Santa Rosa, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SRCC Ch. 9-24 (Ord. 2024-003)
- Registration deadline
- 10 days after lot becomes unmaintained
- Cleanup deadline
- 30 days to clean and maintain
- Renewal window
- Annual fee due Jan. 1-31
- Inspections
- Monthly, with photo reports to City
- Liability standard
- Strict liability regardless of intent
Summary
Santa Rosa requires owners of unmaintained vacant lots to register with Code Enforcement, pay an annual monitoring fee, and clean and actively maintain the lot within 30 days under City Code Chapter 9-24. Lots with dead vegetation, accumulated trash, unauthorized parking, or trespassers must be brought into compliance or the owner faces registration and enforcement action.
(A) Unmaintained Vacant Lots. The property owner of any unmaintained vacant lot shall cause the lot to be cleaned and shall implement an active maintenance and monitoring schedule within 30 days. Active maintenance and monitoring shall include: (1) Maintenance in good condition of grounds; perimeter fences or walls; and lighting if such exist; (2) Maintenance in good condition of perimeter landscaping and plant material if such exist; (3) Regular removal of all accumulated trash; debris; litter; dead or overgrown weeds or vegetation; and graffiti. Graffiti removal shall be conducted in accordance with Section 10-17.080 of this code; (4) Prevention of unauthorized parking or storage of containers; vehicles or equipment; or parts thereof; and (5) Prevention of criminal activity on the premises and trespass by unauthorized persons.
Full Breakdown
010(K) to include undeveloped lots, lots that lost their buildings, lots under a recorded notice of default or trustee's sale, and lots occupied by unauthorized persons. 020(B)-(C) requires the property owner to register the parcel with the City's Code Enforcement Division within 10 days of the lot meeting that definition or of a notice of default being recorded, using a City-furnished registration packet. 020(G) imposes an annual registration and monitoring fee, set by City Council resolution, due with the initial registration and renewable every January 1st through January 31st; owners who cannot afford it may request a hardship waiver within 15 days under subsection (H)(4).
080); prevention of unauthorized parking or storage of vehicles and equipment; and prevention of trespass and criminal activity. 030 layers on inspection duties: an initial inspection within 10 days of registration, then monthly inspections with photo-documented reports submitted to Code Enforcement within 10 days of each inspection, and 'No Trespassing' signage the City can require in specific sizes and wording. Owners living outside Sonoma County may satisfy the inspection duty by contracting a service provider who must answer complaints within one hour, 24/7. 070.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register or renew registration, skipping required inspections, not posting signage, or letting nuisance conditions persist on a covered lot is a violation under Section 9-24.060, treated as a strict-liability offense under Section 9-24.080 regardless of the owner's intent. The City enforces through the remedies in Chapters 1-28 and 1-30, which include administrative citations and criminal or civil code enforcement action; owners may appeal under Section 9-24.070.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register a vacant lot with the City of Santa Rosa?
How long do I have to clean up a vacant lot in Santa Rosa?
Is there a fee for registering a vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle vacant lot maintenance.