Owners of vacant lots in unincorporated San Diego County must maintain their property free of fire hazards, weeds, debris, and nuisance conditions. Defensible space and weed abatement requirements apply. The County may perform forced abatement and charge costs to the property tax bill.
Vacant lot owners in unincorporated San Diego County are responsible for maintaining their property free of conditions that create fire hazards, harbor vermin, or constitute a public nuisance. This includes regular weed abatement (vegetation cut to 6 inches or less in defensible space areas), removal of trash and debris, prevention of illegal dumping, and maintenance of fences and barriers. The County issues annual weed abatement notices. Vacant structures must be secured to prevent unauthorized access and posted with no trespassing signs. Code Compliance and the County Fire Authority inspect vacant properties and issue compliance notices. Failure to maintain vacant lots results in forced abatement with costs billed to the property owner through the tax bill.
Unmaintained vacant lots may result in citations, fines, and forced abatement. Costs for County-performed abatement are added to property taxes and can be substantial.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Bonsall's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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