San Diego · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in San Diego

San Diego requires the responsible party for a defaulted or REO (bank-owned) residential property to register within 10 calendar days. A party who fails to register may be liable for $100 per day, at most $5,000 per calendar year.

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Key points

Registration: The responsible party registers within 10 calendar days of a notice of default, or of the title transfer for a bank-owned property.
Renewal and fee: Registration renews by January 31 if the property is still covered on January 1; the City Council sets the fee, paid each time.
Penalty: A responsible party who fails to register a covered property may be liable for $100 per day, at most $5,000 per calendar year.
Vacant structures: The registration states whether there is a vacant structure and, if so, includes a copy of the statement of intent filed with the City.
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 San Diego 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

San Diego code What San Diego's code adds
Local contact	Registration lists contact details of any local property management or preservation company responsible for maintenance, security and marketing. Applies: Applies to defaulted or foreclosed residential properties, if such a company is responsible. § 54.1107 · code text The name, telephone number, email address, street address, and facsimile number of any local property management or property preservation company responsible for the maintenance, security, and marketing of the property.
Penalty	May be liable for $100 per day of noncompliance, at most $5,000 per calendar year. Applies: Applies when the responsible party fails to register a covered defaulted or foreclosed residential property. § 54.1110 · code text Any responsible party that fails to comply with the registration requirements of this section may be liable for an administrative civil penalty in the amount of $100 per day for each day of non-compliance, not to exceed $5,000 in a calendar year.
Deadline to register	10 calendar days Applies: Responsible party of a defaulted residential property, counted from issuing a notice of default. § 54.1107 · code text The responsible party for a property in default, shall register the property with the Director within 10 calendar days of issuing a notice of default 10 calendar days Applies: Responsible party of an REO (bank-owned) residential property, counted from the transfer of title. § 54.1107 · code text The responsible party for an REO property shall register the property with the Director within 10 calendar days of the transfer of title 10 calendar days Applies: Defaulted or foreclosed residential properties; a change in information previously submitted, including the responsible party, property status or contact information. § 54.1108 · code text §54.1108 Duty to Update and Renew Registration (a) The initial registration of a property shall be effective for the duration of the calendar year in which it is made with the exception that the responsible party shall provide to the Director any change in the information previously submitted to the City or otherwise required under this Division including but not limited to: a change in the identity of the responsible party, a change in the status of the property, and any change in contact information, within 10 calendar days of the date of the change. Ch. Art. Div. 5 4 11 4 San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 5: Public Safety, Morals and Welfare (1-2013) (b) For any registered property that is still subject to the registration requirements of this Division on January 1 of each year, the responsible party must submit a renewed registration by no later than January 31 of that year. (“Duty to Update and Renew Registration” added 12-18-2012 by O-20228 N.S.; effective 2-16-2013.) January 31 Applies: Defaulted or foreclosed residential properties; annual renewal for a registered property still subject to registration requirements on January 1. § 54.1108 · code text §54.1108 Duty to Update and Renew Registration (a) The initial registration of a property shall be effective for the duration of the calendar year in which it is made with the exception that the responsible party shall provide to the Director any change in the information previously submitted to the City or otherwise required under this Division including but not limited to: a change in the identity of the responsible party, a change in the status of the property, and any change in contact information, within 10 calendar days of the date of the change. Ch. Art. Div. 5 4 11 4 San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 5: Public Safety, Morals and Welfare (1-2013) (b) For any registered property that is still subject to the registration requirements of this Division on January 1 of each year, the responsible party must submit a renewed registration by no later than January 31 of that year. (“Duty to Update and Renew Registration” added 12-18-2012 by O-20228 N.S.; effective 2-16-2013.)
Registration fee	An amount established by the City Council. Applies: Registry of defaulted and foreclosed residential properties. The fee schedule is in the Ratebook of City Fees and Charges. § 54.1109 · code text §54.1109 Duty to Pay Registration Fee (a) The responsible party shall pay a fee set in an amount established by the City Council to cover the costs of the registry of defaulted and foreclosed residential properties maintained by the Director, including, but not limited to: the creation and maintenance of the registry; the inspection and investigation of registered properties to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Division. These costs shall be determined within 60 days of the effective date of this ordinance and thereafter annually by the City, in accordance with the City Council's User Fee Policy. The fee schedule shall be filed in the Ratebook of City Fees and Charges in the City Clerk’s Office. (b) The registration fee shall be paid with the initial registration and with each annual renewal. (“Duty to Pay Registration Fee” added 12-18-2012 by O-20228 N.S.; effective 2-16-2013.) Paid with the initial registration and with each annual renewal. Applies: Applies to defaulted and foreclosed residential property registration. § 54.1109 · code text The registration fee shall be paid with the initial registration and with each annual renewal.
Registration	Must register with the Director. Applies: Responsible party of a defaulted residential property, within 10 calendar days of issuing a notice of default. § 54.1107 · code text The responsible party for a property in default, shall register the property with the Director within 10 calendar days of issuing a notice of default Must register with the Director. Applies: Responsible party of an REO (bank-owned) residential property, within 10 calendar days of the transfer of title. § 54.1107 · code text The responsible party for an REO property shall register the property with the Director within 10 calendar days of the transfer of title Registration must state whether there is a vacant structure. If so, provide a copy of the statement of intent filed with the City. Applies: Applies to a defaulted or foreclosed residential property with a vacant structure; the form must include the filed statement of intent. § 54.1107 · code text If there is a vacant structure on the property, a copy of the statement of intent filed with the City pursuant to San Diego Municipal Code section 54.0313 shall be provided with the registration form.

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 San Diego?

The responsible party registers within 10 calendar days of a notice of default, or of the title transfer for a bank-owned property. Registration renews by January 31 if the property is still covered on January 1; the City Council sets the fee, paid each time. A responsible party who fails to register a covered property may be liable for $100 per day, at most $5,000 per calendar year. The registration states whether there is a vacant structure and, if so, includes a copy of the statement of intent filed with the City.

General information, not legal advice.

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