San Bernardino County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated areas only (Land Use Services Code Enforcement)
- Legal basis
- Each Code violation is unlawful and a public nuisance (County Code 11.0204)
- Common violations
- Trash/scrap accumulation, abandoned/unsecured buildings, deteriorated paint, broken windows, graffiti
- Process
- Complaint, notice, reasonable correction period, re-inspection
- Contact
- Code Enforcement 909-884-4056 / 760-995-8140
Summary
In unincorporated San Bernardino County, Land Use Services Code Enforcement abates property blight as a public nuisance: accumulated garbage, scrap, junk, old furniture and car parts, abandoned or unsecured buildings, deteriorated paint, broken windows, and graffiti. Owners get written notice and a reasonable time to correct before further enforcement.
22660. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city, county, or city and county may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private or public property, and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the local authority, of costs of administration and the removal.
Full Breakdown
San Bernardino County Code Enforcement (Land Use Services) administers enforcement of County ordinances relating to land use, zoning, housing, public nuisances and vehicle abatement within the unincorporated areas of the County. 0204). The County describes common blight violations as: any accumulation of garbage, trash, appliances, car parts, old furniture, or scrap materials that is a visual blight to the neighborhood, which must be removed; buildings left abandoned, unsecured, partially destroyed, or in an unreasonable state of partial construction; unpainted buildings or paint allowed to deteriorate so as to become unsightly; buildings left with broken glass or no glass; and graffiti, which must be painted over or removed.
When a complaint is investigated, the property owner is notified of the violations and given a reasonable period of time to correct them, after which a follow-up inspection verifies compliance. Code Enforcement covers only unincorporated areas (909-884-4056 or 760-995-8140); incorporated cities run their own programs. Complaints can be filed through the County's online code reporter. Continued non-compliance can escalate to administrative citations, abatement, and cost recovery.
Violations & Fines
Investigated on complaint; owner receives written notice of violations with a reasonable time to correct, followed by a re-inspection. Unresolved violations can lead to administrative citations and County-performed abatement with costs assessed to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside city limits?
What happens after a blight complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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