How Fontana Handles Property Maintenance: A Practical Guide

Fontana maintains 107 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with property maintenance. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fontana falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Fontana does not experience accumulating snow, so no snow-removal ordinance applies. Owners must keep sidewalks free of debris, obstructions, and hazards adjacent to their property.

Key details: Snow clearing required: No. State authority: Streets and Highways Code 5610. Tree clearance: 8 feet over walk, 14 feet over street. Trip hazard threshold: Typically 3/4 inch.

Property Blight

Fontana declares dangerous, substandard and dilapidated buildings a public nuisance under Municipal Code Sec. 18-2, alongside junk, overgrown vegetation and other blight conditions. The city gives owners at least 30 days' notice to abate a dangerous building before a hearing, and code violations under the adopted Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings carry up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail per Sec. 5-212.

Key details: Notice period: 10 days general, 30 days dangerous building. Hearing officer: City manager. Completion deadline: At least 45 days after order. Code fine: Up to $1,000 per Sec. 5-212. Jail exposure: Up to 6 months per offense.

Maintaining a dangerous, substandard or otherwise blighted property is a misdemeanor under Sec. 18-2(f). Violating the adopted Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings carries up to a $1,000 fine or up to six months in county jail (or both) per Sec. 5-212(a), with each day of continued violation a separate offense; unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the property, foreclosable by the city for a money judgment.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fontana actively enforces its property blight requirements.

The Bottom Line

Fontana's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Fontana is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Fontana's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.