Following are some of the most common Code Enforcement violations in Cathedral City.
Visual Blight
Maintain property and structure in good repair and maintain in a neat and clean condition. Keep your sidewalk free of discarded household items such as furniture, appliances, TV’s and other items. Burrtec provides bulky item pickup by appointment only. Schedule a pickup by calling Burrtec at 760-340-2113 4 item limit per week.
It is unlawful and it shall be declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to maintain any such premises or property or improvement thereon in such a manner as to cause or to allow the premises, property or improvement to become defective, unsightly, or in such other condition of deterioration or disrepair as the same may cause substantial depreciation of the property values or similar detriment to surrounding properties, or otherwise have an adverse effect on the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the city. Visual blight conditions include, but are not limited to, any of the following conditions: (a) the presence of any improvement including, but not limited to, buildings, garages, carports, wooden fences, block walls, roofs or gutters in which the condition of the patio, stucco, siding or other exterior coating has become so deteriorated as to permit decay, excessive checking, cracking or warping so as to render the improvement or property unsightly and in a state of disrepair; (b) the presence of any improvement with cracked or broken windows, roofs in disrepair, damaged porches or broken steps; (c) the presence of any improvement which is abandoned, boarded up, partially destroyed or left in a state of partial construction or repair for more than ninety days; (d) the presence of abandoned, damaged or broken equipment or machinery which is visible from a public street or sidewalk or from an adjoining property; or (e) the presence of excessive junk, refuse and garbage which is visible from a public street or sidewalk or from an adjoining property. (Ord. 776 § 67, 2016; Ord. 527 § 2, 2000)
Inoperative Vehicles in Driveway
Vehicles parked in public view must have current California registration and be operational. Wrecked, dismantled, or vehicles that do not run are inoperative vehicles. Inoperative vehicles cannot be kept on the property and must be removed or kept in an enclosed garage.
It is unlawful for any person to abandon, park, store, or leave or permit the abandonment, parking, storage or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed vehicle, or parts thereof, which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative condition upon any private or public property, not including highways as that term is defined in this chapter, within the city for a period in excess of two days unless the vehicle, or part thereof, is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not plainly visible from the street or other public or private property, or unless the vehicle, or parts thereof, is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, or a junkyard. (Ord. 546 §§ 10, 11, 2001)
Commercial Vehicles in Residential Zones
Unless a delivery is being made or repair/construction work is being made to building, commercial vehicles are not permitted to be parked on any city street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
- No person shall park or stand or permit to stand any commercial vehicle of any kind on any city street between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. of any day.
- This section shall not apply to the following commercial vehicles:
- Vehicles making pickups or deliveries from or to any building or used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure located off the designated truck route.
- Vehicles owned by public utilities or licensed contractors when being used for construction, installation or repair of a public utility.
- Tow vehicles operating under a contract with the city to conduct towing operations for public safety purposes with a city-issued decal clearly visible. (Ord. 644 § 1, 2007)
Parking in Yards
Do not park on landscape, dirt and/or rock landscaping. Additionally, vehicles cannot be parked on pavers, stones and any other non-approved surface. Vehicles may only be parked on your driveway or other approved parking surfaces.
It is unlawful and it shall be a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to permit on such premises or property any operable vehicle, recreational vehicle, motor home, trailer, camper, camper shell and boat to be parked or stored outside of a garage or carport on an unimproved surface. (Ord. 527 § 2, 2000)
Landscaping
All front and side yards in public view must be landscaped with plant material and groundcover. Allowed groundcover includes grass, decomposed granite and decorative rocks. Dirt is not an approved groundcover. All landscaping must be maintained by pulling weeds, watering and trimming of lawn, trees and shrubs.
It is unlawful and it shall be a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to maintain any front and visible side yards without acceptable landscaping, except for improved surfaces such as walks and driveways. Acceptable landscaping shall include any ground cover, decorative rock, redwood bark, lawn and/or other material as determined to be acceptable or required by the city planner or designee. (Ord. 554 § 1, 2001; Ord. 527 § 2, 2000)
Garbage Containers
Always store garbage containers behind fence out of view of public within 12 hours after services.
It is unlawful and it shall be a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises or property in the city to maintain such premises or property with garbage or trash containers stored in front yards and visible from the public right-of-way, except when in places of collection on scheduled waste collection days. (Ord. 527 § 2, 2000)