Inglewood, CA Local Taxes & Fees: Vacancy Tax (2026)

Inglewood's Vacant Property Registration Ordinance, adopted by Ordinance 10-17 in 2010 and codified at Article 15 of Chapter 11, requires the beneficiary and trustee on any deed of trust to inspect the secured property before recording a notice of default. If the inspection finds the property abandoned or showing evidence of vacancy, such as disconnected utilities, accumulated mail, or absent window coverings, the beneficiary and trustee must register it with the City on approved forms within 10 calendar days. Occupied properties still in default must be reinspected every month until the default is cured, foreclosure transfers title, or vacancy appears.

Registration renews every January 1 through January 31 and carries an annual fee of $150 for single-family or multifamily lots and $250 for commercial lots under Section 11-154(6). Late fees accrue a 10 percent monthly charge, and a returned check adds a $25 processing fee. Any invoice still unpaid is added to the owner's property tax bill along with an additional $200 penalty. The City Administrator may waive the fee if the owner maintains the lot as landscaped open space with a decorative wrought-iron fence under an approved plan.

Registered properties must also be secured within 72 hours of becoming vacant, retain a local property management company for weekly inspections, and file monthly inspection reports. Violations are strict-liability misdemeanors under Section 11-160, and any structure left vacant beyond 30 days without an approved statement of intent draws an administrative penalty of $1,000 per structure per day, capped at $100,000 per property per year.