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Petaluma, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Condemnation authority: Code official, PMC §1.10.030(A)
Closure cost: Becomes a lien on the property
Placard text: "Condemned" plus penalty statement
Removing placard: Misdemeanor, §1.10.030(E)
Max penalty: $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
Appeal path: Section 1.14.070

Summary

Petaluma's code official can condemn any structure or equipment found unsafe, unfit for occupancy, or unlawful under Section 1.10.030, post a "Condemned" placard, and order it vacated. Occupying or reopening a condemned building, or defacing the placard, is a misdemeanor.

A. General. When a structure or equipment is found by the code official to be unsafe, or when a structure is found unfit for human occupancy, or is found unlawful, such structure or equipment may be condemned pursuant to the provisions of this code. ... ... D. Placarding. Upon failure of the owner or person responsible to comply with the notice provisions within the time given, the code official may post on the premises or on defective equipment a placard bearing the word "Condemned" and a statement of the penalties provided for occupying the premises, operating the equipment or removing the placard. ... ... F. Prohibited Occupancy. ... Any person who shall occupy placarded premises or shall operate placarded equipment, and any owner or any person responsible for the premises who shall let anyone occupy placarded premises or operate placarded equipment, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable for the penalties provided by this code.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2931 NCS, passed July 6, 2026).

Full Breakdown

030 of the Petaluma Municipal Code gives the code official broad condemnation authority whenever a structure or equipment is found unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. 14. Before condemning, the code official must post notice conspicuously on the structure and serve it on the owner or responsible party. If the owner still fails to comply, the code official can post a placard reading "Condemned" along with a statement of the penalties for occupying the premises, running the equipment, or removing the placard. Only the code official can take the placard down, once the defects that triggered condemnation are eliminated.

030 targets buildings and equipment serious enough to be condemned outright. 035 lets the code official order immediate evacuation, post a "This Structure Is Unsafe" notice, and perform emergency repairs at city expense, later billed to the owner through the city attorney.

Violations & Fines

Defacing or removing a condemnation placard without approval, or occupying or letting anyone occupy a placarded building or operate placarded equipment, is a misdemeanor under Section 1.10.030(E) and (F), punishable under Section 1.12.020(B) by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both, unless the prosecuting attorney charges it as an infraction instead. Owners may appeal a condemnation order using the procedure in Section 1.14.070.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a building "unsafe" enough for Petaluma to condemn it?

Under Section 1.10.030(A), the code official can condemn any structure or equipment found unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. That determination triggers the notice, posting, and placarding procedure in the rest of the section, which can end with the building ordered vacated and marked "Condemned."

Can the city force a vacant, unsafe building to be closed up?

Yes. Section 1.10.030(B) lets the code official post a condemnation placard and order a vacant, unsafe structure closed so it does not become an attractive nuisance. If the owner does not close it within the time given, the city can do it through a public agency or private contractor and charge the cost, as a lien, against the property.

Is it a crime to re-enter a condemned building in Petaluma?

Yes. Section 1.10.030(F) makes it a misdemeanor for any person to occupy placarded premises or operate placarded equipment, and it also makes an owner or responsible party liable for letting anyone else do so. Removing or defacing the condemnation placard itself is a separate misdemeanor under Section 1.10.030(E).

How do I appeal a condemnation notice on my property?

Section 1.10.030(C) requires the notice to be posted and served on the owner, and Section 1.14.070 governs the appeal: you must obtain a request for hearing form from the Petaluma city clerk's office at 11 English Street and return it within fifteen days of service, along with any required fine deposit, to preserve the right to a hearing.

Sources & Official References

[1]Petaluma Municipal Code

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