Santa Clara County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Declared by
- Sec. B38-17, Public nuisance
- Abated under
- Division A1, Chapter III
- Enforced by
- Planning & Development, County Counsel, DA
- Applies to
- Urban Residential & Commercial zones only
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County declares any property with blight, unsecured or abandoned buildings, disrepair, overgrown vegetation, garbage, or illegal outdoor storage, a public nuisance the County can abate.
Any property upon which there exists property blight as set forth in this Division is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be abated by the County pursuant to Chapter III of Division A1 of this Code.
(Ord. No. NS-300.932, 12-18-18)
Sec. B38-18. - Administrative remedies. In addition to any civil or criminal remedies, any violation of this Division may be subject to any of the administrative remedies set forth in Division A37 of this Code.
(Ord. No. NS-300.932, 12-18-18)
Sec. B38-19. - Enforcement. This Division may be enforced in any manner consistent with this Division by:
(a)The County Department of Planning and Development.(b)Any other County officer authorized to enforce a condition which constitutes blight under this Division, with respect to such condition.(c)The Office of the County Counsel and/or the Office of the District Attorney. (Ord. No. NS-300.932, 12-18-18)
Division B39 - OFFICIAL SEALS OF THE COUNTY AND OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Sec. B39-1. - Use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Division B38 consolidates the county's property maintenance standards: Chapter II lists specific blight conditions (unsecured or abandoned buildings, abandoned construction, attractive nuisances, disrepair, overgrown vegetation, graffiti, garbage, impermissible outdoor storage, and improperly stored vehicles), and Section B38-17 declares that any property with one of those conditions is a public nuisance abatable under Division A1 Chapter III. The rule reaches only privately-owned parcels in Urban Residential or Commercial zoning districts in the unincorporated county, property inside San Jose, Palo Alto, or the other 13 cities is governed by that city's own code, not this Division.
Violations & Fines
The County Department of Planning and Development, County Counsel, or the District Attorney can pursue administrative remedies under Division A37: fines, abatement orders, or County-performed cleanup billed to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions count as property blight in the unincorporated county?
Does this apply inside San Jose or Sunnyvale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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