California City · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in California City

California City regulates registered vacant and foreclosed property, requiring upkeep, security and a posted contact for the person managing it. Foreclosure timelines and auction rules come from state law.

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Key points

Local manager: When the owner is located more than 25 road miles from the property, a local property management company must inspect it weekly.
Posted contact: Registered property must post the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the person responsible for property management.
Upkeep: Registered property must be free of weeds, trash, junk, debris and graffiti, with visible front and side yards landscaped to the neighborhood standard.
Security and fees: Registered property must be secured against unauthorized entry, and fees are set from time to time by Council resolution.
State timeline: State law: notice of sale comes at least 3 months after notice of default is recorded and at least 20 days before the sale.
State sale window: Under state law, a 1–4 unit trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible bidders who give notice may bid within 45 days.

Each rule below is marked California City code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Registering vacant and foreclosed homes

California City code What California City's code adds
Local contact	A local property management company must inspect weekly. Applies: Applies when the owner is located more than 25 road miles from the property. § 5-1.1A04 · code text If the property is owned by a person located more than twenty-five (25) road miles from the property, a local property management company shall perform weekly inspections to verify compliance with this Article. Post the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the person responsible for property management. Applies: Applies to registered property. § 5-1.1A04 · code text Registered property shall be posted with the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the person responsible for property management.
Upkeep duties	Keep the property free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, piled-up newspapers and similar items suggesting abandonment. Applies: Applies to registered property. § 5-1.1A03 · code text The property shall be kept free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, accumulation of newspaper, circular, flyers, notices (except those required by federal, state or local law), discarded personal items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances, printed material or any other items that give the appearance the property is abandoned. Keep the property free of graffiti, tagging or similar marking. Applies: Applies to registered property. § 5-1.1A03 · code text The property shall be maintained free of graffiti, tagging or similar marking. Landscape visible front and side yards and maintain them to the neighborhood standard. Applies: Applies to visible front and side yards. § 5-1.1A03 · code text Visible front and side yards shall be landscaped and maintained to the neighborhood standard. Keep pools and spas working with clear, clean water, or drained and dry. Meet California minimum security-fencing requirements. Applies: Applies to properties with pools or spas. § 5-1.1A03 · code text Pools and spas shall be kept in working order so water remains clear and free of pollutants and debris, or alternatively, shall be drained and kept dry. Secure the property so unauthorized persons cannot get in. Applies: Applies to registered properties. § 5-1.1A04 · code text Registered properties shall be secured and inaccessible to unauthorized persons.
Registration fee	Fees are set from time to time by Council resolution. Applies: Applies to registered property under this article. § 5-1.1A05 · code text Fees for implementing this Article shall be established from time-to-time by resolution of the Council.

Foreclosure steps and deadlines

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Time between notice of default and sale: At least three months after the notice of default is recorded before notice of sale; the sale itself no earlier than three months and 20 days after the notice of default (Civ. Code § 2924(a)(2), (a)(4)). Notice of trustee's sale: Posted, published and recorded at least 20 days before the sale (Civ. Code § 2924f(b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Homeowner protections

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No foreclosure while a loan modification is pending: If a complete first-lien modification application is submitted at least five business days before a sale, the servicer may not record a notice of default or sale, or hold the sale, while it is pending (Civ. Code § 2923.6(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

The trustee's sale (auction)

CA state law California law sets this statewide. When and where sales are held: At public auction in the county where the property is, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a business day (Civ. Code § 2924g(a)(1)). Tenant and owner-occupant priority after a sale (SB 1079): On 1–4 unit property, a trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible tenant buyers and eligible bidders who give notice of intent may bid within 45 days (Civ. Code § 2924m(c)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Tenants in a foreclosed home

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Tenants in a foreclosed property: A month-to-month tenant must get at least 90 days' written notice to quit; a tenant with a fixed-term lease signed before the sale may stay to the end of the lease (Code Civ. Proc. § 1161b(a), (b)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Debt after the sale

CA state law California law sets this statewide. No deficiency after a trustee's sale: After a nonjudicial trustee's sale, the lender cannot collect any shortfall from the borrower (Code Civ. Proc. § 580d(a)). California foreclosure rules — the full state rule →

Who this affects

Homeowners behind on a loanBuyers of bank-owned homesLenders and servicers

Frequently asked questions

Must a lender or owner register a vacant or foreclosed home in California City?

When the owner is located more than 25 road miles from the property, a local property management company must inspect it weekly. Registered property must post the name and 24-hour contact phone number of the person responsible for property management. Registered property must be free of weeds, trash, junk, debris and graffiti, with visible front and side yards landscaped to the neighborhood standard. Registered property must be secured against unauthorized entry, and fees are set from time to time by Council resolution.

General information, not legal advice.

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