Alhambra · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Alhambra

Alhambra requires the responsible party of any vacant property, building or tenant space to register within 30 days of the city's written notice, and to secure it within 24 hours. Foreclosure steps and auctions follow state law.

Ask about foreclosure & auctions in Alhambra See coverage

Key points

Registration: The responsible party registers within 30 days of the city's written notice. The first-year fee is waived; annual registration is due January 1.
Securing: Secure a vacant property within 24 hours. Boarding is limited to 10 calendar days without prior written approval of the Community Development Director.
Local manager: A responsible party living or doing business more than 40 driving miles from the property must hire a local property management company.
Repairs and signs: Fix unlawful conditions on a registered vacant property within 60 days. Submit a Letter of Agency every six months and post No Trespassing signs.
State timeline: State law: at least 3 months pass from the recorded notice of default to notice of sale, posted at least 20 days before sale.
Trustee sale: State law: a 1–4 unit trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible tenant buyers and bidders may bid within 45 days.

Each rule below is marked Alhambra 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

Alhambra code What Alhambra's code adds
Local contact	The responsible party must hire a local property management company. Applies: Applies when the responsible party lives or does business more than 40 driving miles from the property. § 6.28.030 · code text If the responsible party's place of residence or business location is not within 40 driving miles of the subject property, then the responsible party for the vacant property, vacant building, and/or vacant tenant space must retain the services of a local property management company that is responsible for the security, maintenance, and marketing of that real property.
Upkeep duties	The responsible party must fix any unlawful condition within 60 days. Applies: Applies to a registered vacant property. The 60 days count from seeing the condition or getting notice of it. § 6.28.030 · code text A responsible party must abate any unlawful condition existing on real property subject to registration pursuant to this program within 60 days after observing or being notified of the unlawful condition. Secure the property within 24 hours after it becomes vacant or shows signs of vacancy. Applies: Applies to a vacant property, building or tenant space. Security must prevent unauthorized access. § 6.28.040 · code text Vacant property, vacant building, and/or vacant tenant space must be secured within 24 hours after becoming vacant or showing evidence of vacancy, in a manner to prevent access by unauthorized persons, including, without limitation, the closure, locking, or boarding of windows, doors, gates, or other openings Replace boarded openings with permanent windows, doors or other fixtures within ten calendar days. Applies: Applies to windows, doors and similar openings, after written notice from the city. § 6.28.040 · code text Windows, doors, or other similar openings must be replaced with permanent windows, doors, or other fixtures within ten calendar days of written notice by the city. Boarding an opening may not last longer than ten calendar days without prior written approval of the Community Development Director. Applies: Applies to a vacant property, building or tenant space. § 6.28.040 · code text Window, door, or other similar openings may not be boarded for a period longer than ten calendar days without prior written approval of the Community Development Director Boarding must be painted to match the color of the building. Applies: Applies when prior written approval to board an opening has been granted. § 6.28.040 · code text when such approval has been granted, the boarding of any window, door, or other opening must be painted to match the color of the building. Submit a Letter of Agency every six months and post No Trespassing signs. Applies: Applies to responsible parties of any vacant property, building or tenant space. § 6.28.040 · code text Responsible parties for any vacant property, vacant building, and/or vacant tenant space, must submit a "Letter of Agency" (or other similarly entitled authorization) in accordance with the City Municipal Code to the Community Development Director every six months and post "No Trespassing" signs as required and approved by the Community Development Director.
Deadline to register	Register within 30 days of written notice from the city. Applies: Applies to the responsible party of any vacant property, building or tenant space. The 30 days count from the city's written notice of program requirements. § 6.28.030 · code text Responsible parties of a vacant property, vacant building and/or vacant tenant space, must register the real property with the Community Development Department on forms approved by the Community Development Director within 30 days of written notice by the city of the requirements of this program. Annual registration is due January 1 each year and must be received by January 31. Applies: Applies to later annual registrations and fees. § 6.28.030 · code text Subsequent registrations and fees are due January 1st of each year and must be received by the city not later than January 31st of the year.
Registration fee	The first-year registration fee is waived. Applies: Applies to the initial first-year fee, when the responsible party starts the registration process. § 6.28.030 · code text The initial first-year registration fee will be waived if the registration process is initiated by the responsible party.
Registration	The responsible party must register the real property. Applies: Applies to any vacant property, building or tenant space, within 30 days of the city's written notice. § 6.28.030 · code text Responsible parties of a vacant property, vacant building and/or vacant tenant space, must register the real property with the Community Development Department on forms approved by the Community Development Director within 30 days of written notice by the city of the requirements of this program.

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 Alhambra?

The responsible party registers within 30 days of the city's written notice. The first-year fee is waived; annual registration is due January 1. Secure a vacant property within 24 hours. Boarding is limited to 10 calendar days without prior written approval of the Community Development Director. A responsible party living or doing business more than 40 driving miles from the property must hire a local property management company. Fix unlawful conditions on a registered vacant property within 60 days. Submit a Letter of Agency every six months and post No Trespassing signs.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Alhambra property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Alhambra

Alhambra Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Alhambra

Buying & selling in Alhambra

Building on your lot in Alhambra

Property taxes in Alhambra

Alhambra overview