What are common violations that occur within the City?
The Community Development Department receives numerous complaints, covering a wide range of problems. The following is a listing of some common complaints received:

Parking on un-improved surfaces: The City of Watsonville Municipal Code requires that all parking surfaces be of concrete or similar non-combustible materials. Parking in the required landscape areas, residential front yard areas in excess of 60% of the frontage or un-improved areas of the property is strictly prohibited.

Abandoned vehicles on private property: The storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, or parts thereof, on private property, is hereby found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance, to create a harborage for rodents and insects, and to be injurious to the health, safety, and general welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or part thereof, on private property, is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance.

Overgrown and/or neglected landscaping: Lawns, grass or grass like ground coverings, hedges and bushes shall be trimmed and kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property and impairing the good character of the immediate residential or commercial neighborhood.

Moveable or Temporary Structures: Tents, canopies and/or metal storage sheds are not permitted in areas visible from the public right of way.
Abandoned Personal Property: Property Owners are responsible to maintain areas between the curb and front of the house free of litter, weeds, trash, refuse, debris or abandoned personal property or storage of things such as furniture, appliances, plumbing fixtures, equipment, and like devices.

To learn more about Code Enforcement, visit the Code Enforcement page.

Show All Answers

1. How may I file a complaint?
2. Are complainants required to identify themselves?
3. How do I know if I have a violation on my property?
4. What happens if I have a violation?
5. What are common violations that occur within the City?
6. What can I do if I get a notice and do not understand what the violation is?