West Hollywood · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in West Hollywood

West Hollywood requires the owner of any vacant property, not only foreclosures, to register on a city form, except stable vacant property, with fees that rise as the property is categorized worse. Foreclosure timing and sale rules come from state law.

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Key points

Registration: City rule: the owner registers any vacant property on a city form and pays fees; stable vacant property needs no registration.
Fee schedule: City rule: fees are paid twice a year for at-risk property, every quarter for problematic and every month for failed; none for stable.
Inspections: City rule: inspect the property each week and submit written inspection records; the Director may require more frequent inspections.
Fencing: City rule: when the Director decides it is necessary, enclose the property with a non-view-obscuring fence at least 6 feet tall.
Fence repair: City rule: repair or replace missing or damaged fencing within 72 hours.
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 West Hollywood 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

West Hollywood code What West Hollywood's code adds
Local contact	Give a contact phone number for the property owner and for the person responsible for maintenance and security. Applies: Part of the registration form for any vacant property that is not stable property. § 9.64.020 · code text A contact phone number for the property owner and individual responsible for the maintenance and security of the vacant property;
Upkeep duties	Clean, water and weed. Remove dead plants. Groundcover no taller than 6 inches; shrubs no higher than 36 inches. Applies: General maintenance requirements for vacant properties. § 9.64.020 · code text The property shall be kept cleaned, watered and weeded; Install and maintain groundcover, hardscape or softscape for the whole vacancy, with irrigation adequate for groundcover plants. Applies: Applies to any vacant property, subject to approval of the Community Development Director. § 9.64.020 · code text Groundcover, hardscape, or softscape shall be installed and maintained on all vacant property throughout the duration of the vacancy. Remove all trash, debris, rubbish, discarded furniture, defective or discarded equipment or appliances, and similar items. Applies: Applies to a person who owns, possesses or controls a vacant property. § 9.64.020 · code text All trash, debris, rubbish, discarded furniture or defective or discarded equipment or appliances or items of similar nature shall be removed from the property. Install No Trespassing signs and any additional signage the Director requires. Applies: Applies to a person who owns, possesses or controls a vacant property. § 9.64.020 · code text "No Trespassing" signs shall be installed at locations on the property as determined by the Director. Enclose the property with a non-view-obscuring wrought iron or similar fence at least 6 feet tall. Chainlink is prohibited. Applies: Applies when the Community Development Director decides it is necessary. Chainlink is allowed only while being developed under a current valid building permit. § 9.64.020 · code text any vacant property must be enclosed by a wrought iron fence or similar material that is at least six feet tall and non-view obscuring. Repair or replace missing or damaged fencing within 72 hours. Applies: Applies to missing or damaged fencing. § 9.64.020 · code text Missing or damaged fencing shall be repaired or replaced within seventy-two hours. Equip all gates or entrances with a city-provided or Director-approved lock. § 9.64.020 · code text All gates or entrances to vacant property shall be equipped with a lock provided by the city or as determined by the Director. Keep the property free of parked, abandoned or inoperable vehicles unless a permit or other city approval allows them. § 9.64.020 · code text The property shall be kept free of parked, abandoned, or inoperable vehicles except where a parking permit or other appropriate approval has been obtained from the city. Drain swimming pools and keep them free of standing water. Fill with approved fill or cover them. Applies: Applies to swimming pools on vacant property. Water must not be able to collect. § 9.64.020 · code text Any swimming pool on a vacant property shall be drained, kept free of standing water, and comply with following: Inspect the property each week and submit written inspection records. The Director may require more frequent inspections. Applies: Applies to a person who owns, possesses or controls a vacant property. § 9.64.020 · code text The property shall be inspected each week and these inspections documented and submitted in writing to the satisfaction of the Director. Install and maintain motion-activated security lighting at all entrances and exits, operating from dusk until dawn. Applies: Applies to a person who owns, possesses or controls a vacant property. § 9.64.020 · code text Motion-activated security lighting shall be installed and maintained in working condition at all entrances and exits of the property to the satisfaction of the Director from dusk until dawn. Submit a Vacant Property Mitigation Plan showing how the property will be secured and maintained. § 9.64.020 · code text Submit a Vacant Property Mitigation Plan which demonstrates how the property will be secured and maintained in a manner that protects the health, safety, general welfare, and aesthetic standards of the community.
Penalty	The Director may require a performance bond, in an amount the Director sets. Applies: Applies when the Director determines the vacant property has violated the chapter two or more times. § 9.64.030 · code text In the event the Director determines that a vacant property has violated this chapter two or more times, the Director may require the person who owns, possesses or is in control of vacant property to submit a performance bond
Registration fee	Established by City Council resolution. Applies: Applies to vacant property registration and administration, monitoring, and city site inspections. § 9.64.020 · code text Such fees shall be established by City Council resolution. No yearly payment. Applies: Applies to vacant property the Director categorizes as stable, unless it was previously registered in another category. § 9.64.020 · code text "Stable property" - yearly payment is not applicable, unless previously registered in another category. Fees are paid twice a year. Applies: Applies to vacant property the Director categorizes as at-risk. § 9.64.020 · code text "At-risk property" - biannual payment. Fees are paid every quarter. Applies: Applies to vacant property the Director categorizes as problematic. § 9.64.020 · code text "Problematic property" - quarterly payment. Fees are paid every month. Applies: Applies to vacant property the Director categorizes as failed. § 9.64.020 · code text "Failed property" - monthly payment.
Registration	The owner, possessor or person in control must register the property on a city form and pay the required fees. Applies: Applies to any vacant property, not only foreclosures, except stable vacant property unless previously registered in another category. The Director may waive a condition. § 9.64.020 · code text Register the property, on a form provided by the city, and pay any required fees for the administration of this chapter, including, but not limited to, monitoring the subject property and city site inspections. Registration is not required for stable vacant property. Applies: Unless the property was previously registered in another category. § 9.64.020 · code text The registration requirements in subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3) of this section shall not apply to stable vacant property unless it was previously registered in another category.

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 West Hollywood?

City rule: the owner registers any vacant property on a city form and pays fees; stable vacant property needs no registration. City rule: fees are paid twice a year for at-risk property, every quarter for problematic and every month for failed; none for stable. City rule: inspect the property each week and submit written inspection records; the Director may require more frequent inspections. City rule: when the Director decides it is necessary, enclose the property with a non-view-obscuring fence at least 6 feet tall. City rule: repair or replace missing or damaged fencing within 72 hours.

General information, not legal advice.

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