National City · Foreclosure & auctions
Foreclosure and auctions in National City
National City limits how long a building may stand vacant or boarded and sets escalating penalties and a monitoring fee. Foreclosure timing and sale rules come from state law.
Key points
- Vacancy limit: City rule: a building may not stand vacant over 90 days, and a boarded one must be rehabilitated within 90 days, unless exempt.
- Upkeep: City rule: a building boarded or vacant over 90 days is allowed if the director finds the owner actively maintains and monitors it.
- Abandoned buildings: City rule: barricade an abandoned building, disconnect gas and electric within 5 days of vacating, and keep it free of weeds, litter and rubbish.
- Penalties: City rule: not to exceed $250 per building for a first violation, and $500 for a later one not fixed within 30 days.
- Monitoring fee: City rule: the owner of a building boarded or vacant over 90 days pays an annual monitoring fee, which may be waived.
- 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 National City 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
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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
Frequently asked questions
Must a lender or owner register a vacant or foreclosed home in National City?
City rule: a building may not stand vacant over 90 days, and a boarded one must be rehabilitated within 90 days, unless exempt. City rule: a building boarded or vacant over 90 days is allowed if the director finds the owner actively maintains and monitors it. City rule: barricade an abandoned building, disconnect gas and electric within 5 days of vacating, and keep it free of weeds, litter and rubbish. City rule: not to exceed $250 per building for a first violation, and $500 for a later one not fixed within 30 days. City rule: the owner of a building boarded or vacant over 90 days pays an annual monitoring fee, which may be waived.
General information, not legal advice.
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