Brawley · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Brawley

Brawley requires owners of any vacant property to register, and beneficiaries or trustees to register when a pre-default inspection finds a property vacant. It also sets inspection, posting and security duties.

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Key points

Owner registration: City rule: the owner of any vacant property registers within 10 days of the day it becomes vacant.
Lender registration: City rule: a beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of an inspection, before a notice of default, that finds the property vacant.
Fee and renewal: City rule: the initial fee is $100; renew January 1 each year, no later than January 31. The council may raise the fee.
Local contact: City rule: if the owner or agent cannot inspect monthly, retain a local property management company licensed in the city for monthly inspections.
Security and signs: City rule: secure vacant property against entry and post a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, visible from the street.
State timeline: State law: at least 3 months from notice of default to notice of sale, which is posted at least 20 days before the sale.

Each rule below is marked Brawley 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

Brawley code What Brawley's code adds
Local contact	Include the name, mailing address and phone number of each local property management company responsible for security and maintenance. Applies: Applies when the owner uses a local property management company. § 16a.9 · code text Owners utilizing a local property management company must also include the name, mailing address, and phone number of the local property management company or companies who are responsible for the security and maintenance of the property. Retain a local property management company licensed to do business in the city to perform monthly inspections. Applies: Applies when the owner or agent cannot inspect the vacant property monthly. § 16a.10 · code text If unable to do so, owners of vacant properties must retain a local property management company licensed to do business in the city. Post the owner's or local property management company's name and a 24-hour contact phone number. Applies: Applies to vacant property registered under this chapter. § 16a.10 · code text All vacant properties registered under this Chapter shall be posted with the name and twenty-four-hour contact phone number of the owner and/or local property management company.
Upkeep duties	Secure against entry: repair walls and fences, chain or padlock gates, and repair or board doors, windows and openings. Applies: Applies to all vacant properties. § 16a.10 · code text All vacant properties shall be maintained in a manner which secures the property from any unauthorized entry. This shall include, but is not limited to, repairing walls and fences, chaining or padlocking gates, and repairing and/or boarding doors, windows, or other openings. Post a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, visible from the street, with the required phrases in legible type. Applies: Applies to vacant property registered under this chapter. § 16a.10 · code text The posting shall be no less than eighteen inches by twenty-four inches, shall contain the phrases "THIS PROPERTY MANAGED BY" and "TO REPORT PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS CALL", and shall be of a font that is legible from the street.
Deadline to register	Register within 10 days. Applies: Applies to the owner of any vacant property (building, lot or parcel). The time counts from the day it becomes vacant. § 16a.9 · code text An owner of a vacant property must register their property with the city within ten days of the building, lot, or parcel becoming vacant. Register within 10 days of the inspection. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee when the inspection before a notice of default finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 16a.9 · code text If the subject property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, the beneficiary or trustee shall, within ten days of the inspection, register the property in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Renew on January 1 of each year, and no later than January 31 of the year due. Applies: Applies to the annual renewal registration. § 16a.9 · code text Renewal registrations and renewal fees are due January 1st of each year and must be received no later than January 31st of the year due.
Registration fee	$100. Applies: Applies to the initial registration. § 16a.9 · code text A registration fee of one hundred dollars shall accompany the registration form. The fee may be increased by resolution. Applies: Applies when the city council decides the fee is not enough to cover keeping the vacant property list and doing periodic inspections. § 16a.9 · code text The registration fee provided for herein may be increased by resolution in the event that the city council determines that it is insufficient to defray the costs of maintaining the vacant property list and performing periodic inspections.
Registration	Registration is required. Applies: Applies to the owner of any vacant property, not only foreclosures. It stays required while the property is vacant. § 16a.9 · code text An owner of a vacant property must register their property with the city within ten days of the building, lot, or parcel becoming vacant. Registration is required. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee when the inspection before a notice of default finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 16a.9 · code text If the subject property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, the beneficiary or trustee shall, within ten days of the inspection, register the property in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

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 Brawley?

City rule: the owner of any vacant property registers within 10 days of the day it becomes vacant. City rule: a beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of an inspection, before a notice of default, that finds the property vacant. City rule: the initial fee is $100; renew January 1 each year, no later than January 31. The council may raise the fee. City rule: if the owner or agent cannot inspect monthly, retain a local property management company licensed in the city for monthly inspections. City rule: secure vacant property against entry and post a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, visible from the street.

General information, not legal advice.

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