Fresno, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 10-617 sits inside Chapter 10, Article 6's Public Nuisance Abatement Ordinance and applies once a building has been vacant, meaning unoccupied or occupied only by unauthorized persons. A vacant building maintained as a fire hazard, an attractive nuisance, or in a blighted condition is deemed a public nuisance outright, and the City can issue a Notice and Order under subsection (a). Subsection (b) lists the baseline duties: keep visible yards free of Overgrowth and Landscaping installed and trimmed, keep the exterior's paint, roofing, siding, stucco and structural elements in good condition, clear trash within 72 hours of notice, prevent criminal activity, secure doors and windows against trespassers with clear Lexan-type material (never plywood) where visible from the street, remove graffiti within 48 hours, and register the property with the city within 30 days of becoming vacant.

Vacant commercial buildings carry extra duties under subsection (c): working fire protection and security systems, an 18-by-24-inch posted contact sign, and a 17-by-22-inch 'No Trespassing' sign. Subsection (d) escalates penalties for noncompliance found within 18 days of notice: up to $2,500 for a first administrative citation, $5,000 for a second within the next 30 days, and $10,000 for every 30-day period after that until the Notice and Order is satisfied, plus a flat $250-a-month citation for any vacant building the owner never registered. New owners get a 60-day grace period from taking legal possession before compliance is required.