Property Maintenance in San Jose, CA (2026)
3 verified property maintenance rules for San Jose, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
San Jose's Code Enforcement Division actively enforces property maintenance standards under SJMC Title 17 (Building Code), the Housing Code (Chapter 17.20), and the Public Nuisance provisions. Property blight includes peeling paint, broken windows, accumulation of junk and debris, inoperable vehicles, overgrown vegetation, graffiti, and structural deterioration. The City operates a Neighborhood Blight Initiative targeting visible deterioration in residential neighborhoods.
San Jose Property Blight & Nuisance Ordinance
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code § 22660
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city, county, or city and county may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private or public property, and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the local ...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
San Jose requires vacant lot owners to keep lots free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation and debris, and to register lots that fall into the city's neglected vacant lot monitoring program within 30 days of becoming vacant.
San Jose Vacant Lot Maintenance Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Jose Municipal Code § 17.39.200(A)
Maintain vacant lots and any perimeter fencing free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, garbage, junk, debris, building materials, vehicles, cars, boats, campers, any accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers, notices (except those required by federal, state or local law), discarded personal items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances, graf...
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
San Jose has a Mediterranean climate with no measurable snowfall. The City does not have a snow removal or sidewalk clearing ordinance. Property owners are responsible for general sidewalk maintenance including keeping sidewalks clear of debris, vegetation overgrowth, and obstructions under SJMC Title 13 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places). Sidewalk repairs for damage caused by street trees may be addressed through the City's sidewalk repair program.
San Jose Snow & Sidewalk Clearing Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Streets and Highways Code § 5610
The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property and maintain it in a conditio...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Jose city rules.
Property Maintenance in Santa Clara County →