Yorba Linda, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Listed conditions
- 27 specific blight categories (A-BB)
- Governing section
- YLMC § 18.40.030
- Violation classification
- Misdemeanor under § 18.40.050
- Default penalty
- Up to $1,000 / 6 months jail
- City abatement cost
- Assessed as lien on parcel
Summary
Yorba Linda Municipal Code § 18.40.030 lists more than two dozen specific property conditions, from abandoned buildings and peeling paint to junk storage and dead vegetation, that are declared a public nuisance citywide, enforceable as a misdemeanor under § 18.40.050 and separately abatable under the Chapter 8.04 nuisance procedure.
It is unlawful and hereby declared a public nuisance for any person either owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge, control or possession of any real property within the City to cause, permit or allow any of the following property maintenance conditions to exist thereon: ... ... B. Building which are abandoned, partially destroyed, or unsafe as defined in the adopted uniform Building Code, or left in an unreasonable state of partial construction. ... ... J. Lumber, junk, trash, garbage, salvage materials, rubbish, refuse, rubble, broken asphalt, concrete, containers, scrap metal or other debris stored or deposited on a property such that they are visible from a public street, alley, or adjoining property or that create a harborage for rats or establish a potential fire hazard. ... ... S. Dead, decayed, diseased, overgrown or hazardous trees, weeds, and vegetation cultivated or uncultivated, which is likely to harbor rats or vermin, or constitutes an unsightly appearance, or is detrimental to neighboring properties or property values, or constitutes a fire hazard.
Full Breakdown
Section 18.40.030 makes it 'unlawful and hereby declared a public nuisance' for any owner, lessee or person in control of real property in Yorba Linda to cause or allow any of 27 listed conditions, including buildings that are abandoned, partially destroyed or left in an unreasonable state of partial construction for six months or more; dilapidated or collapse-risk structures; broken windows and unsecured vacant buildings; deteriorated walls, fences, driveways and sidewalks; unpainted or termite-damaged buildings; junk, trash, salvage material or scrap metal visible from the street; discarded appliances visible from ground level; construction equipment stored outside the M-1 zone without an active permit; inoperative vehicles parked in front yards; outdoor boat storage in front or side yards; pooled oil or hazardous material; trash cans left out on non-collection days; dead or overgrown vegetation that could harbor vermin or fuel fire; unmaintained or unfiltered swimming pools; and property maintained so far out of harmony with neighboring properties as to diminish their value.
Under § 18.40.040 the City's remedies for these conditions are cumulative, so a conviction does not excuse the owner from separately correcting or removing the prohibited condition. Section 18.40.050 makes any violation of Title 18, including the property-maintenance list, a misdemeanor punishable as provided in § 1.12.010: up to $1,000, up to six months in County Jail, or both, with the City Attorney able to charge it as an infraction instead.
Violations & Fines
Any of the listed conditions is a public nuisance under § 18.40.030, and violating Title 18 is a misdemeanor under § 18.40.050, carrying the § 1.12.010 general penalty of up to $1,000, up to six months in County Jail, or both. Conviction does not relieve the owner of correcting or removing the condition (§ 18.40.040), and the City may separately declare the property a nuisance and order abatement, with removal at City expense and a lien on the parcel if the owner does not comply, under the Chapter 8.04 hearing procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as blight on my property in Yorba Linda?
What is the penalty for a blighted property in Yorba Linda?
Can Yorba Linda force me to clean up my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yorba Linda
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