Westminster · Foreclosure & auctions

Foreclosure and auctions in Westminster

Westminster requires the owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures, to register within 30 days of the city's written notice. Foreclosure timelines and auction rules come from state law.

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Key points

Registration: The owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space registers within 30 days of the city's notice; renewals are due by January 31st.
Fee: Registration forms must come with all applicable unpaid annual registration fees; the fee is valid for the calendar year and not prorated.
Securing: A vacant building or tenant space must be secured within 24 hours after becoming vacant; temporary boarding lasts up to 10 calendar days.
Abatement: The responsible party must abate any unlawful condition within 60 days after observing or being notified of it.
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 Westminster 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

Westminster code What Westminster's code adds
Local contact	The responsible party must give adjoining property owners, in writing, the name and phone number of the local property management company. Applies: Applies to a responsible party designated by the owner of a vacant property, building or tenant space. § 8.22.030 · code text A responsible party must provide in writing the name and telephone number of the local property management company to adjoining property owners in case of emergency or other issues that arise in connection with the subject property.
Upkeep duties	Secure within 24 hours after becoming vacant or showing signs of vacancy, to prevent unauthorized access. Applies: Applies to a vacant building or vacant tenant space. § 8.22.040 · code text A vacant building, and/or vacant tenant space must be secured within 24 hours after becoming vacant or showing evidence of vacancy, in a manner to prevent access by unauthorized persons. Temporary boarding is allowed for up to 10 calendar days. Then permanent replacement is required, unless prior written approval allows longer painted boarding. Applies: Applies to broken windows, doors and other openings. § 8.22.040 · code text Broken windows, doors, and other openings may be temporarily boarded for up to 10 calendar days. Close and secure gates and other openings large enough for a child to get into the interior. Applies: Applies to gates and other openings of a size that may allow a child to access the interior. § 8.22.040 · code text Gates and other openings of such a size that may allow a child to access the interior of the real property or buildings or structures located thereon (including garage structures or detached accessory structures) shall be closed and secured. Submit a Letter of Agency every 6 months and post No Trespassing signs as the Community Development Director requires and approves. Applies: Applies to responsible parties for a vacant property, vacant building or vacant tenant space. § 8.22.040 · code text Responsible parties for any vacant property, vacant building, and/or vacant tenant space must submit a "Letter of Agency" (or other similarly entitled authorization) in a form approved by Community Development Director every six months and post "No Trespassing" signs as required and approved by the Community Development Director. Abate any unlawful condition within 60 days after observing or being notified of it. Applies: Applies to the responsible party for real property subject to registration. § 8.22.030 · code text A responsible party must abate any unlawful condition existing on real property subject to registration pursuant to this program within 60 days after observing or being notified of the unlawful condition.
Deadline to register	Within 30 days of written notice by the city. Applies: Owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures; initial registration. § 8.22.030 · code text must register the real property with the Community Development Department on forms approved by the Community Development Director within 30 days of written notice by the city of the requirements of this program. By January 31st of each year. Applies: Owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures; later annual registrations and fees. § 8.22.030 · code text Subsequent registrations and fees are due by January 31st of each year. Within 10 calendar days after the transfer. Applies: Applies to the new responsible party after transfer of title. § 8.22.030 · code text The new responsible party must re-register the vacant property within 10 calendar days after the transfer.
Registration fee	All applicable unpaid annual registration fees. Applies: Owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures; registration forms must come with the unpaid annual fees. § 8.22.030 · code text The registration forms must be accompanied by all applicable unpaid annual registration fees. Not prorated. Applies: Owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures; the fee is valid for the calendar year or the rest of it. § 8.22.030 · code text The registration fee will not be prorated.
Registration	Yes, registration is required. Applies: Applies to the owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space, not only foreclosures. § 8.22.030 · code text The property owner of a vacant property, vacant building and/or vacant tenant space must register the real property with the Community Development Department

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 Westminster?

The owner of any vacant property, building or tenant space registers within 30 days of the city's notice; renewals are due by January 31st. Registration forms must come with all applicable unpaid annual registration fees; the fee is valid for the calendar year and not prorated. A vacant building or tenant space must be secured within 24 hours after becoming vacant; temporary boarding lasts up to 10 calendar days. The responsible party must abate any unlawful condition within 60 days after observing or being notified of it.

General information, not legal advice.

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