Calaveras County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 8.06.060 flatly states that it is unlawful for any owner, occupant, tenant, operator or other person to cause or maintain a public nuisance on any premises in the unincorporated county. Section 8.06.050 defines a public nuisance broadly: any condition that threatens public health, safety or welfare, or that is injurious to the senses or interferes with the reasonable use of property; any violation of Titles 8, 13, 15 or 17 of the county code or of the adopted Uniform Building, Fire, Housing, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical or Dangerous Buildings codes; or any accumulation of junk, debris or junk cars visible from another parcel or a public or private road that is not enclosed within four walls and a roof, which is the core blight provision.

Enforcement runs through the building official and code enforcement officers under Section 8.06.070. A notice of violation gives the owner a deadline to correct the condition; failure to comply can bring an administrative citation and order under Section 8.06.400, with fines of one hundred dollars per day for a first violation, two hundred dollars per day for a second violation of the same ordinance within a year, and five hundred dollars per day for each additional violation within that year (Section 8.06.430). Property that is unsafe or dangerous to occupy can be closed and placarded "Substandard Structure, Do Not Occupy" under Section 8.06.120, and unpaid abatement costs become a special assessment lien on the property recorded with the county recorder (Section 8.06.530). Owners can appeal a citation to the county's administrative hearing board, seated as the planning commission, within fifteen days (Sections 8.06.420, 8.06.600).