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

Vacant and undeveloped lots in the incorporated City of Merced are addressed through the City's general nuisance and property-maintenance provisions in Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.40 (Nuisance), Section 8.40.070, rather than a separately located vacant-lot chapter found in a fetched source. That section declares as public nuisances the accumulation of waste paper, hay, grass, dirt, straw, weeds, litter or combustible trash upon premises (which includes vacant parcels), and dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds and other vegetation that is dangerous to public safety or tends to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding properties. The City's Code Enforcement division enforces codes relating to residential and commercial properties that are dangerous, substandard, blighted or vacant, and building/property owners are required to maintain their property to the standards in the City Housing, Dangerous Building and Property Maintenance Codes. Where a property condition is found to be a public nuisance, the city may pursue abatement under its nuisance code. These are City of Merced ordinances applicable inside city limits; unincorporated parcels near the city are governed by Merced County instead. A specific separate vacant-lot maintenance section, and any specific fine amounts, were not located in a fetched city source and are not stated here.