Sierra Madre · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre requires the owner of a vacant residence, such as one vacant 60 consecutive days or longer or listed for sale, to register within 10 calendar days of the vacancy and to secure it within 72 hours.

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Key points

Registration: Owners register a vacant residence within 10 days of the vacancy, for example one vacant 60 consecutive days or longer or listed for sale.
Annual fee: The annual fee is set by city council resolution and is valid one year; owners on extended vacations may register optionally at no fee.
Securing: Structures, swimming pools and other hazards must be secured within 72 hours of becoming vacant to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
Abatement deadlines: When notified, the responsible party starts abatement within 1 business day for maintenance nuisances and within 1 hour for emergency or safety issues.
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 Sierra Madre 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

Sierra Madre code What Sierra Madre's code adds
Local contact	The registration form must give the name, street address, phone and email of a local property management provider or other responsible party for security and maintenance. Applies: Applies to any registered vacant property. § 8.18.050 · code text The name, street address, telephone and email address of a local property management service provider or other responsible party accountable for the security and maintenance of the real property
Upkeep duties	Prohibited: graffiti not removed or painted over to match the building; exterior accumulations of lumber, junk, trash, debris, furniture, appliances or clothing; piled newspapers or fliers that make the property look vacant; vegetation that is overgrown, dead or decaying and a fire hazard, or not adequately trimmed, watered or replaced; pool or spa water that is polluted or likely to harbor mosquitoes; pools not covered, secured or kept so water cannot collect; accessible property or structures not secured Applies: Property subject to the vacant property registration § 8.18.060 · code text Real property subject to the registration requirements of this article shall be maintained in a neat, clean, healthful, and sanitary condition at all times. Commence abatement within 1 business day for property maintenance nuisances. Applies: Applies when the responsible party is notified of an unlawful property maintenance condition. § 8.18.030 · code text Responsible parties shall commence the abatement of any unlawful condition existing on real property subject to registration pursuant to this chapter within one business day for the abatement of property maintenance nuisances Commence abatement within 1 hour for emergency or public safety issues. Applies: Applies when the responsible party is notified of an unlawful emergency or public safety condition. § 8.18.030 · code text and within one hour to address emergency or public safety issues from the date of being notified of the unlawful condition. Secure structures, swimming pools and other hazards within 72 hours of becoming vacant, to prevent access by unauthorized persons. Applies: Applies to property subject to vacant property registration. § 8.18.080 · code text Structures, swimming pools and other potential hazards located on real property subject to registration pursuant to this chapter (and buildings or structures thereon) shall be secured within seventy-two hours of becoming vacant in a manner to prevent access by unauthorized persons. Submit an emergency waiver letting city public safety personnel access areas not visible from public view for health and safety concerns. Applies: Applies at the time of registration. § 8.18.080 · code text Responsible parties for any real property subject to registration pursuant to this chapter shall submit an "emergency waiver" to the city of Sierra Madre at the time of registration.
Deadline to register	Within 10 calendar days of the vacancy. Applies: Property owner; any real property that shows signs of being vacant. § 8.18.050 · code text the property owner shall register the real property with the city, on city approved forms in person or electronically, within ten calendar days of the vacancy Within 10 calendar days of the transfer. Applies: Applies when title to a registered vacant real property is transferred to another responsible party. § 8.18.050 · code text the new responsible party shall reregister the real property with the city on city approved forms within ten calendar days of the transfer.
Registration fee	An annual registration fee as set by city council resolution. Applies: Property owner registering any vacant property. Valid one year and renewable. § 8.18.050 · code text shall pay an annual registration fee as set by resolution of the city council. No fee. Applies: Property owners on extended vacations registering for information purposes. § 8.18.040 · code text Property owners who are on extended vacations have the option to register their property for information purposes at no fee. A registration fee as set by council resolution. Applies: New responsible party re-registering after transfer of title. § 8.18.050 · code text A registration fee as set by council resolution shall accompany the registration form.
Registration	Registration is required. Applies: Owner of a vacant residence: vacant 60 consecutive days or longer, not to be occupied within 60 days, vacant during planning and building entitlements, or listed for sale. § 8.18.040 · code text The owner of any residence vacant or intended to be vacant shall register the property with the city. Optional, at no fee. Applies: Property owners on extended vacations registering for information purposes. § 8.18.040 · code text Property owners who are on extended vacations have the option to register their property for information purposes at no fee.

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 Sierra Madre?

Owners register a vacant residence within 10 days of the vacancy, for example one vacant 60 consecutive days or longer or listed for sale. The annual fee is set by city council resolution and is valid one year; owners on extended vacations may register optionally at no fee. Structures, swimming pools and other hazards must be secured within 72 hours of becoming vacant to prevent access by unauthorized persons. When notified, the responsible party starts abatement within 1 business day for maintenance nuisances and within 1 hour for emergency or safety issues.

General information, not legal advice.

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