Santa Rosa program targeting unmaintained vacant properties starts Thursday

Enforcement of a new Santa Rosa program seeking to address blighted and neglected undeveloped lots or properties with vacant structures in the city goes into effect this week.

Property owners must comply with new maintenance standards and other regulations beginning Aug. 1 under the city’s vacant building and lot program.

Many of the maintenance requirements are already required in city code. Code enforcement staff say the program, adopted by the City Council in February, will give them an additional tool to address properties with continuous issues.

Staffers say such graffiti, weeds and trespassing issues can attract criminal activity and pests and pose a health and safety threat.

There were an estimated 2,800 properties that could be subject to the program, according to a staff report when the measure was approved.

Code enforcement staff will begin conducting proactive inspections and will issue correction notices to property owners whose properties don’t meet minimum maintenance standards, such as maintaining grounds, exterior walls and fences, landscaping and lighting and removing trash and hazardous brush.

Property owners will have 30 days to bring the property up to code after an initial violation.

Property owners who fail to correct any issues will be required to register their property with the city and pay a $1,040 annual registration fee. Properties where a notice of default has been recorded are automatically subject to the registration requirement.

Landowners also will have to install signs with their contact information, secure the property to prevent break-ins and vandalism, conduct regular maintenance and be subject to monthly inspections and reports to the city.

The fee will cover the cost of regular inspections by code enforcement staff.

Property owners can request to be removed from the program if no violations have been recorded in the prior 12 months and they meet requirements outlined in the ordinance.

City staff have said they will attempt to work with property owners to address violations in a collaborative manner before taking escalating action.

Recurring violations or property owners unwilling to work with the city to correct violations could result in administrative citations or other enforcement action.

Property owners with questions about the new program can email vbl@srcity.org or call 707-543-3200 or visit the city’s online program page for additional information.

You can reach Staff Writer Paulina Pineda at 707-521-5268 or paulina.pineda@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @paulinapineda22.