National City, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Two provisions of the litter chapter in the National City Municipal Code put vacant land squarely on the owner. Section 7.14.110 makes the property owner responsible to prevent, control and remove litter from all vacant or unoccupied property, and states that being a nonresident property owner in no way relieves that responsibility. Section 7.14.050 adds a sidewalk duty: owners of vacant lots must keep the sidewalks adjacent to the premises clean and free of any container, material, waste, food, paper, wood, trash or refuse, and of all noxious weeds and vegetation and discarded chewing gum. Owners and occupants of buildings carry the same sidewalk duty.

Section 7.14.010 defines litter as garbage and rubbish and all other loose material which, if thrown, deposited or allowed to accumulate, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare and which is not within a receptacle. Section 7.14.100(C) adds that no person can cause or permit rubbish to accumulate at any place or premises under his or her charge or control for a period in excess of one calendar week. Section 7.14.040(A) bars anyone from throwing, depositing or accumulating litter on private premises.

Weeds sit in a separate chapter. Section 7.14.020 states that the litter chapter does not modify the weed abatement regulations in Chapter 9.12, and Section 9.12.020 declares weeds on streets, sidewalks or private property a public nuisance. Dumped solid waste is covered by Section 9.52.120: none can be placed or remain on any vacant lot, park or other public or private property, and it is declared a public nuisance, with home composting of yard waste exempt.

For abatement, Section 7.14.120 subjects litter abatement to Section 7.12.090. Under that section the code conformance officer gives written notice and an order to abate to the owner or occupant, or mails it by certified mail to the owner shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. The recipient can file a written appeal with the city clerk within three days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, or within the time set in the notice. The city council hears the appeal, and the appeal stays the order until the council rules.