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

Sutter County's Property Nuisance Code (Chapter 1320, adopted by Ordinance No. 1684 on July 27, 2021) governs blight on all property in the unincorporated county. Section 1320-80 makes it unlawful to maintain premises with 'any dangerous, unsightly, or blighted condition that is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the public.' Section 1320-90(A)(1) specifically lists the keeping or accumulation of personal property such as 'abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, discarded or inoperable equipment, appliances, furniture, containers, packing materials, scrap metal, wood, building materials, junk, solid waste, rubbish, trash and debris, dirt, sand, gravel, concrete or similar materials that is visible from the public right-of-way' where it poses a risk, constitutes visual blight, is offensive to the senses, or reduces nearby property values. Building disrepair, including graffiti, dry rot and deteriorated exterior finishes (1320-90(B)), and abandoned or unsecured buildings (1320-90(C)) are also nuisances. Wood and building materials for a permitted project may be stored up to one year. Enforcement is complaint-driven through the Code Enforcement Division. Under Section 1320-170 a violation is a misdemeanor and/or administrative penalty (per Ord. 87-110); each day is a separate continuing offense, and the County may recover abatement costs, enforcement costs and attorneys' fees, assessing them against the parcel as a lien. Note: this is the County's own code, separate from city codes in Yuba City or Live Oak.