Sacramento requires owners of vacant lots to maintain their properties in a clean, safe, and non-hazardous condition under City Code Chapters 8.96 and 8.100. Vacant lots must be kept free of weeds exceeding 12 inches, accumulated trash, and debris. Properties must be secured to prevent unauthorized entry. The City actively inspects vacant properties and may perform abatement at the owner's expense.
Owners of vacant parcels must maintain vegetation below 12 inches, remove all trash and debris, secure buildings against unauthorized entry, and maintain fencing in good repair. During fire season, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and Cal Fire may issue additional weed abatement orders. The City conducts annual weed abatement inspections and may contract for mowing and clearing of non-compliant properties. Costs are assessed against the property as a special lien and collected through property taxes.
Failure to maintain vacant lots can result in administrative fines starting at $100 per day, City-performed abatement with costs billed to the owner, special assessment liens on the property, and potential criminal misdemeanor charges for chronic offenders.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Sacramento's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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