Dunsmuir · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir requires owners to register abandoned or distressed property with a registration fee, name an authorized agent, and allow inspections, with escalating penalties for uncorrected violations. Foreclosure timing and sale rules come from state law.

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Key points

Registration fee: City rule: the initial registration fee is $500 for each abandoned or distressed property; the first and every later renewal is $500.
Reduced fee: City rule: the fee is $100 for a property listed for sale or rent at a reasonable price with a licensed real estate agent.
Local contact: City rule: the owner names an authorized agent, a person at least 18 years old with an office or home in the state.
Inspections: City rule: after registration is filed or renewed, the owner gives access for outside and inside inspection after reasonable notice from the city.
Penalties: City rule: up to $1,000 under an abatement order, $5,000 if not fixed by the 30th day after the deadline, $25,000 by the 60th.
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 Dunsmuir 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

Dunsmuir code What Dunsmuir's code adds
Local contact	Name an authorized agent: a person at least 18 years old with an office or home in the state. Applies: Applies to an owner registering an abandoned or distressed property. § 9.14.040 · code text The registration statement shall include the name, street address, and telephone number of a natural person eighteen (18) years of age or older, designated by the owner(s) as the authorized agent for receiving notices of code violations and for receiving process, in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding, on behalf of such owner(s) in connection with the enforcement of any applicable code or of this chapter. This person must maintain an office in the state or reside within the state. Registration must name the person responsible for maintaining and securing the property, if different from the authorized agent. Applies: Applies to an owner registering an abandoned or distressed property. § 9.14.040 · code text The registration statement shall also include the name of the person responsible for maintaining and securing the property so that it is not accessible, if different from the person identified in Subsection A above.
Upkeep duties	The owner must give access for outside and inside inspection after reasonable notice from the city. Applies: Applies after filing or renewing a registration statement. § 9.14.050 · code text After filing a registration statement or renewal of a registration statement, and following reasonable notice by the city, the owner of any abandoned or distressed property shall provide access to the city to conduct an exterior and interior inspection of the building or structure to determine compliance with the municipal code.
Penalty	Up to $1,000. Applies: Applies when found in violation of this chapter and subject to an abatement order. § 9.14.090 · code text Upon being found to be violation of this chapter, each party subject to an abatement order shall pay an administrative penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Up to $5,000. Applies: Applies when the violation in the abatement order is still not fixed by the 30th day after the city manager's deadline. § 9.14.090 · code text If a violation of this chapter addressed by abatement order has not been abated, cured, remedied or eliminated to the reasonable satisfaction of the city manager by the thirtieth day after the deadline imposed by the city manager, each party subject to said abatement order shall pay a supplemental administrative penalty of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00). Up to $25,000. Applies: Applies when the violation in the abatement order is still not fixed by the 60th day after the city manager's deadline. § 9.14.090 · code text If a violation of this chapter addressed by abatement order has not been abated, cured, remedied, or eliminated to the reasonable satisfaction of the city manager by the sixtieth day after the deadline imposed by the city manager, each party subject to said abatement order shall pay a supplemental administrative penalty of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00).
Registration fee	$500. Applies: Applies to the initial registration fee for each abandoned or distressed property. § 9.14.070 · code text The initial registration fee for each abandoned or distressed property shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00), but may be reduced to one hundred dollars ($100.00) if the city clerk receives acceptable evidence that the property has been listed for sale or rent at a reasonable price with a licensed real estate agent authorized to sell or lease the property. $100. Applies: Applies to a property listed for sale or rent at a reasonable price with a licensed real estate agent authorized to sell or lease it. § 9.14.070 · code text The initial registration fee for each abandoned or distressed property shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00), but may be reduced to one hundred dollars ($100.00) if the city clerk receives acceptable evidence that the property has been listed for sale or rent at a reasonable price with a licensed real estate agent authorized to sell or lease the property. $500. Applies: Applies to the first renewal and every later renewal. § 9.14.070 · code text The fee for the first and every subsequent renewal is five hundred dollars ($500.00). The city clerk may waive the fee entirely. Applies: Applies to a property used for community benefit, or one with a building permit for work over 50 percent of property value that is actively pursued to the building official's satisfaction. § 9.14.070 · code text The city clerk may waive the fee entirely with acceptable evidence that (1) the property is being utilized for a community benefit, or (2) a building permit has been issued for improvements/repairs that exceed fifty (50) percent of the property value and said improvements/repairs are actively being pursued to the satisfaction of the building official.

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 Dunsmuir?

City rule: the initial registration fee is $500 for each abandoned or distressed property; the first and every later renewal is $500. City rule: the fee is $100 for a property listed for sale or rent at a reasonable price with a licensed real estate agent. City rule: the owner names an authorized agent, a person at least 18 years old with an office or home in the state. City rule: after registration is filed or renewed, the owner gives access for outside and inside inspection after reasonable notice from the city. City rule: up to $1,000 under an abatement order, $5,000 if not fixed by the 30th day after the deadline, $25,000 by the 60th.

General information, not legal advice.

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