Dublin, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Dublin addresses vacant-lot maintenance through two parts of its code. Under Chapter 5.70 (Weeds and Refuse), the City Council may declare growing weeds and accumulated refuse on a parcel to be a public nuisance and order abatement; each year the council adopts a resolution declaring weeds and combustible debris a public nuisance and fire hazard. Because fire service in Dublin is provided by the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD), ACFD notifies property owners and requires conditions to be abated without delay; if an owner fails to act, the city may remove the weeds and refuse at the owner's expense, recovering costs as a special assessment on the property tax roll. Owners are responsible for clearing weeds and refuse from their property and from the abutting half of the street and any alley behind the lot. For vacant residential structures in foreclosure, Chapter 5.66 (Maintenance of Foreclosed Residential Properties) implements California Civil Code Section 2929.3. It defines 'failure to maintain' to include permitting excessive foliage growth that diminishes surrounding property values, failing to prevent trespassers or squatters, and failing to prevent mosquito larvae in standing water. Foreclosed property must be secured against unauthorized entry, and the city may impose a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for failure to maintain.