Santa Clara County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

The County's Community Preservation ordinance, Division B38 of the County Ordinance Code (added by Ord. NS-300.932, Dec. 18, 2018), governs property blight in the unincorporated area. Section B38-2 states that no person shall cause or materially contribute to property blight, and an owner or occupant must not allow blight to continue through action or inaction. The provisions apply to privately owned properties in Urban Residential or Commercial base zoning districts (Section B38-3). The ordinance enumerates specific blight conditions: an unsecured building (occupied without consent for more than 12 hours, or accessible through broken or missing doors or windows) under B38-6; an abandoned building, generally one vacant 180 days or more, under B38-7; abandoned construction where work has stopped for 270 days or more under B38-8; attractive nuisances such as broken equipment, abandoned wells, or excavation sites under B38-9; buildings in a state of disrepair visible for more than 96 hours under B38-10; graffiti under B38-12; impermissible outdoor storage under B38-14; and unlawful vehicle storage or dismantling under B38-15. Under B38-17, any property with blight is declared a public nuisance and may be abated by the County. The County Department of Planning and Development enforces this division, and administrative remedies under Division A37 may apply.