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

There is no separate 'vacant lot' chapter in the Tulare County Code; vacant and undeveloped parcels are regulated under the same nuisance authorities that apply to all real property. Public Nuisance Ordinance section 4-01-1085 makes every owner responsible for preventing a public nuisance on their land, and section 4-01-1070 specifically lists 'attractive nuisances' as a nuisance class — dangerous conditions that may attract children, including unprotected or unfilled swimming pools, ponds, abandoned wells, shafts, septic tanks and other excavations, which are common hazards on vacant land. Accumulated junk, trash and debris on a vacant lot is 'visual blight' under the same section. Illegally dumped solid waste is addressed by section 4-03-1140, which directs the Public Health Officer to give the owner, tenant or person in control written notice, and makes it unlawful to fail to remove the deposited or accumulated solid waste within five (5) days after receiving that notice. Vacant lots that grow weeds, grass, rank growth or combustible rubbish that create a fire hazard fall under the Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish Ordinance (Ch. 4-11). Enforcement follows the standard notice, administrative-review and abatement process.