Merced, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 8.40.070 opens with a broad declaration: it is a public nuisance for anyone 'owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge of any premises' to maintain conditions listed in the section's 30 lettered subsections. Blight-specific conditions include subsection (B), 'buildings which are abandoned, partially destroyed, or permitted to remain for an unreasonable period of time in a state of partial construction,' and subsection (V), which reaches any premises, building, dwelling, or unit maintained 'in such condition as to be detrimental to the public health, safety, or general welfare' or that meets the definition of a substandard or dangerous building under Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3, the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, or Title 17 of the Merced code.

Enforcement follows Chapter 8.40's general procedure: an enforcement officer inspects and issues written notice under Section 8.40.100 identifying the code sections violated and giving at least seven days to correct the condition, followed by reinspection under Section 8.40.120. If the property is still out of compliance, the responsible party gets a further notice under Section 8.40.130 with the right to an administrative appeal hearing under Section 8.40.140, where a city-designated hearing officer can uphold, modify, or rescind the order. Judicial review of the hearing officer's decision must be sought under Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6, per Section 8.40.150.

If the owner never complies, the city can abate the condition itself under Section 8.40.160 and recover its costs, including attorney's fees, through a lien or special assessment under Sections 8.40.190 and 8.40.200.