Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 18.29 Maintenance of Vacant Lots

Vacant lots are a major cause and source of visual and other blight in the City, especially when the owner or person in control of a vacant lot fails to maintain and manage the lot to ensure it does not become a liability to the neighborhood. Failure to maintain vacant lots can result in reduced property values; vandalism, graffiti, dumping, and accumulation of litter and other debris. It is the purpose and intent of the City, through the adoption of this Chapter, to regulate vacant lots in the City as a mechanism to protect neighborhoods and commercial areas from becoming blighted due to the lack of adequate maintenance and security of vacant lots and to establish minimum standards of accountability on the owners or other responsible parties of vacant lots in order to protect the health, welfare and safety of the community.

(ORD-26-0004 § 26, 2026; ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-17-0025 § 1, 2017)

"Director" shall mean the Director of Community Development or designee.

"Responsible person" shall mean the owner of the property as shown on the last equalized tax assessment roll maintained in the Los Angeles County Assessor's office; or any person, entity, or person acting on behalf of an entity who otherwise exercises control of the property.

"Vacant Lot." For the purpose of this Chapter, a vacant lot shall mean any parcel that does not have a permitted structure. A vacant lot shall not include any lot being lawfully utilized for small scale agricultural purposes in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 8.77 of this Code and/or other approved temporary uses by the City.

(ORD-26-0004 § 26, 2026; ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-17-0025 § 1, 2017)

A. Responsible person shall:

a. Maintain vacant lots and any perimeter fencing free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation; trash, garbage; junk; debris; building materials; vehicles, including but not limited to cars, boats, campers, motorcycles, and go-karts; newspapers, circulars, flyers, and banners; discarded personal items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances; and graffiti, tagging or similar markings.

b. Ensure vacant lots are secured from unauthorized entry at all times.

c. Inspect the property monthly or take other reasonable steps to ensure compliance with this section.

d. Enclose and secure the vacant lot with perimeter fencing sufficient to prevent unauthorized access to the property.

(i) The fencing shall:

1. Consist of wrought iron, chain link or other materials approved by the Building Official;

2. Be at least six (6) feet in height; and

3. Allows visibility into the vacant lot from ground level.

(ii) The Building Official may waive the fence height limits and materials restrictions of the Zoning Regulations as needed to meet this requirement.

e. Ensure fencing includes a secured gate to allow access to the vacant lot for emergency services.

f. Ensure fencing and gates are maintained in good, operable condition at all times by the property owner such that the purposes of this Chapter are accomplished and to avoid the appearance of blight.

g. Paint the property address of the vacant lot in a visible location on the curb face in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 14.36. If no curb is present, property address signage must be posted in a manner consistent with the California Residential Code (CRC) and the California Fire Code (CFC).

h. Within thirty (30) days after the lot becomes vacant or within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this Chapter, whichever is later, complete a vacant lot registration application on the form made available by the City and register the vacant lot with the Department of Community Development.

(i) Alternatively, upon discovery by the Building Official that a lot is vacant, the City may register the lot with the Department of Community Development. In this event, the City will provide notice by mail to the owner as shown on the last equalized tax assessment roll maintained in the Los Angeles County Assessor's office.

i. Enroll the vacant lot into the Long Beach Police Department's (LBPD) No Trespassing Program 602(o)(PC). The Request for Service form shall be completed, signed and notarized. Authorized signs must be purchased from designated locations and prominently posted on the property.

B. The Director of Community Development or designee shall have the authority and discretion to make specific fee exemptions in a case where the property owner has agreed to allow the property to be used and operated for a specific community serving use, such as the use of pocket parks or approved temporary activating uses as defined in Section 21.53.115 of this Code.

C. At the time the vacant lot is registered, the Responsible Person shall pay the Vacant Lot Monitoring fee as established by resolution of the City. Said fee shall be billed annually but will be prorated based upon the month of the year that the registration occurs. The Vacant Lot Monitoring fee will be billed by the City on an annual basis until the lot is no longer a Vacant Lot.

a. If the annual monitoring fee is not paid when due then:

(i) The City may cause a notice of lien to be recorded against the property. The notice shall, at a minimum, identify the record owner or possessor of the property, set forth the last known address of the record owner or possessor, a description of the real property subject to the lien, and the amount of the fee or costs assessed against the property.

(ii) The fee may be specially assessed against the property involved. All laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of real property taxes are applicable to the special assessment.

D. Hearing on charges. Within thirty (30) days from the date that the Responsible Person is mailed a notice regarding the imposition of the Vacant Lot Monitoring fee, the property owner may demand a hearing.

a. Such demand shall be in writing and presented to the Director of Community Development for the City of Long Beach and include any required fee for appeal set forth in the schedule of fees and charges established by City Council resolution.

b. Said demand shall describe the property involved, state the basis that the Vacant Lot Monitoring fee should not be assessed, and include an address of the Responsible Person for service of notice in connection with such hearing.

c. Such demand shall be presented by the City to the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation (BEAC) for hearing at its next regularly scheduled meeting that is not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the demand.

d. The Director of Community Development shall give notice by mail of such hearing to the Responsible Person at the address furnished in the demand for an appeal hearing.

e. At the time set for such hearing, the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation (BEAC) shall hear all evidence pertinent to the applicability of the fee and shall either confirm or deny the imposition of the fee. The decision of the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation (BEAC) shall be final.

f. If the appeal is granted the appeal fee shall be returned.

g. If the appeal is denied, the payment is due within thirty (30) days.

(ORD-26-0004 § 26, 2026; ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-17-0025 § 1, 2017)

A. Failure to comply with any of the applicable requirements of this Chapter shall constitute a public nuisance. Any violation of this Chapter may be enforced by any method provided by this Code for the abatement of nuisances.

B. Costs incurred by the City in abating any violation of this Chapter shall be billed to the Responsible Person. If payment for abatement costs is not received within thirty (30) days of billing, the City may cause a notice of lien to be recorded against the property. The notice shall, at a minimum, identify the record owner or possessor of the property, set forth the last known address of the record owner or possessor, a description of the real property subject to the lien, and the amount of the costs assessed against the property.

C. The process described herein does not preclude the City from recovering any other Code violation or nuisance abatement costs incurred by the City in performing its enforcement efforts relating to vacant lots.

(ORD-26-0004 § 26, 2026; ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-17-0025 § 1, 2017)

Prior to the removal of a vacant lot from the registration requirement established by this Chapter, the condition(s) which initially compelled registration of the lot must be resolved and an inspection by the City to determine compliance completed. No owner of a vacant lot shall be relieved of the registration requirement until all City fees, fines, penalties, or costs as applicable are paid in full.

(ORD-26-0004 § 26, 2026; ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-17-0025 § 1, 2017)