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

020(D)(1), a lot is legally blighted the moment it is "not kept clean and sanitary and free from all accumulations of offensive matter or odor," and the ordinance names "overgrown or dead or decayed trees, weeds or other vegetation, rank growth, dead organic matter, rubbish, junk, garbage, animal intestinal waste and urine, and toxic or otherwise hazardous liquids and substances and material" as the triggering conditions. The "rubbish" definition in the same subsection sweeps in tree branches, yard trimmings, hay, straw, cardboard and similar landscaping debris left to accumulate on an unimproved lot.

020(D)(2)-(3) adds that a fire-hazard condition or a lot likely to harbor rats, vermin or feral animals is independently blighted, which in practice covers most weed-choked vacant parcels citywide. 040 places the maintenance duty on "any person, firm, group, or corporation whether as owner, owner's agent or manager," so absentee owners of unimproved parcels cannot delegate the obligation away. 08," including direct removal of weeds or debris by the City and assessment of the cost against the owner. 080 lets the Building Official recover abatement costs through a lien process against the property.