Glendale, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 8.32.060, vacant lots
- Cleanup notice period
- 10 days from posting
- Notice method
- Registered mail + posted on-site
- Non-compliance result
- City abates, cost becomes lien
- Enforcing official
- Director of public works
Summary
Glendale bans depositing litter on any vacant private property, improved or unimproved, under Municipal Code Section 8.32.060. If the director of public works finds litter that endangers public health or safety, the owner gets ten days' written notice to clean it up before the city does the work and liens the property.
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any vacant private property, improved or unimproved, within the city whether owned by such person or not. (Prior code § 24-14) § 8.32.070. Authorization for removal—Notice.
A. Notice to Remove. The director of public works is authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any vacant private property, improved or unimproved, within the city or the agent of such owner to properly dispose of litter located on such owner’s property which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare. Such notice shall be by registered mail, addressed to the owner or agent at his or her last known address. A copy of the notice shall also be posted on the property.
B. Period of Disposition. The owner or agent of such owner shall be given ten days within which to dispose of the litter described in the notice. The day of posting the notice shall be excluded in computing such period and no litter shall be removed by the director of public works until such period has expired.
C. Form of Notice. The notice shall describe the work to be done and shall state that if the work is not commenced within ten days after notice is given and diligently prosecuted to completion without interruption, the director of public works shall dispose of the litter and the cost thereof shall be a lien on the property. The notice shall be substantially in the following form: NOTICE TO REMOVE LITTER
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
010 defines "litter" to include garbage, rubbish and junk and all other waste material that creates a danger to public health, safety or welfare. 050 separately requires the owner or person in control of any private property to maintain the premises free of litter at all times. 070 lets the director of public works notify the owner or the owner's agent by registered mail, with a copy posted on the property, giving the owner ten days from the day after posting to dispose of the litter.
If the work is not started within that ten-day window and diligently carried through to completion, the director of public works can dispose of the litter directly and the cost, including incidental expenses, becomes a lien on the property. 070(D) also requires the department to keep a permanent record of every parcel that received a notice, the owner's name if known, the mailing and posting dates, and the charges incurred, so repeat violations are traceable. 180.
Violations & Fines
Depositing litter on a vacant lot violates Section 8.32.060 regardless of ownership. An owner who fails to clean up litter within ten days of a Section 8.32.070 notice faces city-performed abatement, with the full cost plus incidental expenses recorded as a lien against the property, collectible the same way as delinquent municipal taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Glendale cite me for litter on a vacant lot I own but don't use?
How much time do I get to clean up a vacant lot after Glendale sends a notice?
What happens if I don't pay for city-performed litter cleanup on my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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