Article 6 — Property Maintenance

It is unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any property in the City to maintain such property in such manner that any of the following conditions are found to exist thereon, except as may be allowed by the City Code:

• A. Buildings which are abandoned, partially destroyed, or left in an unreasonable state of partial construction. An unreasonable state is defined as any unfinished building or structure which has been in the course of construction two years or more, or where the appearance and other conditions of said unfinished building or structure substantially detract from the appearance of the immediate neighborhood.

• B. Unpainted buildings having dry rot, warping, or termite infestations. Any building on the which the condition of the paint has become so deteriorated as to permit decay, excessive checking, cracking, peeling, chalking, dry rot, warping, or termite infestation.

• C. Broken windows.

• D. Damaged or defective building exteriors, walls, fences, driveways, sidewalks, or walkways.

• E. The accumulation of dirt, litter or debris in vestibules, doorways or the adjoining sidewalks of building.

• F. Lumber, junk, trash, debris or salvage materials visible from a public street, alley or adjoining property.

• G. Attractive nuisances dangerous to children, including abandoned, broken or neglected equipment and machinery, hazardous pools, ponds and excavations.

• H. Abandoned, discarded or unused furniture, stoves, sinks, toilets, cabinets or other household fixtures or equipment stored so as to be visible from a public street, alley or adjoining properties.

• I. Construction equipment or machinery of any type or description parked or stored on the owner's property when it is visible from a public street, alley or adjoining property, except while excavation, construction or demolition operations covered by an active building permit are in progress on the subject property or an adjoining property.

• J. Permanent or temporary signs or advertising devices, including banners and pennants, which are deteriorated, defective, broken or in a state of disrepair.

• K. Vehicles parked in required front yard setbacks in a residential zone except when such vehicles are parked on a paved drive approach to a required garage.

• L. Maintenance of property 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 Civil Code Section 3480.

• M. Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds, or overgrown vegetation, cultivated or uncultivated.

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.470

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 13.20.510

• N. Clotheslines in front yard areas, or in front or side yard areas of corner lots.

• O. Any wall, fence, or hedge maintained in a condition of deterioration or disrepair.

• P. Any property with pooled oil accumulation, oil flowing onto public rights-of-way, or accumulations of grease or oil on paved surfaces, buildings, wall, or fences.

• Q. Any area which lacks turf or plant material so as to cause dust or allow the accumulation of debris.

• R. Dead, deteriorated or diseased turf or plant material.

• S. Neglect or maintenance of property in a condition which contributes substantially to the deterioration and unsightliness of the community, the appreciable depreciation of property values in the surrounding neighborhood, or the prevalence and attraction of social, economic and criminal maladjustments. This neglect includes, but is not limited to, building exteriors, walls, fences, driveways or walkways which are defaced due to any writing, inscription, figure, scratches or other markings commonly referred to as "graffiti."

• (Prior code § 33-50)

The terms "owner" and "property owner," as used in this article, and unless otherwise required by the context, shall be deemed to include any person owning, leasing, occupying, or having charge or possession of any property in the City. (Prior code § 33-50.1)

All property found to be maintained in violation of the foregoing section is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and shall be abated by rehabilitation, demolition, or repair pursuant to the procedures set forth herein. The procedures for abatement set forth herein shall not be exclusive and shall not in any manner limit or restrict the City from enforcing other City ordinances or abating public nuisances in any other manner provided by law. (Prior code § 33-51)

Whenever the Director of Planning or such other City official as may be designated by the City Manager determines that any property within the City is being maintained contrary to one or more of the provisions of Section 13.20.470, he or she shall give written notice to the owner of said property stating the sections being violated. Such notice shall set forth a reasonable time limit for correcting the violation(s) and may also set forth suggested methods of correcting the same. Such notice shall be served upon the owner in accordance with provisions of Section 13.20.520 covering service in person or by mail. (Prior code § 33-52; Ord. 1198, 4/22/2025)

In the event said owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to correct said violation, the Director of Planning, or duly authorized representative, shall conduct an administrative review hearing to ascertain whether said violation constitutes a public nuisance,

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.510

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.20.540

the abatement of which is appropriate under the police power of the City. Notice of the administrative review hearing shall be served upon the owner in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.20.520.

(Prior code § 33-53; Ord. 1198, 4/22/2025)

Notice of said hearing shall be served upon said property owner not less than 14 days before the time fixed for said hearing. Notice of said hearing shall include the time and date of the hearing, a list of the property maintenance violations on the property, and a statement requesting the property owner's attendance at the hearing to provide testimony. Said notice shall be served personally upon or mailed in an envelope with postage thereon fully prepaid and deposited in the United States mail at Paramount, California to the property owner as such owner's name and address appears on the last available equalized tax roll, and if there is no such address, then in care of the property address. Service shall be deemed complete at the time said notice is personally served or deposited in the mail. Failure of any person to receive such notice shall not affect the validity of any proceedings hereunder. (Prior code § 33-54)

• A. At the time stated in the notice, the Director of Planning, or duly authorized representative, shall hear and consider all relevant evidence, objections or protests, and shall receive testimony from owners, witnesses, City personnel and interested persons relative to such alleged public nuisance and to proposed rehabilitation, repair or demolition of such property.

• B. If the Director of Planning, or duly authorized representative, finds that such public nuisance does exist and that there is sufficient cause to rehabilitate, demolish, or repair the same, he or she may declare such property to be a public nuisance and order the abatement of the same within 30 days by having such property, building, or structures rehabilitated, repaired, or demolished. A copy of such order shall be served on all the owners of the subject property in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.20.520.

• (Prior code § 33-55; Ord. 1198, 4/22/2025)

• A. Any person entitled to service under this section may appeal from the decision of the Director of Planning, or duly authorized representative, by filing at the Planning Department within 10 days from the date of service of such decision, a written, dated appeal containing:

  1. A specific identification of the property which is the subject of the nuisance abatement proceeding.

  2. A caption reading "Appeal of _________," giving the names of all appellants participating in the appeal.

  3. A brief statement setting forth the legal interest of each of the appellants in the building or the land involved in the notice and order.

  4. A statement in ordinary and concise language of the specific order or action protested,

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.540

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 13.20.560

together with any material facts supporting the contentions of the appellant.

5. The signatures of all parties named as appellants, and their official mailing addresses.

6. The verification of at least one appellant as to the truth of the matters stated in the appeal.

• B. As soon as practical after receiving the written appeal, the Board secretary shall set a date for hearing of the appeal by the Board of Appeals, which date shall be not less than seven days nor more than 35 days from the date the appeal was filed. Written notice of the time and the place of the hearing shall be given at least five days prior to the date of the hearing to each appellant by the Secretary, either by causing a copy of such notice to be delivered to the appellant personally, or by mailing a copy thereof, postage prepaid, addressed to the appellant at his or her address shown on the appeal. Continuances of the hearing may be granted by the Board of Appeals on request of the owner for good cause shown, or on the Board of Appeal's own motion.

• C.

• Upon conclusion of the hearing on such appeal, the Board of Appeals shall either:

1. Terminate the proceeding;

2. Confirm the action and decision of the Director of Planning, or duly authorized representative; or

3. Modify such decision based upon evidence adduced at said hearing.

In the cases of alternative 2 or 3, the Board Order shall declare such property to be a public nuisance and order the abatement of same within 30 days by having such property, buildings, or structures rehabilitated, repaired or demolished in the manner and means specifically set forth in said order.

(Prior code § 33-56; Ord. 1198, 4/22/2025)

A copy of the Board of Appeals order ordering the abatement of said nuisance shall be served upon the owners of said property in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.20.520 and shall contain a detailed list of needed corrections and abatement methods. Any property owner shall have the right to have any such property rehabilitated or to have such buildings or structures demolished or repaired in accordance with said order and at his or her own expense provided the same is commenced prior to the expiration of said 30-day abatement period and thereafter diligently and continuously prosecuted to completion. Upon such abatement in full by the owner, then proceedings hereunder shall terminate.

(Prior code § 33-57)

Any person entitled to service under this article may appeal from the decision of the Board of Appeals by filing at the office of the City Clerk within seven days from the date of service of such decision, a written dated appeal in the manner provided for in Section 13.20.540. Such appeal shall be heard by the City Council in the manner provided for in Sections 13.20.540 and 13.20.550.

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.560

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.20.600

(Prior code § 33-58)

The decision of the City Council shall be by resolution and shall be in the manner provided for in Section 13.20.550. A copy of said resolution shall be served upon the owners of said property in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.20.520. (Prior code § 33-59)

If such nuisance is not completely abated as directed by the City within said abatement period, the City Council may direct the City Manager or duly authorized representative to cause the same to be abated by City forces or private contract and the City Manager or duly authorized representative is expressly authorized to enter upon said property for such purposes. (Prior code § 33-60)

The City Manager shall keep an account of the cost (including incidental expenses) of abating such nuisance on each separate lot or parcel of land where the work is done by the City and shall render an itemized report in writing to the City Council by showing the cost of abatement and the rehabilitation demolishing or repairing of said property, buildings or structures, including any salvage value relating thereto; provided that before said report is submitted to the City Council, a copy of the same shall be posted for at least five days prior to submitting the same to the City Council. Proof of said posting and service shall be made by affidavit filed with the City Clerk. The term "incidental expenses" shall include, but not be limited to, the actual expenses and costs of the City in the preparation of notices, specifications and contracts, and in inspecting the work, and the costs of printing and mailing required hereunder. (Prior code § 33-61)

• A. The total cost for abating such nuisance, as so confirmed by the City Council shall constitute a special assessment against the respective lot or parcel of land to which it relates, and upon recordation in the office of the County Recorder of a notice of lien, as so made and confirmed, shall constitute a lien on said property for the amount of such assessment.

• B. After such confirmation and recordation, a copy may be turned over to the tax collector for the City whereupon it shall be the duty of said tax collector to add the amounts of the respective assessments to the next regular tax bills levied against said respective lots and parcels of land for municipal purposes and thereafter said amounts shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary municipal taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure under foreclosure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for ordinary municipal taxes; or after such recordation, such lien may be foreclosed by judicial or other sale in the manner and means provided by law. Such notice of lien for recordation shall be in the form substantially as follows:

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.600

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 13.20.620

NOTICE OF LIEN

(Claim of the City of Paramount)

Pursuant to the authority vested by the provisions of Section 13.20.580 of the Paramount City Code, the City Manager of the City of Paramount did on or about the _________ day of , 20, cause the property hereinafter described to be rehabilitated or the building or structure on the property hereinafter described to be repaired or demolished in order to abate a public nuisance on said real property; and the City Council of the City of Paramount did on the _________ day of , 20, assess the cost of such rehabilitation, repair or demolition upon the real property hereinafter described; and the same has not been paid nor any part thereof; and that said City of Paramount does hereby claim a lien for such rehabilitation, repair, or demolition in the amount of said assessment, to wit: the sum of $_________; and the same shall be a lien upon said real property until the same has been paid in full and discharged of record.

The real property hereinabove mentioned, and upon which a lien is claimed is that certain parcel of land lying and being in the City of Paramount, County of Los Angeles, State of California, and particularly described as follows:

(Description)

Dated this _________ day of _________, 20.

__________________________________ City Manager, City of Paramount

(Prior code § 33-62)

Nothing in this article shall be deemed to prevent the Council from ordering the commencement of a civil or criminal proceeding to abate a public nuisance or from pursuing any other means available to it under provisions of applicable ordinances or State law to correct hazards or deficiencies in real property in addition to or as alternatives to the proceedings herein set forth. (Prior code § 33-63)

• A. The owner or other person having charge or control of any such buildings or property who maintains any public nuisance defined in this article or who violates any order of abatement made pursuant to this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.

• B. Any person who removes any notice or order posted as required in this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.

• C. No person shall obstruct, impede or interfere with any representative of the City department or with any person who owns or holds any estate or interest in the building which has been ordered to be vacated, repaired, rehabilitated or demolished and removed or with any person to whom such building has been lawfully sold pursuant to the provisions of this Code whenever any such representative of the City, purchaser or person having any interest or estate in such building is engaged in vacating, repairing, rehabilitating or demolishing and removing any necessary act preliminary to or incidental to such work as authorized or directed pursuant hereto.

(Prior code § 33-63.1)

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City of Paramount, CA § 13.20.630

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.20.650