Monterey Park, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Municipal Code § 4.30.060 defines a 'vacant lot' as property that is either 'undeveloped' or that 'has an existing on-site building or structure that is either abandoned, vacant and/or unleased by the property owner for more than thirty days.' Owners of an unimproved vacant lot must submit a vacant lot landscape and irrigation plan to the community development director for approval under subsection (b). Once approved, lots under one acre must maintain 'a minimum five-foot wide landscaped area... on all perimeters of a vacant lot located adjacent to all streets, alleys, or other public rights-of-way,' planted with drought-tolerant vegetation at least two feet high (synthetic turf allowed as an alternative), and 'a four-foot high white vinyl rail fence must be located behind all required perimeter landscaping,' with a gate for emergency access, under subsection (c).

Lots one acre or larger need a ten-foot perimeter buffer instead of five feet under subsection (d). Owners must keep the lot free of litter, weeds, graffiti, debris and stockpiled material, inspecting at reasonable intervals, and must replace dead or dying vegetation or broken irrigation within 72 hours of discovery or city notice, and remove graffiti within 24 hours, under subsections (e), (f) and (g). Improved lots left vacant 30 or more days face the same landscaping duty plus a requirement to repair damaged on-site structures within ten days under subsection (e)(2), and before a demolition permit issues, the plan must be submitted and completed within 30 days of approval under subsection (f).

Existing vacant lots got 60 days from a notice of the requirement to comply under subsection (g), and lots under active construction or an unexpired building permit are exempt under subsection (i).