Los Angeles County has not enacted a countywide vacancy tax on empty homes or commercial space. Unincorporated areas and most LA County cities impose no annual penalty on vacant property, although several cities including Santa Monica have studied measures.
There is no LA County Code chapter authorizing a vacancy tax in unincorporated areas, and the Board of Supervisors has not placed a vacancy tax on a countywide ballot through 2026. Property owners with vacant homes or storefronts in unincorporated communities like East LA, Marina del Rey, or Altadena pay only standard property tax under Proposition 13 plus any blight or nuisance penalties under LA County Code Title 11. Within incorporated cities, Los Angeles City studied Measure ULA companion vacancy proposals but none have passed citywide. Berkeley and San Francisco have empty-home taxes; LA County peers have not yet followed.
Because no vacancy tax exists countywide, there are no vacancy-tax penalties. Vacant property may still be cited under LA County Title 11 nuisance or blight rules, with daily fines, abatement liens, and receivership in extreme cases.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Downey, CA
Downey regulates leaf blower noise under its general noise ordinance. Gas-powered leaf blowers must comply with the 85 dBA construction equipment limit and o...
Downey, CA
Downey prohibits amplified music that exceeds ambient noise levels by more than 5 dBA at the property line. Quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM carry stricter lim...
Downey, CA
Industrial noise in Downey must not exceed established ambient levels by more than 5 dBA at the receiving property line. Corrective factors apply during dayt...
Downey, CA
California law (AB 1236) requires streamlined permitting for EV charging stations. Downey must provide expedited permits for residential EVSE installations. ...
Downey, CA
Driveway modifications in Downey require approval from Planning and possibly Engineering. Paving projects in the front yard area must meet development standa...
Downey, CA
Downey restricts oversized vehicle parking on public and residential streets. RVs must obtain permits under DMC 3182.5. Emergency parking allowed for 24 hour...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how Downey's vacancy tax rules stack up against other locations.
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