Long Beach · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Long Beach

Long Beach requires the beneficiary or its trustee to register residential property under a deed of trust within 10 days after recording a notice of default. Foreclosure steps and auctions follow state law.

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Key points

Registration: The beneficiary or its trustee registers within 10 days after recording a notice of default, and renews yearly until foreclosure ends.
Fee: The City Council sets the annual fee. It is valid one year from registration, not prorated; later annual registrations are due January 15.
Local manager: Property owned by a corporation or out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner needs a local property management company that inspects weekly and corrects noncompliance.
Sign: Those owners must post the management company's name and a 24-hour contact phone number on a sign visible from the street.
Upkeep: Property must be free of weeds, trash, debris and graffiti, with visible yards at the neighborhood standard and pools and spas clear or drained.
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 Long Beach 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

Long Beach code What Long Beach's code adds
Local contact	The registration must name the local property management company, if any, responsible for security, maintenance and marketing. Applies: Applies to a corporate or out-of-area beneficiary or trustee. § 18.24.030 · code text The registration pursuant to this Section shall contain the identity of the beneficiary and trustee, the direct mailing address of the beneficiary and trustee and, 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. A local property management company must be contracted. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 18.24.050 · 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 fulfilled.
Upkeep duties	Keep free of weeds, dry brush, dead plants, trash, junk, debris, building materials, old newspapers and similar signs of abandonment. § 18.24.040 · code text In addition, the property shall be kept free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, any accumulation of newspaper, circular, 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. Keep the property free of graffiti and tagging. Use matching exterior-grade paint to remove or cover it. § 18.24.040 · code text The property shall be maintained free of graffiti, tagging or similar marking. Any removal or painting over of graffiti shall be with an exterior grade paint that matches the color of the exterior of the structure. Landscaped and maintained to the neighborhood standard. Applies: Applies to visible front and side yards. § 18.24.040 · code text Visible front and side yards shall be landscaped and maintained to the neighborhood standard. Pools and spas must stay working with clear, clean water, or be drained and dry. Keep required State security fencing. Applies: Applies to properties with pools or spas. § 18.24.040 · code text Pools and spas shall be kept in working order so that water remains clear and free of pollutants and debris, or alternatively shall be drained and kept dry. In either case, properties with pools and/or spas must comply with the minimum security fencing requirements of the State of California. Post the management company's name and 24-hour contact phone number on a sign visible from the street. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation or an out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 18.24.050 · code text The property shall be posted with the name and twenty-four (24) hour contact phone number of the local property management company. Inspect weekly and correct noncompliance. Applies: Applies when a local property management company is required. § 18.24.050 · 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 requirement of this chapter. If the property management company determines the property is not in compliance, it is the company's responsibility to bring the property into compliance. Maintenance exception: property under construction or repair at least three business days per week, following all laws and City permits. Applies: At the reasonable discretion of the Director of Community Development or designee. § 18.24.040 · code text The sole exception to these maintenance requirements shall, within the sole reasonable discretion of the Director of Community Development or designee, apply to property subject to the registration requirement contained in Section 18.24.030 that is under construction and/or repair, not less than three (3) business days per week, undertaken in compliance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, City permitting requirements.
Deadline to register	Register within ten days. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or its trustee, after recording a notice of default on residential property under a deed of trust. § 18.24.030 · code text Not later than ten (10) days after recording a notice of default on any residential property located in the City of Long Beach which is subject to a deed of trust, the beneficiary, or its trustee, shall register the property with the Community Development Department of the City of Long Beach on forms provided by the City. January 15 of the year due. Applies: Applies to later annual registrations and fees. § 18.24.030 · code text Subsequent registrations and fees are due January 1st of each year and must be received no later than January 15th of the year due.
Registration fee	An annual registration fee set by the City Council by resolution. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee of a residential property with a recorded notice of default. § 18.24.030 · code text An annual registration fee as set by the City Council by resolution shall accompany the submission of each registration form. The fee is valid for one year from the registration date and is not prorated. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or trustee of a residential property with a recorded notice of default. § 18.24.030 · code text The fee and registration shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of registration. Registration fees will not be prorated.
Registration	Yes, registration is required after a notice of default is recorded. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary or its trustee, for Long Beach residential property under a deed of trust. Renewed yearly until foreclosure ends. § 18.24.030 · code text Not later than ten (10) days after recording a notice of default on any residential property located in the City of Long Beach which is subject to a deed of trust, the beneficiary, or its trustee, shall register the property with the Community Development Department of the City of Long Beach on forms provided by the City. The beneficiary who causes the notice of default to be recorded must register the property. Applies: Applies to property with security interests held by more than one beneficiary. § 18.24.055 · code text In the event that a property is encumbered by the security interests of more than one (1) beneficiary at the time when a notice of default is recorded, the beneficiary who causes a notice of default for its security interest to be recorded shall be responsible for registering the property with the City as provided in Section 18.24.030.

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 Long Beach?

The beneficiary or its trustee registers within 10 days after recording a notice of default, and renews yearly until foreclosure ends. The City Council sets the annual fee. It is valid one year from registration, not prorated; later annual registrations are due January 15. Property owned by a corporation or out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner needs a local property management company that inspects weekly and corrects noncompliance. Those owners must post the management company's name and a 24-hour contact phone number on a sign visible from the street. Property must be free of weeds, trash, debris and graffiti, with visible yards at the neighborhood standard and pools and spas clear or drained.

General information, not legal advice.

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