Ventura County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Ventura County addresses property blight in its unincorporated areas through nuisance and police-regulation provisions of the County Code rather than a single dedicated 'blight' ordinance. The County's Code Compliance division (part of the Resource Management Agency) enforces the Ventura County Building Code, the Non-Coastal and Coastal Zoning Ordinances, and State-mandated regulations to protect public health, safety, and welfare. One of the most concrete blight provisions covers vehicles: under the abandoned or inoperative motor vehicle article (Ventura County Code Section 6281-1), the accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private property is declared a public nuisance that may be abated. The County's stated findings are that such conditions reduce property values, promote blight and deterioration, create fire hazards, and invite rodents and pests. When the County abates a confirmed nuisance, Division 13 of the County Code authorizes recovery of abatement costs, including recording a Notice of Abatement Lien against the parcel (Section 13108) after a hearing officer orders a special assessment. Property owners are generally given written notice and an opportunity to correct the condition voluntarily or request a hearing before enforcement escalates. Specific thresholds vary by the condition involved, so residents should contact Code Compliance for the standard that applies to a particular situation.