Monterey, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 22, Article 4
- Outdoor material storage limit
- 30 days per year
- Enforcement body
- Administrative Appeals Hearing Board
- Cost recovery
- Lien or personal obligation on owner
Summary
Monterey's Code Enforcement, Fire Prevention, Animal Control and Police officers can order abatement of blight conditions on any property: unsanitary buildings, junk storage over 30 days, dead trees, mold, pest infestations and dilapidated fences all count as public nuisances under Chapter 22, Article 4.
The following conditions are hereby defined as and declared to be a public nuisance: ... f.Any buildings, structures, or portion thereof found to be unsanitary; ... l.The storage or keeping of any used or unused building material, including but not limited to lumber, plumbing materials, wallboard, sheet metal, plaster, brick, cement, concrete block, roofing materials, cans of paint and similar materials, in a location out of doors for more than thirty days within a year ... n.The existence of any fence or other structure or thing on private property abutting or fronting upon any public street, sidewalk or place, which is in a sagging, leaning, fallen, decayed or other dilapidated or unsafe condition; ... 1.An order to abate the nuisance, including a schedule for correction where appropriate; ... 5.Abatement of said nuisance by City with the full cost of abatement plus all administrative costs charged to the property owner;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3721, passed July 7, 2026).
Full Breakdown
2 lists specific conditions declared a public nuisance, reaching well beyond overgrown weeds: any building or structure "found to be unsanitary," outdoor storage of building materials (lumber, wallboard, roofing, paint cans) for more than 30 days a year outside an active construction project, abandoned vehicles, foundations or excavations left outdoors for more than 30 days, and any fence or structure on private property fronting a street that is sagging, leaning, fallen or dilapidated. Mold or mildew visible inside a building, pest harborage (rats, pigeons, skunks, raccoons) and insect infestations are also listed conditions.
1, no property owner may allow such a condition to exist once an enforcement officer identifies it. 4 can direct abatement on a schedule, impose administrative penalties and costs plus interest, and if the owner does not comply, let the City abate the nuisance itself and charge the full cost back to the property owner as a personal obligation or a lien against the property. 6 lets the prevailing party recover reasonable attorneys' fees in any abatement action the City elects to pursue on that basis, capped at the City's own actual fees incurred.
Violations & Fines
A nuisance finding can trigger an Administrative Order carrying abatement costs, administrative penalties plus interest, and a lien or special assessment recorded against the property (§ 22-38.4). Owners who leave a genuinely dangerous condition unaddressed face summary abatement without prior notice under § 22-38.5, with the City's contractor costs billed directly to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Monterey force me to fix an unsanitary building?
How long can I store building materials outside in Monterey?
What happens if I ignore a nuisance abatement order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Monterey County handle property blight.