Chico, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- Vacant parcels, plants/animals/items
- Also covers
- Weeds, dead/hazardous vegetation
- Standard
- Endangers health, safety, welfare
- Administered by
- Community Development Dept.
Summary
Chico treats a vacant parcel with plants, animals, or other items endangering public health or safety as a public nuisance subject to city abatement.
A vacant parcel containing plants, animals and/or other items in a manner that endangers the public health, safety or welfare of persons on or near the property... Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds or other vegetation constituting a danger to public safety and welfare
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains local legislation current through: Codified Resolution No. 53-26, adopted 7-14-26 and Ordinance No. 2622, adopted 6-2-26).
Full Breakdown
Chico Municipal Code § 1.14.030(B)(1) defines a nuisance to include a vacant parcel containing plants, animals and/or other items in a manner that endangers the public health, safety or welfare of persons on or near the property. The same subsection (B)(20) separately reaches dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds or other vegetation constituting a danger to public safety, covering overgrown weeds on unimproved lots. Chapter 1.14 is administered by the Community Development Department, which can order abatement of any qualifying condition.
Violations & Fines
A qualifying condition is a public nuisance; the city can issue an abatement order, do the work itself on non-compliance, and recover costs via assessment or a lien against the property under Chapter 1.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chico regulate weeds on a vacant lot?
Who enforces vacant lot maintenance in Chico?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chico
California rules heatmap·Compare Chico to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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