Selma · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Selma

Selma requires the beneficiary or trustee to register property found vacant after default, and a local property management company for corporate or out-of-area owners. Foreclosure timing and sale rules come from state law.

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Key points

Registration: City rule: the beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of the inspection on default that finds vacancy signs.
Fee and renewal: City rule: an annual registration fee comes with the form; later registrations are due January 1, no later than January 31.
Local manager: City rule: a corporation, entity or out-of-area owner contracts a local property management company to inspect at least monthly.
Securing: City rule: close and lock windows, doors, gates and openings, and reglaze or board broken windows.
Penalty: City rule: a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per day for failing to maintain and secure a vacant residential property.
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 Selma 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

Selma code What Selma's code adds
Local contact	Required: a local property management company responsible for the property's security, maintenance and marketing. Applies: Applies to a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary or trustee. § 8-11-5 · code text in the case of a corporation, entity, or out of area beneficiary/trustee, the local property management company responsible for the security, maintenance, and marketing of the property. Required: a local property management company contracted to inspect at least monthly. Applies: Applies to property owned by a corporation, entity, or out-of-area beneficiary, trustee or owner. § 8-11-7 · code text A local property management company shall be contracted to perform, at a minimum, monthly inspections to verify that the requirements of this section, and any other applicable laws, are being met.
Upkeep duties	Keep the property free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, accumulated papers and other items giving the appearance of abandonment. Remove graffiti. Landscape and maintain visible yards to the neighborhood standard. Keep pools and spas clear and pollutant-free, or drain and keep them dry. Meet state security fencing requirements for pools and spas. Applies: Applies to property subject to registration (vacant or abandoned property in default or foreclosure). § 8-11-6 · code text In comparison to the neighborhood standard, the property shall be kept free of weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, any accumulation of newspapers, circulars, fliers, 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 secure: close and lock windows, doors, gates and openings. Broken windows must be reglazed or boarded. Applies: Applies to property subject to registration (vacant or abandoned property in default or foreclosure). § 8-11-7 · code text The property shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons.
Penalty	Civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per day. Applies: Applies to failure to maintain and secure a vacant residential property. § 8-11-12 · code text the city may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per day for failure to maintain and secure a vacant residential property, as required by this chapter
Deadline to register	Within 10 days of the inspection. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee holding a deed of trust, when the inspection on default before a notice of default finds vacancy signs. § 8-11-5 · code text the beneficiary/trustee shall, within ten (10) days of the inspection, register the property with the chief of police or his or her designee on forms provided by the city. Within 10 days of that inspection. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee when a property in default that was occupied (inspected monthly) is later found vacant or showing vacancy signs. § 8-11-5 · code text the trustee shall, within ten (10) days of that inspection, register the property with the chief of police, or his/her designee, on forms provided by the city. January 1 of each year; no later than January 31 of the year due. Applies: Applies to later registrations. § 8-11-5 · code text Subsequent registrations and fees are due January 1 of each year and must be received no later than January 31 of the year due.
Registration fee	An annual registration fee must come with the registration form. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee registering a property found vacant or showing vacancy signs after the owner defaults. § 8-11-5 · code text An annual registration fee shall accompany the registration form.
Registration	Required. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee holding a deed of trust, when the inspection on default before a notice of default finds vacancy signs. § 8-11-5 · code text If the property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, it is, by this chapter, deemed abandoned and the beneficiary/trustee shall, within ten (10) days of the inspection, register the property with the chief of police or his or her designee on forms provided by the city. Required. Applies: Applies to a beneficiary or trustee when a property in default that was occupied (inspected monthly) is later found vacant or showing vacancy signs. § 8-11-5 · code text It is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, at which time it is deemed abandoned and the trustee shall, within ten (10) days of that inspection, register the property with the chief of police, or his/her designee, on forms provided by the city. Required. Applies: Applies to the beneficiary of the deed of trust, after a foreclosure sale transfers title to the beneficiary, or under a deed in lieu. § 8-11-5 · code text This section shall also apply to properties that have been the subject of a foreclosure sale where the title was transferred to the beneficiary of a deed of trust involved in the foreclosure and any properties transferred under a deed in lieu of foreclosure or sale.

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 Selma?

City rule: the beneficiary or trustee registers within 10 days of the inspection on default that finds vacancy signs. City rule: an annual registration fee comes with the form; later registrations are due January 1, no later than January 31. City rule: a corporation, entity or out-of-area owner contracts a local property management company to inspect at least monthly. City rule: close and lock windows, doors, gates and openings, and reglaze or board broken windows. City rule: a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per day for failing to maintain and secure a vacant residential property.

General information, not legal advice.

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Selma Municipal Code — full text

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