Ventura County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Ordinance Code Division 13
- Hearing notice period
- At least 20 days
- First-offense fine
- $100 per count
- Repeat-offense fine
- Up to $1,000 per count
- Unpaid cost deadline
- 60 days before lien
Summary
In unincorporated Ventura County, code enforcement can order abatement of blighted or dangerous properties and fine owners $100 to $1,000 per count for each day a violation continues.
The following schedule of fines shall be imposed by Enforcement Officer/Hearing Officer where a nuisance is found to exist:
$100 per count for the first offense; $500 per count for the second offense; $1,000 per count for the third and subsequent offenses.
13112-1 - Counts. A new count shall be added for each day the violation remains unabated after the violator has been issued a Notice of Hearing pursuant to Sec. 13100-1.
13112-2 - Offenses. Any prior violation constitutes a prior offense.
13112-3 - Penalties. Penalties in the form of moneys and compensatory actions may be imposed in addition to fines. Penalties shall bear a reasonable relationship to the violations in question and shall take into account the following, plus any other relevant factors:
a.The good faith efforts of the violator to abate the nuisance.b.The impact of the violation on the community.c.The financial gain by the violator while maintaining the nuisance.d.The seriousness of the nuisance.e.The deterrent value of the penalty. 13112-4 - Settlement agreement. No provision herein precludes the party maintaining a nuisance from entering into a settlement agreement with the Enforcement Officer prior to the formal imposition of fines/penalties by the Hearing Officer.
13112-5 - Fines and penalties in addition to administrative costs. The recovery of administrative and abatement costs incurred by the County shall be in addition to any fines and penalties levied.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Under Division 13 of the county ordinance code, an Enforcement Officer who finds a public nuisance on real property, including violations of land use, building, or permit conditions, must give the owner written notice and a hearing before an Administrative Hearing Officer. If the nuisance is confirmed, the Hearing Officer can order abatement, impose fines, and assess abatement costs as a lien on the property. This applies only to the unincorporated county; incorporated cities like Oxnard and Thousand Oaks enforce their own codes.
Violations & Fines
$100 per count for a first offense, $500 for a second, $1,000 for the third and later offenses; a new count accrues each day the violation stays unabated after notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Oxnard or Thousand Oaks?
Can the county fine me every day the violation continues?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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