for City neighborhoods and commercial corridors by providing a high level of service to residents, businesses and visitors in the City of Sacramento.
This ordinance decreases the time a vacant building can be declared a public nuisance from 90 to 30 days by Code Enforcement staff who will also investigate complaints for landscape, vehicles, junk and debris related to vacant buildings.
Click here for the New Vacant Building Ordinance Complete Text
What Causes a Vacant Building to be a Public Nuisance?
Not all vacant residential and commercial structures are public nuisances. In fact, a majority of vacant buildings don't come under the category of public nuisances. Only those vacant buildings that are not maintained and/or neglected can be cited as public nuisances. If one or more of these conditions exist, the structure and/or property will be cited as a public nuisance after 30 days:
- Exterior not up to Code
- Windows and/or doors are boarded, not ready for occupancy
- Structure is a neighborhood blight and may include debris, broken windows
- Structure attracts transients or crime
- Structure is neglected by owner
- Paint peeling throughout structure
- Lawn not mowed, little or no care to yard
- Junk and debris on property
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Neighborhood livability and business economic vitality is enhanced when a vacant building meets all codes, is landscaped and is ready for occupancy.
Impact of Vacant Buildings as Public Nuisances
When the owner of a vacant building fails to actively maintain and manage the building, the building can become a major cause of blight in both residential and nonresidential neighborhoods. Vacant buildings that are boarded, substandard or unkempt can attract a criminal element, discourage economic development and negatively affect appreciation of property values.
The responsibility rests with property owners to prevent structures from becoming a burden to the neighborhood and community and a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare. A vacant property that is not actively maintained and managed can be the core and cause of spreading blight. One vacant property that is not well maintained and managed can be the cause of spreading blight.
Fees & Penalties
The City of Sacramento revised its vacant building ordinance by decreasing the time a structure may be declared a nuisance, increasing fees and penalties and streamlining the vacant building enforcement process.
- The owner of a vacant building in violation may now be cited with administrative penalties after an initial 30 days and every 30 days thereafter;
- A monthly monitoring fee of $150 is imposed in addition to a $150 enforcement response fee for each time a building inspector is called to the vacant building site;
- A penalty up to $1,000 is imposed for the first violation and up to $5,000 for every 30 days for every subsequent violation;
- The new ordinance places a new requirement of posting a notice in a conspicuous place on the front of the building stating the name, address, and phone number of the owner(s) of the property.
Click here for the Vacant Building Program brochure (pdf)
Open Vacant Building Cases
Updated Monthly
(Listed by Council District & Address)
OPEN VACANT BUILDING CASES AS OF 05-01-08
OPEN VACANT CASES AS OF 05-01-08
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Vacant Building Ordinance