Whittier Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 specifically regulates vacant lots: they must be kept free of litter, weeds, graffiti and debris, secured against illegal dumping and loitering, and may require a landscape/irrigation plan after demolition. Noncompliance is a public nuisance.
The City of Whittier addresses vacant and undeveloped lots directly in its own Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 (Property Maintenance), Title 8. Per search-indexed text, a vacant lot 'shall be maintained free of litter, weeds, graffiti, debris, including the stockpiling of any material, at all times,' and any such material 'shall be immediately removed by the property owner, upon discovery.' The owner must inspect the property at reasonable intervals. The lot must also be 'adequately secured at all times to prevent illegal dumping, criminal activity, vandalism, graffiti, on-site loitering by the homeless and any/all other attractive nuisances' to the satisfaction of the director of parks, recreation and community services and the chief of police. The code also addresses demolition sites: prior to issuance of a demolition permit on any lot where construction of a new building, structure, parking lot or impervious surface will not commence within thirty days after demolition, the property owner must submit a vacant lot landscape and irrigation plan for review and approval. Failure to comply with the vacant-lot requirements is a public nuisance designated under Section 8.08.030, and the city manager may order abatement and recover the city's costs. These are city ordinances; unincorporated 'Whittier' areas instead fall under Los Angeles County. Specific fine amounts were not located in a fetched source.
Failure to comply with vacant-lot requirements is a public nuisance under Whittier Municipal Code Sec. 8.08.030. The city manager may order the condition abated and recover the city's costs of abatement from the owner.
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