Lomita · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Lomita

Lomita requires the owner of record to register a vacant property within 30 days and the beneficiary to register within 10 days when the property is under foreclosure or has a recorded notice of default. A monthly monitoring fee applies to vacant buildings or abandoned property declared a public nuisance.

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Key points

Registration: Owner of record: register a vacant property in 30 days. Beneficiary: in 10 days if in foreclosure or a notice of default is recorded.
Local inspections: A local property management company must perform weekly inspections of abandoned property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner.
Boarding: A vacant building is boarded when closing and locking doors and windows cannot secure it, and the boarding must be maintained and monitored.
Monitoring fee: A vacant building or abandoned property declared a public nuisance pays a monthly monitoring fee.
State timeline: State law: notice of sale comes at least 3 months after notice of default is recorded and at least 20 days before the sale.
State sale window: Under state law, a 1–4 unit trustee's sale is not final for 15 days; eligible bidders who give notice may bid within 45 days.

Each rule below is marked Lomita 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

Lomita code What Lomita's code adds
Local contact	Contract with a local property management company to perform weekly inspections. Applies: Applies to abandoned property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 3-18.04 · code text If the property is owned by a corporation or out-of-area, beneficiary/trustee/owner shall contract with a local property management company to perform weekly inspections to verify that the requirements of this section, and any other applicable law, are being satisfied.
Upkeep duties	Regularly maintain landscaping and plant materials on the parcel. Applies: Applies to a vacant building, when ordered in writing by the city manager. § 3-18.03 · code text Regularly maintain landscaping and plant materials on the parcel of land on which the vacant building is located. Regularly maintain the exterior of the building and exterior signage and signage structures. Applies: Applies to a vacant building, when ordered in writing by the city manager. § 3-18.03 · code text Regularly maintain the exterior of the building and exterior signage and signage structures. Regularly remove all exterior trash and debris. Applies: Applies to abandoned property or a parcel with a vacant building, when ordered in writing by the city manager. § 3-18.03 · code text Regularly removal of all exterior trash and debris from the abandoned property or parcel of land on which the vacant building is located. Promptly remove graffiti from exterior surfaces, perimeter walls or fencing, and attached signs. Applies: Applies to a vacant building, when ordered in writing by the city manager. § 3-18.03 · code text Promptly remove graffiti which has been applied to any exterior surface on the vacant building, perimeter wall or fencing surrounding the building, including graffiti applied to any sign attached to the vacant building. Post a notice at least 18 by 24 inches, legible from 45 feet, with the owner's or agent's name, address and phone and a 24 hour local management contact number. Applies: Applies to a vacant building, when ordered in writing by the city manager. § 3-18.03 · code text Post a notice in a conspicuous place in front of the vacant building stating the name, address, and telephone number of both the owner and, if applicable, the owner's agent in control of the building including a twenty-four (24) hour contact phone number of any local property management company. Board the building when closing and locking doors and windows cannot secure it. Applies: Applies to a vacant building. § 3-18.02 · code text The owner of a vacant building shall board such building when it cannot be secured against intrusion by unauthorized persons by means of the closing and locking of doors and windows. Maintain and monitor the required boarding so it secures the building from unauthorized intrusion. Applies: Applies to a vacant building. § 3-18.02 · code text The owner shall maintain and monitor the required boarding in a manner it secures the building from intrusion by unauthorized persons. Maintain abandoned property in a secure manner so it is not accessible to unauthorized persons. Applies: Applies to abandoned property; the beneficiary is responsible. § 3-18.04 · code text Properties which are abandoned shall be maintained by the beneficiary in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons.
Penalty	A monthly monitoring fee. Applies: Applies to a vacant building or abandoned property declared a public nuisance. § 3-18.08 · code text Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the owner of any vacant building or abandoned property declared to be a public nuisance shall pay a monthly monitoring fee, subject to the procedures in chapter 5 of title I of this Code.
Deadline to register	30 days Applies: Applies to the owner of record when the property is vacant. § 3-18.06 · code text The owner of record shall register the property within thirty (30) days of vacancy. 10 days Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or its agent when the property is under foreclosure or subject to a recorded notice of default. § 3-18.06 · code text If the property is under foreclosure or subject to a recorded notice of default, the beneficiary or its agent shall register of vacancy within ten (10) days of such recording.
Registration	Register the property with the city. Applies: Applies when the property is vacant. § 3-18.06 · code text The owner of record shall register the property within thirty (30) days of vacancy. Register the property with the city. Applies: Applies when the property is under foreclosure or subject to a recorded notice of default. § 3-18.06 · code text If the property is under foreclosure or subject to a recorded notice of default, the beneficiary or its agent shall register of vacancy within ten (10) days of such recording.

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 Lomita?

Owner of record: register a vacant property in 30 days. Beneficiary: in 10 days if in foreclosure or a notice of default is recorded. A local property management company must perform weekly inspections of abandoned property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. A vacant building is boarded when closing and locking doors and windows cannot secure it, and the boarding must be maintained and monitored. A vacant building or abandoned property declared a public nuisance pays a monthly monitoring fee.

General information, not legal advice.

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