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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 2Ch. 13Art. 1§ 39501 Property Maintenance Enforcement

§ 39501 Property Maintenance Enforcement

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 39501 Property Maintenance Enforcement

Key Takeaways

  • •The city can tell you to clean up trash, weeds, or dirt on your property or nearby sidewalk.
  • •If you don’t clean it up after being warned, the city can do it for you and make you pay.
  • •The city can put a charge on your property if you don’t pay for the cleanup.

Example

Your front yard is full of tall weeds and trash, and the sidewalk in front of your house is dirty.

The city can tell you to clean it up. If you ignore them, they can clean it themselves and send you the bill. If you don’t pay, they can add the cost to your property taxes.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 39501 Property Maintenance Enforcement

The legislative body may compel the owner, lessee, or occupant of buildings, grounds, or lots to remove dirt, rubbish, weeds, and rank growths from buildings or grounds and adjacent sidewalks. If the person compelled by the legislative body defaults, after notice prescribed by the legislative body, it may authorize the removal or destruction of the dirt, rubbish, weeds, and rank growths at that person’s expense by a city officer. The legislative body may prescribe a procedure for the removal or destruction and make the expense a lien upon the buildings or grounds. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 467, Sec. 31. (SB 1498) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

propertylienclaimlocal governmentsdestruction

Related Statutes

  • § 39502 Property Maintenance Liens
  • § 39588 Assessment Lien Tax Priority
  • § 38773 Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery
  • § 26205.6 Destroying Unclaimed Recorded Documents
  • § 26205.8 Public Defender Record Destruction

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 39501.
View Official Source