Compton · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Compton

Compton requires the beneficiary and trustee to register an abandoned residential property, within 5 business days of an inspection that finds it vacant before a notice of default. Foreclosure steps and auctions follow state law.

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Key points

Registration: Register within 5 business days of a pre-default vacancy inspection, or 10 days if an occupied property in default is later found vacant.
Fees: The annual fee covers the fiscal year, with later fees due July 1. A late fee applies after July 31; no amounts are stated.
Local manager: Corporate or out-of-area owners, beneficiaries and trustees need a local property management company that inspects weekly and brings the property into compliance.
Sign: Those owners must post the company name and 24-hour phone number on a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, readable from 45 feet.
Civil fine: Owners who acquired it through foreclosure face a civil fine of up to $1,000 per day, after at least 30 days to fix.
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.

Each rule below is marked Compton 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

Compton code What Compton's code adds
Local contact	Identify the local property management company, if any, responsible for security, maintenance and marketing of the property. Applies: Applies to a corporate or out-of-area beneficiary or trustee. § 24-9.8 · code text in the case of a corporate or out of area beneficiary or trustee, the local property management company, if any, responsible for the security, maintenance and marketing of the property in question. Contract a local property management company to perform weekly inspections. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 24-9.10 · code text If the property is owned by a corporation and/or out of area beneficiary/trustee/owner, a local property management company shall be contracted to perform weekly inspections to verify that the requirements of this section, and any other applicable laws, are being met. Post company name and 24-hour phone number on a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, readable from 45 feet. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation or out-of-area owner, beneficiary or trustee. § 24-9.10 · code text The property shall be posted with the name and twenty-four-hour contact phone number of the local property management company. The posting shall be no less than 18 inches by 24 inches, shall be of a font that is legible from a distance of 45 feet
Upkeep duties	Keep free of weeds, dry brush, dead plants, trash, junk, debris, building materials, old newspapers and similar signs of abandonment. Applies: Applies to property that must register under Section 24-9.8. § 24-9.9 · code text the property shall be kept free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, any accumulation of newspaper, circular, flyers, notices Keep the property free of graffiti and tagging. Remove or paint over it with exterior-grade paint matching the exterior color. § 24-9.9 · code text The property shall be maintained free of graffiti, tagging or similar markings. Any removal or painting over of graffiti shall be with an exterior grade paint that matches the color of the exterior of the structure. Landscape and maintain visible front and side yards to the neighborhood standard. Applies: Applies to visible front and side yards. § 24-9.9 · code text Visible front and side yards shall be landscaped and maintained to the neighborhood standard. Keep pools and spas working with clear, clean water, or drained and dry, and meet California minimum security fencing rules. Applies: Applies to properties with pools or spas. § 24-9.9 · code text Pools and spas shall be kept in working order so that water remains clear and free of pollutants, debris or from becoming a breeding place for vectors, or alternatively shall be drained and kept dry. Secure the property against unauthorized access. Close and lock windows, doors, gates and other openings. Reglaze or board broken windows. § 24-9.10 · code text Properties subject to this section shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons. Secure manner includes, but is not limited to, closing and locking of windows, doors (walk-through, sliding and garage), gates and any other opening A local property management company must inspect weekly and bring the property into compliance if it is not compliant. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 24-9.10 · code text The local property management company shall inspect the property on a weekly basis to determine if the property is in compliance with the requirements of this section.
Penalty	Civil fine of up to $1,000 per day. Applies: Applies to the legal owner who bought or acquired the property through foreclosure. The owner first gets at least 30 days to fix the violation. § 24-9.14 · code text The City may impose a civil fine of up to $1,000 per day for a violation of this section
Deadline to register	Register within five business days of the inspection. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary and trustee holding a deed of trust, when the inspection before a notice of default finds the property vacant. § 24-9.8 · code text Registration of abandoned property shall be made within five business days from the inspection in accordance with subsection 24-9.6. Register within 10 days of that inspection. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee, when an occupied property in default, inspected monthly, is found vacant or showing signs of vacancy. § 24-9.8 · code text Hence the beneficiary/trustee shall within 10 days of that inspection register the property with the Building and Safety Department on forms provided by the City.
Registration fee	Annual fee, valid for the fiscal year. Later registrations and fees are due July 1 each year. Applies: The fee accompanies each registration. This section does not state the amount. § 24-9.8 · code text An annual registration fee shall accompany the registration form. A late fee is charged. The code does not state the amount. Applies: Applies to a registration received after July 31 of the same year. § 24-9.8 · code text If the registration is received after July 31 of the same year, a late fee will be charged.
Registration	Required for abandoned residential property (vacant or showing signs of vacancy). Applies: Applies to the beneficiary and trustee holding a deed of trust, based on the inspection made before a notice of default is recorded. § 24-9.6 · code text If the property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, as defined by this section, it is hereby deemed to be abandoned.

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 Compton?

Register within 5 business days of a pre-default vacancy inspection, or 10 days if an occupied property in default is later found vacant. The annual fee covers the fiscal year, with later fees due July 1. A late fee applies after July 31; no amounts are stated. Corporate or out-of-area owners, beneficiaries and trustees need a local property management company that inspects weekly and brings the property into compliance. Those owners must post the company name and 24-hour phone number on a sign at least 18 by 24 inches, readable from 45 feet. Owners who acquired it through foreclosure face a civil fine of up to $1,000 per day, after at least 30 days to fix.

General information, not legal advice.

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