Fullerton, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- FMC Ch. 14.15, Abatement of Dangerous Buildings Code
- Model code adopted
- 1997 Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
- Adoption authority
- Cal. Gov't Code § 50022.2
- Appeals body
- 7-member Board of Appeals with Planning Commission
- Original enactment
- Ord. 2883, 1996
- Latest amendment
- Ord. 3105, 2007
Summary
Fullerton enforces building-safety and blight abatement through the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition, adopted by reference under Fullerton Code of Ordinances § 14.15.010. The Building Official administers the code, and owners who dispute a dangerous-building finding can appeal to a seven-member Board of Appeals sitting with the Planning Commission under § 14.15.030.
That certain document, one copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk entitled “Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition,” published by the International Conference of Building Officials, 5360 South Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California, and everything contained therein is hereby adopted by reference in accordance with Cal. Gov’t Code § 50022.2, as part of this chapter, except that § 205.1 of said Abatement of Dangerous Buildings Code, 1997 Edition, is adopted as amended in this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Fullerton adopted the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, by reference under Cal. 010. " The chapter is the city's mechanism for compelling repair, vacation, or demolition of buildings the Building Official finds unsafe, structurally deficient, or a hazard, which is how deteriorated, blighted structures get brought into compliance. 1 to set the local appeals process: the city established a Board of Appeals that sits with the Planning Commission, made up of seven members who are not city employees, convened when directed by City Council.
The Director of Community and Economic Development serves as an ex officio member and Secretary of the Board. The Board must write all decisions and findings to the appellant in writing, with a copy to the Building Official, and appeals proceed under § 501 of the abatement code. The Board adopts its own rules for conducting business, and any rules it adopts go to the Director of Community and Economic Development, who must make them available to the public. The chapter has been amended repeatedly since its 1996 adoption, most recently by Ord. 3105 in 2007.
Violations & Fines
The Building Official enforces the abatement code directly under § 14.15.010 and can order repair, vacation, or demolition of a dangerous structure under the adopted 1997 Uniform Code. An owner who disputes the finding may appeal in writing to the seven-member Board of Appeals under § 14.15.030; the Board must issue written findings to the appellant and the Building Official, following the abatement code's own § 501 appeal procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fullerton
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