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Upland, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
UMC § 8.12.020(E)
Hearing notice
required before nuisance finding is final
Appeal window
10 days to city council
Unpaid abatement cost
becomes a lien on the property
Severe cases
Ch. 15.20 dangerous buildings code applies

Summary

Upland Municipal Code Section 8.12.020(E) declares deteriorating, partially destroyed, or unsecured buildings a public nuisance, covering peeling paint, broken windows, sagging garage doors, and graffiti. The city manager can order rehabilitation, repair, demolition, or removal after a noticed hearing under the same chapter.

E. Buildings and Structures. It is unlawful to allow any of the following conditions to exist on any property in the city: 1. Buildings or structures which are partially destroyed or permitted to remain in a state of incomplete construction for an unreasonable period of time or deserted, as determined by the chief building official; ... 3. Buildings or structures with peeling, blistering, or otherwise deteriorating paint or unpainted surfaces leading to dry rot, warping, or lack of weather protection; ... 6. Buildings or structures whose exteriors, porches, steps, stairs, railings, walls, devices, fences, driveways, trash enclosures, walkways or other items not limited by omission in this listing that are cracked, broken, defective, deteriorating, or in disrepair, rendering these items unusable for their purpose or unsightly or constituting an attractive nuisance or hazardous condition; ... 8. Maintenance of any premises in such condition as to be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare, or in such manner as to constitute a public nuisance as defined by Civil Code Section 3480;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).

Full Breakdown

020(E) lists the physical conditions that make a structure a public nuisance in Upland: buildings partially destroyed or left in incomplete construction for an unreasonable period, vacant structures with openings that can't be secured against trespassers, peeling or blistering paint leading to dry rot or warping, roofs with loose or missing tiles or shingles, broken or missing windows and doors that create an attractive nuisance, cracked or deteriorating porches, steps, fences, driveways, and trash enclosures, garage doors too damaged to open or close, graffiti, and, as a catch-all, any condition detrimental to public health or safety under Civil Code Section 3480.

Enforcement does not stop at that list. 060 requires notice and an opportunity for a public hearing before the nuisance finding becomes final. 110(B). 150 turns the cost into a special assessment lien recorded against the property, collected the same way as delinquent property taxes. 12 hearing process.

Violations & Fines

Maintaining a blighted building after receiving notice is a misdemeanor under Section 8.12.030, punishable by a fine of up to $50.00 or up to 30 days in county jail, or both, and each day of continued noncompliance can be charged separately. If the owner does not complete court-ordered or city-manager-ordered repairs, the city may abate the condition itself and record the cost as a lien on the property under Section 8.12.150.

Frequently Asked Questions

What building conditions can the city cite in Upland?
Section 8.12.020(E) lists specific conditions: partially destroyed or incomplete construction left unreasonably long, unsecured vacant buildings, peeling or blistering paint causing dry rot, damaged roofs, broken windows and doors, deteriorating porches, fences, or driveways, non-functional garage doors, and graffiti. Any one of these, found on inspection, can support a public nuisance declaration under the chapter.
Do I get a hearing before Upland orders repairs?
Yes. Section 8.12.060 requires the city manager to give notice and an opportunity for a public hearing before finding a public nuisance exists. If you don't request the hearing, the city proceeds with abatement anyway, but you keep a 10-day right to appeal the manager's written order to the city council under Section 8.12.110(B).
What if I don't fix a cited property?
The city manager can have the work done by city forces or a private contractor under Section 8.12.120(B), then record the full cost as a special assessment lien against your parcel under Section 8.12.150, collected the same way as delinquent property taxes, in addition to misdemeanor penalties under Section 8.12.030.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Upland

All Upland rules

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