Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 15.24 Property Maintenance Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1139, § 1, adopted Oct. 28, 2025, amended Ch. 15.24 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 15.24, §§ 15.24.010—15.24.230, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. No. 1094, § 1, adopted Nov. 8, 2022.

A. That certain property maintenance code known and designated as of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, including Appendix A, published by the International Code Council, Inc., as herein amended, is hereby adopted by reference, and such codes shall be and become the International Property Maintenance Code of Lancaster, regulating the use and maintenance of all existing structures, premises and certain equipment therein, and providing penalties for violation of such codes.

B. One copy of said 2024 Property Maintenance Code has been deposited in the office of the Building Official and shall be at all times maintained by said Building Official for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 101.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the International Property Maintenance Code of Lancaster, hereinafter referred to as "this chapter."

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 102.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

102.3 Application of other codes. Repairs, additions, or alterations of a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the Lancaster Building Code, Lancaster Residential Code, Lancaster Energy Code, Lancaster Fire Code, Lancaster Zoning Code, Lancaster Plumbing Code, Lancaster Mechanical Code, and Lancaster Electrical Code.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 103.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

103.1 Enforcement Authority. The Building Official of the City of Lancaster shall be the "code official" as defined in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 103.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

103.3 Deputies. Building inspectors, code enforcement officers, public safety officers, and other City personnel designated by the City Manager and/or the Building Official are hereby appointed as deputies of the Building Official for purposes of enforcement of this chapter, and are authorized to undertake such investigation, inspection, and enforcement actions as necessary to enforcement of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 104.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

104.1 Fees. The fees for activities and services performed by the department in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as adopted by resolution of the City Council of the City of Lancaster, as may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 105 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended by adding subsection 105.8, to read as follows:

105.8 Regulations. The code official is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 107 and 108 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby repealed in its entirety and replaced with the following:

108 Appeals. Appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations of the Building Official are limited to those enumerated in Chapter 15.04 of this code and shall be filed, scheduled, and conducted in accordance with the provisions set forth in said Chapter 15.04.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 109 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

109 Violations. It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any requirement of this chapter. Any person violating this chapter is subject to the penalty, administrative and abatement provisions set forth in Chapters 1.12, 1.16, and 8.28 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 110 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

110 Notices and orders. Whenever the code official determines that there has been a violation of this chapter or has grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, he/she may give notice in a manner that comports with the Lancaster Administrative Code, Lancaster Dangerous Buildings Code, other applicable provisions of the Lancaster Municipal Code, and/or the State Housing Law (commencing with Section 17910 of the California Health & Safety Code).

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 111.1.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

111.1.1 Unsafe structures. An unsafe structure is one that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure by not providing minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire, or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation, that partial or complete collapse is possible. A vacant structure that is not adequately secured against entry is hereby deemed unsafe.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 201.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

201.3 Terms defined in other codes. Where terms are not defined in this chapter and are defined in the Lancaster Building Code, Lancaster Fire Code, Lancaster Zoning Code, Lancaster Plumbing Code, Lancaster Mechanical Code, or Lancaster Electrical Code, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as stated in those codes.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 201.6 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby added to read as follows:

201.6 Definitions. Whenever any of the names or terms defined in this section is used in this Code, each such name or term shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to be in this section as follows:

"Building Code" shall mean chapter 15.08 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Residential Code" shall mean Chapter 15.09 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Code Official" shall mean the Building and Safety Official of the City of Lancaster.

"Electrical Code" shall mean Chapter 15.12 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Elevator Code" shall mean the 2025 California Elevator Safety Construction Code.

"Energy Code" shall mean Chapter 15.28 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Fire Code" shall mean Chapter 15.32 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Green Building Standards Code" shall mean Chapter 15.34 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Historical Building Code" shall mean Chapter 15.30 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Jurisdiction" shall mean the City of Lancaster.

"Mechanical Code" shall mean Chapter 15.16 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Plumbing Code" shall mean Chapter 15.20 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Property Maintenance Code" shall mean Chapter 15.24 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

"Technical Codes" shall mean Chapters 15.08, 15.09, 15.12, 15.16, 15.20, 15.22, 15.24, 15.25, 15.28, 15.30, 15.32, and 15.34 of the Lancaster Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 202 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended by amending the definitions of "owner" and "person" and by adding the definition of "responsible person," as follows:

202 General definitions.

Owner. Any person having legal title to, or who leases, rents, occupies, or has charge, control, or possession of, any real property in the City, and/or the personal property thereon, including all persons shown as owners on the last equalized assessment roll of the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office. Owners include persons with powers of attorney, executors of estates, trustees, court-appointed administrators, conservators, guardians, or receivers.

Person. Any individual, partnership of any kind, corporation, limited liability company, association, joint venture, or other organization or entity, however formed, as well as trustees, heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, or any combination of such persons. "Person" also includes any public entity or agency that acts as an owner in the City.

Responsible Person. Any person, whether as an owner as defined herein, or otherwise, that allows, causes, creates, maintains, or permits a violation of this code, by any act or the omission of any act or duty. The actions or inactions of a responsible person's agent, employee, representative, or contractor may be attributed to that responsible person.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 302.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six (6) inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, fruits, and/or vegetables.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 304.14 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

304.14 Insect screens. Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect-repellent fans, are employed.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

602 Heating and Air Conditioning Facilities.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

602.1 Facilities required. Heating and air conditioning facilities shall be provided in structures as required by this section.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602.2.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby added as follows:

602.2.1 Residential occupancies. Dwellings shall be provided with air conditioning facilities at all times, capable of maintaining a maximum room temperature of 80º F in all habitable rooms.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units shall supply heat at all times to maintain a minimum temperature of 68º F (20º C) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602.3.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby added as follows:

602.3.1 Air conditioning supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units shall supply air conditioning at all times, to maintain a maximum temperature of 80º F in all habitable rooms.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 602.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

602.4 Occupiable workspaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with the heat at all times to maintain a minimum temperature of 65º F (18º C) during the period the spaces are occupied.

Exceptions:

1. Processing, storage, and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions.

2. Areas in which persons are primarily engaged in vigorous physical activities.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)

Section 603.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

603.1 Mechanical appliances All mechanical appliances, fireplaces, evaporative coolers, solid fuel-burning appliances, cooking appliances, and water heating appliances shall be properly installed and maintained in a safe working condition and shall be capable of performing the intended function.

(Ord. No. 1139, § 1, 10-28-2025)