Colton · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Colton

Colton requires the beneficiary and trustee to register a vacant or distressed property, hire a local property management company for weekly inspections, and keep the property maintained. Foreclosure timing and sale rules come from state law.

Ask about foreclosure & auctions in Colton See coverage

Key points

Registration: City rule: the beneficiary and trustee register within 10 days after the inspection that finds a property vacant or showing signs of vacancy.
Renewal and fee: City rule: later annual registrations are due January 1 and must be received by January 31; the fee is set by City Council resolution.
Weekly inspections: City rule: the beneficiary and trustee get weekly inspections by a local property management company and keep the property free of weeds and trash.
Sign and security: City rule: on abandoned property, lock openings, board broken windows, and post a sign with a 24-hour phone number.
Penalty: City rule: an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each day, or part of a day, the violation continues.
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 Colton 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

Colton code What Colton's code adds
Local contact	A local property management company responsible for the property's security, maintenance and marketing. Applies: Applies to an out-of-area beneficiary or trustee. § 8.05.040 · code text The registration Shall contain the names of the Beneficiary and Trustee, the Street address of the Beneficiary and Trustee (no P.O. Boxes), a direct contact name, facsimile and phone numbers for the Beneficiary and Trustee and, in the case of an Out of Area Beneficiary or Trustee, the Local Property Management Company responsible for the security, maintenance and marketing of the subject Property. Must obtain a local property management company to inspect the property weekly. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary and trustee of the property. § 8.05.050 · code text The Beneficiary and Trustee of the subject Property Shall obtain a Local Property Management Company to inspect the Property on a weekly basis to monitor the Property for compliance with this chapter. Must contract a local property management company to inspect weekly. Applies: Applies to abandoned property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 8.05.060 · code text If any Abandoned Property is owned by a corporation or Out of Area Beneficiary, Trustee or Owner, a Local Property Management Company Shall be contracted to perform weekly inspections to verify that the requirements of this chapter, and any other applicable Laws, are being met.
Upkeep duties	Get weekly inspections by a local property management company. Keep the property free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, accumulated papers and other signs of abandonment. Also remove graffiti, keep visible front and side yards to the Neighborhood Standard, maintain or drain pools and spas, and meet California minimum security fencing rules. Applies to abandoned or distressed properties; the beneficiary and trustee must get the inspections. § 8.05.050 · code text Abandoned or distressed Properties Shall be, in comparison to the Neighborhood Standard, kept free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, Building Materials, any accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers, Notices (except those required by Federal, State or Local Law), discarded personal items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances, printed Material or any other items that give the appearance that the Property is Abandoned or distressed. Close and lock windows, doors, gates and openings. Re-glaze or board broken windows, with boards painted to match the building. Applies: Applies to abandoned properties. § 8.05.060 · code text Abandoned Properties Shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized Persons. Secure manner includes, but is not limited to, the closure and locking of windows, doors (walk-through, sliding and garage) Gates and any other opening of such size that it May allow a child to Access the interior of the Property and or Structure(s). Post the management company name and a 24-hour phone number on a sign at least 18 by 24 inches. Applies: Applies to abandoned property. The sign has specified wording, is visible from the street and is legible from 45 feet. § 8.05.060 · code text The Abandoned Property Shall be posted with the name and a twenty-four-hour contact phone number of the Local Property Management Company. The posting Shall be no less than eighteen inches × twenty-four inches and Shall be of a font that is legible from a distance of forty-five feet
Penalty	Up to $1,000 for each day, or part of a day, the violation continues. Applies: Applies to an administrative penalty. Repeat citations may be issued for an uncorrected violation. § 8.05.090 · code text Penalties Shall not exceed one thousand dollars for each Day, or portion thereof, that the Violation continues to exist.
Deadline to register	Register within 10 days after the inspection. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary and trustee when the inspection before a notice of default finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.05.040 · code text If the Property is found to be Vacant or shows Evidence of Vacancy, the Beneficiary and Trustee Shall, within ten Days Following the inspection, register the Property with Colton Police Department Code Enforcement Division on forms provided by the City. Register within 10 days after the required inspection. Applies: Applies to a distressed property in default, inspected monthly. The trustee registers once it is found vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.05.040 · code text Any Distressed Property Shall be inspected by the Beneficiary and Trustee, or their Designee, at least monthly until either: 1) the Trustor or other Party remedies the Default, or 2) it is found to be Vacant or shows Evidence of Vacancy, at which time it is deemed Abandoned, and the Trustee Shall, within ten Days Following the required inspection, register the Property with the Colton Police Department Code Enforcement Division on forms provided by the City. Due January 1 and must be received by January 31 of the year due. Applies: Applies to later annual registrations and fees. § 8.05.040 · code text Subsequent registrations and Fees are due January 1 of each Year and Must be received by the Colton Police Department Code Enforcement Division no later than January 31 of the Year due. Re-register within 10 days of the change. Applies: Applies to re-registration after a change of ownership or a transfer of the loan. § 8.05.040 · code text The re-registration Must occur within ten Days of the change.
Registration fee	The fee is set from time to time by City Council resolution. Applies: Applies when registering or re-registering a property. § 8.05.110 · code text The Fee for registering or re-registering a Property subject to this chapter Shall be set from time to time by Resolution of the City Council.
Registration	Registration is required. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary and trustee when the inspection before a notice of default finds the property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.05.040 · code text If the Property is found to be Vacant or shows Evidence of Vacancy, the Beneficiary and Trustee Shall, within ten Days Following the inspection, register the Property with Colton Police Department Code Enforcement Division on forms provided by the City. Registration is required. Applies: Applies to a distressed property in default, inspected monthly. The trustee registers once it is found vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 8.05.040 · code text Any Distressed Property Shall be inspected by the Beneficiary and Trustee, or their Designee, at least monthly until either: 1) the Trustor or other Party remedies the Default, or 2) it is found to be Vacant or shows Evidence of Vacancy, at which time it is deemed Abandoned, and the Trustee Shall, within ten Days Following the required inspection, register the Property with the Colton Police Department Code Enforcement Division on forms provided by the City. Registration is required. Re-registration is due within 10 days. Applies: Applies to a new beneficiary, trustee or owner (responsible party) when ownership changes or the loan is transferred after the property is found vacant. § 8.05.040 · code text Anytime after the Property is determined to be Vacant and if there are any changes to ownership, whether recorded or not, or if the loan is transferred to another Beneficiary, Trustee or Owner ("Responsible Party"), the Responsible Party Shall re-register the Property with the City.

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 Colton?

City rule: the beneficiary and trustee register within 10 days after the inspection that finds a property vacant or showing signs of vacancy. City rule: later annual registrations are due January 1 and must be received by January 31; the fee is set by City Council resolution. City rule: the beneficiary and trustee get weekly inspections by a local property management company and keep the property free of weeds and trash. City rule: on abandoned property, lock openings, board broken windows, and post a sign with a 24-hour phone number. City rule: an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each day, or part of a day, the violation continues.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Colton property

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

Ask your question

More on Colton

Colton Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Colton

Buying & selling in Colton

Building on your lot in Colton

Colton overview