El Segundo Municipal Code Ch. 4 Property Maintenance Standards

All land and structures shall be properly maintained in such a manner as to not: a) depreciate aesthetic and property values of surrounding properties; b) create a visual eyesore; or c) constitute a public nuisance. (Ord. 1149, 2-6-1990)

It is a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge of any premises in the City to maintain such premises in such a manner that any of the following conditions are found to exist thereon:

A. Land Excavations, Grading: Land, the topography, geology or configuration of which, whether in natural state or as a result of grading operations, excavation or fill, causes erosion, subsidence or surface water drainage problems of such magnitude as to be injurious to the public health, safety and welfare, or to adjacent properties.

B. Abandoned Buildings: Buildings which are abandoned, partially destroyed or permitted to remain unreasonably in a state of partial construction.

C. Openings In Vacant Structures: The failure to close, by such means as are acceptable to the City Manager, all doorways, windows and other openings into vacant structures.

D. Unpainted Buildings: Unpainted buildings causing dry rot, warping and lack of weather protection.

E. Broken Windows: Broken windows constituting hazardous conditions and inviting trespassers and malicious mischief; or constituting a harbor for vagrants, criminal or immoral persons, or as to enable persons to resort thereto for the purpose of committing unlawful or immoral acts.

F. Overgrown Vegetation:

1. Likely to harbor rats, vermin and other nuisances; or

2. Having a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding property.

G. Diseased Trees; Weeds: Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds and other vegetation:

1. Dangerous to public safety and public welfare; or

2. Having a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding property.

H. Abandoned Vehicles, Trailers: The accumulation and storage, for unreasonable periods of time, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative automobiles, trailers, campers, boats, and other mobile equipment, in yard areas.

• I. Attractive Nuisances: Attractive nuisances dangerous to children in the form of:

• 1. Abandoned and broken equipment;
• 2. Unprotected and/or hazardous pools, ponds and excavations; or
• 3. Neglected machinery.

J. Furniture And Household Equipment: Broken or discarded furniture and household equipment on the premises for unreasonable periods, and having a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding property.

K. Trash And Debris: Packing boxes, lumber, trash, dirt and other debris either inside or outside buildings and visible from public streets or from the sight of neighboring properties for unreasonable periods, and having a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding property.

L. Commercial Buildings: The accumulation of dirt, litter or debris in vestibules, doorways or the adjoining sidewalks of commercial or industrial buildings.

M. Deteriorated Structure: The maintenance of any structure in a state of substantial deterioration, such as peeling paint on a facade, broken windows, roofs in disrepair, damaged porches or broken steps, or other such deterioration or disrepair not otherwise constituting a violation and which is viewable from the sight of neighboring properties, where such condition would have a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding property.

N. Landscaped Areas; Open Spaces: The substantial lack of maintenance and landscaped areas, including the lack of cultivation, irrigation, fertilizing, trimming of trees, and lawns, shrubs, vines and any other ground cover and the lack of maintenance of nonlandscaped areas, where the areas are to be maintained are viewable by the public from a public right of way or viewable from the sight of neighboring properties, and where such conditions would have a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding properties.

O. Conditions Constituting Public Nuisances: Maintenance of premises in such condition as to be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare, or in such manner as to constitute a public nuisance as defined by California Civil Code section 3480.

P. Cause Depreciated Values: Property maintained (in relation to others) so as to establish a prevalence of depreciated values, impaired investments and social and economic maladjustments to such an extent that the capacity to pay taxes is reduced and tax receipts from such particular area are inadequate for the cost of public services rendered therein. (Ord. 1149, 2-6-1990; amd. Ord. 1290, 12-15-1998)

Whenever the City Manager, or his duly authorized representative, determines that any premises within the City is maintained contrary to one or more of the provisions of this Section, then he or she shall institute the abatement proceedings in accordance with adopted enforcement procedures. (Ord. 1149, 2-6-1990)