Beaumont Municipal Code Ch. 8.54 Regulation of Vacant and Abandoned Properties and Parcels

The City Council finds that vacant, abandoned and distressed parcels and properties pose a risk to the public peace, health and safety of the citizens of the City of Beaumont because the detrimental effects from the lack of security and maintenance of abandoned and distressed properties include dangerous attractive nuisances, increased opportunities for crimes such as squatting, vandalism and burglaries, discouraging buyers from purchasing neighboring homes, lowering property values, illegal dumping and physical and economic blight. This chapter shall be known as the "Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration Program."

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

The purpose of this chapter is to establish uniform and reasonable regulations to prevent the detrimental effects associated with abandoned and distressed residential properties.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

A. "Abandoned property" a property that is vacant and is under a current Notice of Default and/or Notice of Trustee's Sale, pending Tax Assessor's Lien Sale, or a property that has been the subject of a foreclosure sale where the title was retained by or transferred to the beneficiary of the deed of trust involved in the foreclosure, or a property transferred under a deed in lieu of foreclosure/sale, or property that is unoccupied and shows evidence of neglect, disrepair, or lack of maintenance, creating a public nuisance.

B. "Neighborhood standard" those conditions that are present on a simple majority of properties within a 300-foot radius of an individual abandoned property. An abandoned property that is the subject of a neighborhood standard comparison, or any other abandoned property within the 300-foot radius, shall not be counted toward the simple majority.

C. "Out-of-area" shall mean in excess of 40 road/driving miles distance of the subject property.

D. "Owner" any person, co-partnership, association, corporation or fiduciary having a legal or equitable title or any interest in any real property.

E. "Property" means any parcel of real property, improved or unimproved, of any zoning or use type-residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use.

F. "Vacant" means a structure or lot or parcel that is unoccupied or not actively maintained for 90 consecutive days.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

A. Abandoned Properties. Any beneficiary/trustee who holds a deed of trust on a property located within the City of Beaumont shall perform an inspection of the property that is the security for the deed of trust upon default by the trustor and prior to recording a Notice of Default in the Riverside County Recorder's Office.

1. If the property is found to be abandoned or shows evidence of abandonment, it shall be deemed abandoned and the beneficiary/trustee shall, within ten days of the inspection, register the property with the Community Development Department on forms provided by the Department.

2. The registration shall contain the name of the beneficiary/trustee (corporation or individual), the direct street/office mailing address of the beneficiary/trustee (no post office box numbers), a direct contact name and phone number for the beneficiary/trustee and, in the case of a corporation or out-of-area beneficiary/trustee, the name, address and telephone number of the local property maintenance company responsible for the security, maintenance and marketing of the property. Any change of the information in the registration required hereunder shall be reported within ten days of the change.

3. An annual registration fee shall accompany the registration form. The registration fee amount is listed in the currently adopted Beaumont Fee Schedule. The fee and registration shall be valid for the calendar year, or the remaining portion of the calendar year, in which the registration was initially required. Subsequent registrations and fees are due January 1 of each year and must be received no later than January 31 of the year due. Registration fees will not be prorated.

4. Abandoned properties shall remain subject to the annual registration, maintenance, security and sign requirement of this chapter as long as they remain abandoned.

5. If the Department receives a complaint against the registered property, an inspection fee set forth in the Beaumont Fee Study shall be charged for each inspection performed by the City.

B. Vacant Properties. The legal owner or beneficiary of any vacant property shall register the property with the City within 30 days of vacancy or notice by the City. Registration shall include:

1. Name, mailing address, telephone number, and email of the owner and a local responsible party/agent authorized to act 24/7.

2. Evidence of current liability insurance.

3. Payment of an annual registration fee as adopted by City Council resolution.

4. Any change.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

Abandoned properties shall be maintained in a manner comparable to the neighborhood standard. At a minimum:

A. Abandoned properties shall be maintained so as to be kept free of evidence of vacancy.

B. Abandoned properties shall be maintained free of graffiti by removal or painting over with an exterior grade paint that matches the color of the exterior of the structure.

C. Maintenance of abandoned property shall include landscape maintenance of visible front and side yards.

D. Pools and spas shall either be kept in working order so the water remains clear or drained and kept dry. In either case, properties with pools and/or spas must comply with the minimum security fencing requirements of the State of California.

E. Adherence to the foregoing requirements do not relieve the beneficiary/trustee or property owner of any obligations under any covenants, conditions and restrictions and/or homeowners association rules and regulations which may apply to the abandoned property.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

Abandoned properties shall be secured with such measures as may be directed by a City Code Enforcement Officer that assist in rendering the property inaccessible to unauthorized persons. In the case of broken windows, "secured" includes re-glazing or boarding of such windows. Boarding shall be completed to a minimum of the current HUD securing standards in effect at the time the boarding is completed or required, and shall additionally require that all boards be painted with a durable, exterior-grade paint in a color that matches and is maintained in the primary color of the existing structure to ensure secured property, visual consistency, and weather protection.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)

The City Code Enforcement Officer shall have the primary responsibility for enforcing this chapter. Violations of this chapter shall be treated as a strict liability offense regardless of intent. Nothing herein shall prevent the Code Enforcement Officer from engaging in efforts to obtain voluntary compliance by means of warnings, notices or educational programs.

Administrative fines for each violation shall not exceed the amounts set forth in Section 1.16.030 of the Beaumont Municipal Code.

If the violation is not corrected, additional administrative citations may be issued for the same violation. The amount of the administrative fine shall increase at the rate specified above; provided, however, that the administrative fines shall not exceed $1,000.00 for each day, or portion thereof, that the violation continues to exist.

The administrative fines assessed hereunder shall be payable to the City of Beaumont. Payment of administrative fines shall not excuse the failure to correct the violation, nor shall payment be a bar to further enforcement action.

(Ord. 942; Ord. No. 1196, § 7, 12-16-2025)