Highland, CA Code Violation Reporting: Response Times (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum abatement period
- Not less than 10 days
- Prehearing inspection request
- At least three days before the hearing
- Appeal to city council
- Within 10 days from service of the order
- Council decision on appeal
- Within 45 days of the clerk receiving the appeal
- Judicial action after council decision
- Within 30 days
- Citation payment
- Within 25 days from date of service
Summary
In the City of Highland, California, the building official's nuisance notice must set an abatement period of not less than 10 days under Highland Municipal Code Section 8.32.030. The owner can abate voluntarily until the hearing date, and appeals to the city council must be filed within 10 days of service of the order.
Whenever the building official finds that a nuisance, as defined herein, exists on any property located within the city, he or she shall notify the property owner on which the nuisance is located of the nuisance and direct that it be abated. The property owner and lessee and occupant and any other person having charge or control of the property shall be notified of the existence of the alleged nuisance in accordance with HMC § 8.32.060. The notification shall detail the violations and establish a reasonable abatement period or schedule which shall not be less than 10 days. The notice of intention to abate public nuisance and hearing thereon which provides the date of the hearing and other information required in HMC § 8.32.060, may be included with this notice or may be sent separately.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.32.030 of the Highland Municipal Code sets the first clock in a nuisance case in the City of Highland. When the building official finds a nuisance, the notification must detail the violations and establish a reasonable abatement period or schedule which shall not be less than 10 days. The hearing notice can travel with that notice or come separately. Under Section 8.32.080, notices are served by posting on or in front of the property plus either personal service on the owner or registered or certified mail, and mail service is complete at the time of deposit into the United States mail.
Section 8.32.040 lets the owner abate at any time within the abatement period, tell the building official, and have the department inspect to confirm. If the nuisance is not abated, Sections 8.32.050 and 8.32.060 call for a written notice of hearing, and the hearing date must fall after the time afforded for voluntary abatement has expired. An owner who wants a prehearing inspection can notify the building official at least three days before the hearing date.
After the appeals board rules, Section 8.32.110 requires the order to set the time within which the work shall be commenced and completed. Under Section 8.32.210, an appeal goes to the city council in writing within 10 days from service of the order, the city clerk transmits the record within 21 days of receiving the appeal, and the council issues a resolution within 45 days of receipt. The same subsection tells appellants they have 30 days to file a judicial action. Filing an appeal stays proceedings unless the building official finds an immediate threat to health, safety or welfare, and Section 8.32.250 allows summary abatement without notice or hearing in that case.
Other clocks sit outside Chapter 8.32. Section 2.56.050 requires correction within at least 15 days from service of a notice of a continuing building, plumbing, electrical or zoning violation before a citation issues, and Section 2.56.110 makes fines payable within 25 days of service.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring the deadlines has concrete costs. Failing to comply with an abatement order is a violation under Section 8.32.200, and the building official can then abate under Section 8.32.140, with the costs becoming a special assessment and lien on the parcel. Citations under Section 2.56.110 are $100.00, $200.00 and $500.00 for a first, second and additional violation within one year, and an unpaid citation draws a penalty of double the citation amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to fix a nuisance after the city's notice?
When is the hearing held?
How fast do I have to appeal an abatement order?
Are there cases with no notice period at all?
How long do I have to pay or correct a citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highland
California rules heatmap·Compare Highland to another location·View the California code violation reporting overview
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