Thousand Oaks, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Notice before enforcement
- At least 15 days written notice (§1-6.02)
- First infraction fine
- Up to $100 (§1-2.03(a))
- Misdemeanor maximum
- $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail (§1-2.03(b))
- Repeat-offense penalty
- Treble damages within 2 years (§1-6.03)
- City abatement remedy
- Nuisance Abatement Lien recorded against the property (§1-7.07)
Summary
Thousand Oaks declares a wide list of property conditions to be public nuisances, including unpainted or peeling exterior paint, dead or overgrown lawns and landscaping visible from the street, and neglected appliances, furniture, or equipment left sitting in a yard. Any owner, tenant, or person in control of the property who causes, permits, or tolerates these conditions is in violation.
(e) Maintenance of property. The existence of any of the following conditions: (1) Unpainted or unfinished buildings or portions of buildings where no major exterior repair or construction activity is under way. (2) The exterior of any building which has a substantial portion of peeling or deteriorating paint or finishing materials. ... (4) Dead, overgrown, or neglected lawns, ground cover, trees or shrubs on any improved property... which is visible to the general public from a public sidewalk, right-of-way, or service easement located in the front yard area of any flag lot: (i) Constituting unsightly appearance; or (ii) Dangerous to the public safety and welfare. ... (5) Neglected or inoperative machinery, equipment or other personal property including but not limited to, household appliances, refrigerators, washers, dryers, or furniture left and kept in any yard area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The ordinance lists specific blight conditions department heads can cite: unfinished or unpainted building exteriors with no active construction, substantial peeling or deteriorating paint, out-of-character exterior paint jobs that violate approved conditions, dead or neglected lawns and shrubs visible from the public right-of-way, and inoperative household appliances, machinery, or furniture left in yard areas. Before any enforcement, the City must serve a written notice giving the responsible party a period to correct the condition (at least 15 days for general nuisance enforcement under Sec. 1-6.02, or up to 90 days for some maintenance items under Sec. 1-6.01). If uncorrected, the City can pursue an infraction or misdemeanor citation, or abate the nuisance itself and record a Nuisance Abatement Lien against the property to recover its costs.
Violations & Fines
A person who lets a declared nuisance continue after receiving a 15-day written notice to abate is guilty of a violation, with each additional day treated as a separate offense (Sec. 1-6.02). Violations may be charged as an infraction (fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for each further violation within a year) or as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail (Sec. 1-2.03). If the City abates the nuisance itself, it can record a Nuisance Abatement Lien against the property and recover treble damages for a second or subsequent offense within two years (Sec. 1-6.03, 1-7.07).
Frequently Asked Questions
What property conditions count as blight in Thousand Oaks?
How much time do I get to fix a violation before I'm cited?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
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