Whittier, CA Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WMC § 8.08.022
- Common violations
- Peeling paint, broken windows, yard junk
- Pool hazard
- Unenclosed/polluted pools named a violation
- Vacant lots
- Must be maintained within 30 days
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor: up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
- Abatement process
- Hearing officer, appeal to council in 15 days
Summary
Whittier's property maintenance chapter spells out exactly what counts as a code violation: peeling paint, broken windows, junk visible from the street, unenclosed pools, and deteriorated fences are named as 'substandard property conditions' under Municipal Code Section 8.08.022, and maintaining any of them is independently declared a public nuisance under Section 8.08.030.
A.It is unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any property in the city to maintain thereon any substandard property condition as defined by this code. Substandard property conditions shall include, but not be limited to:1.Unpainted structures or structures where the paint or other exterior finish has deteriorated so as to permit decay, excessive checking, cracking, peeling, chalking, dry rot, warping and termite infestation, rendering the building unsightly and a detriment to surrounding properties;2.Broken or missing windows or doors;...5.Broken, discarded, abandoned or unused furniture, household furnishings such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers; cans or containers, lumber, junk, trash, salvaged materials, packing boxes or other debris stored in yard areas so as to be visible at ground level from public streets, alleys or adjoining properties;...7.Ponds, pools, polluted water, unenclosed or empty swimming pools constituting a hazard to unwary passersby or to children, or which are detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare;8.Any fence or wall maintained in such condition of deterioration or disrepair as to constitute a hazard to persons or property or to cause depreciation in the value of any adjacent or nearby property;
Full Breakdown
022 makes it 'unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any property in the city to maintain thereon any substandard property condition,' then enumerates a dozen specific conditions that trigger enforcement. Common ones cited against Whittier property owners include unpainted structures with deteriorated, peeling, cracking or termite-damaged exteriors; broken or missing windows and doors; overgrown, dead or dying vegetation and weeds that look unsightly or are a safety hazard; 'attractive nuisances' like abandoned appliances or machinery that could endanger children; broken or discarded furniture, appliances, lumber, junk and packing boxes stored in a yard where it's visible from the street, alley or a neighboring property; using front-yard or corner-lot side-yard fences, trees or shrubs as clotheslines; unenclosed or polluted swimming pools that are a hazard to children or passersby; and fences or walls in such disrepair that they threaten people, property or nearby property values.
030 layers a separate, broader nuisance declaration on top of that list, covering any substandard building under the Uniform Housing Code, erosion or drainage problems caused by grading, and any structure built or maintained in violation of the city's zoning or building regulations. 030.
Violations & Fines
Maintaining a listed substandard condition is a misdemeanor under Section 8.08.150, prosecutable instead as an infraction under Section 1.08.015, punishable per the general penalty schedule in Section 1.08.010: up to $500 and six months in jail for a misdemeanor, or $100 to $500 for repeat infractions. The city can also pursue a civil abatement hearing before a hearing officer, with a right of appeal to the city council within fifteen days, under Sections 8.08.050 through 8.08.080.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a property maintenance violation in Whittier?
Can the city force me to fix up a fenced, junk-filled yard?
What happens if I ignore a property maintenance citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whittier
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