Orange City Council Imposes Fines for Abandoned Properties

Orange is turning up the heat on owners of vacant properties, advancing an ordinance that would require them to maintain and secure empty buildings or face thousands of dollars in fines.

On Tuesday, the Orange City Council voted almost unanimously to introduce the measure targeting vacant or abandoned properties across the city, Voice of O.C. reported. Officials say such properties have become magnets for public nuisances that drag down nearby property values and discourage investment.

“These properties often attract illegal activities such as trespassing, vandalism, criminal and drug activity, fire hazards and other public safety concerns. They also create nuisance conditions including overgrown vegetation, illegal dumping, litter, graffiti, structural deterioration and unsecured buildings,” a staff report said. “Over time, these conditions diminish property values, limit housing and commercial opportunities, deter investment and adversely impact the City’s economic development and tax revenue.”

The City of Orange has identified 230 vacant or abandoned properties, including 165 empty commercial storefronts. Officials argue neglected buildings have become an increasing burden on code enforcement and public safety resources while limiting opportunities for new housing and commercial activity.

Under the ordinance, buildings vacant for more than 30 days would have to meet new maintenance standards. Owners would be required to remove graffiti and debris, trim overgrown landscaping, repair exterior features, secure doors and windows, clean swimming pools and install security cameras. Vacant storefronts would also need decorative window displays or artwork visible from the street to reduce the appearance of blight.

Code enforcement officers would classify properties as stable, at-risk or problematic, with the latter two categories subject to escalating penalties until violations are corrected. Owners could face fines of up to $5,000, plus weekly monitoring fees exceeding $1,300 while properties remain out of compliance. The ordinance includes an appeals process and exempts buildings under active construction as well as properties listed for sale or lease or pursuing development permits.

The measure comes as Orange looks for ways to shore up its finances. Earlier this month, city leaders balanced the 2026-27 budget by freezing vacant positions and shifting $15 million between city funds. They have also placed a one-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot that is projected to generate about $37 million annually, alongside a separate proposal to increase the hotel tax from 10 percent to 14 percent.

An earlier proposal to create a registry of vacant properties drew opposition from the Apartment Association of Orange County, which argued that publicly identifying empty buildings could invite squatters. City officials dropped that provision before advancing the ordinance.

— Chris Malone Méndez