Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 8.56 Real Estate Transfer Disclosure

This chapter shall be known as the "Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Ordinance" and is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Section 1102.6a of the Civil Code of the State of California. This chapter shall apply only to real property which is transferred to a transferee for a single-family or multiple residential use, a motel, a hotel, a hospital, a convalescent facility, or a similar non-industrial use in the City of Vernon, and only if said transferee discloses to the transferor that said land will be used for such residential purposes. This chapter shall not apply to any real estate transfer which is exempted by Article 1.5, Disclosures Upon Transfer of Residential Property (beginning with Section 1102), of Chapter 2 of Title 4 of Part 4 of Division 2 of the Civil Code of the State of California.

(Prior code § 19A.15)

Every transferor of land subject to this chapter, whether a person, partnership, corporation, estate, or other owner, which is situated wholly or partly within the corporate limits of the City of Vernon, shall furnish to a prospective transferee of said land, whether by way of purchase or lease for a term of five or more years, a copy of the real estate transfer disclosure statement described in Section 8.56.080 and shall include in said statement the information required by this chapter.

(Prior code § 19A.16)

Every such transferor shall conduct an environmental site assessment of the real property in accordance with the guidelines established by the Health Officer of the City of Vernon. The results of said environmental site assessment and the real estate transfer disclosure statement shall be filed with the Health Officer as a public record and shall be furnished to the transferee.

(Prior code § 19A.17)

Every such transfer shall include in the environmental site assessment a disclosure of the location and use of any underground facilities of any kind including, but not limited to, storage tanks, clarifiers, monitoring devices, meters, pipes, conduits, drains, and drainage basins. A disclosure of the location of aboveground facilities which involve or have involved the use, storage, transport, or disposal of any hazardous materials shall also be included. Said information shall be attached to the environmental site assessment.

(Prior code § 19A.18)

The environmental site assessment and disclosures required by this chapter shall be in addition to any other such assessment, tests, or disclosures required by any other statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance, and shall not be construed as an exception or limitation thereon.

(Prior code § 19A.19)

The Health Officer may require the environmental site assessment to include:

A. Historical research on the site and adjoining properties, such as ownership, tenancies, uses, building and architectural records, etc.;

B. A photographic record of the site and the surrounding area;

C. A review of the site geology, topography, stratigraphy, hydrology, and vegetation;

D. Interviews with persons familiar with the past and recent use of the site and its surroundings;

E. Additional chemical analyses of ground, hydrology, and structures and a review of chemical management practices past and present; and

F. Integrity testing of all underground and aboveground facilities.

(Prior code § 19A.20)

All soil, chemical, or other such tests and surveys shall be conducted by qualified individuals or firms approved by the Health Officer. Qualifications shall include but are not limited to education, experience, expertise, professional credentials, and licenses.

(Prior code § 19A.21)

The form for the real estate transfer disclosure statement shall be prepared by the Health Officer in substantially similar form to the disclosure statement contained in Section 1102.6a of the Civil Code of the State of California.

(Prior code § 19A.22)