Code Enforcement Division

A City / Community Partnership to Make Garden Grove A Better Place

The City of Garden Grove is committed to working with citizens in a joint effort to preserve and improve all of our residential neighborhoods. We share your desire to maintain the quality of life throughout your neighborhood.

To ensure a tranquil neighborhood, community standards for residential areas have been established to determine the proper maintenance of residential properties and neighborhoods. Community standards are reflected in the Garden Grove residential codes. Maintaining and enhancing our neighborhoods is also important because it protects the property value of your home.

The staff of Code Enforcement Officers work to investigate complaints of property maintenance violations. If a violation is noted, our Officers work with the property owners and tenants to correct any violations and bring the property into compliance with City codes.

If you have any questions about the City's Zoning Codes, please call the Code Enforcement office at (714) 741-5358 and leave your name, address, and phone number. A Code Enforcement Officer will return your call. Or if you prefer, you may contact us via email at Code Enforcement.

Vacant and Abandoned Property

In an attempt to prevent conditions of blight, disrepair, and illegal occupancy by vagrants often resulting from vacant buildings, the City Council of the City of Garden Grove enacted Ordinance No. 2737, which became effective on December 25, 2008. This Ordinance requires any beneficiary or trustee of the deed of trust on a property located within the City, to perform an inspection of the property that is the security for the deed of trust prior to recording a notice of default with the Orange County Recorder’s Office.

If the property is vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, either the trustee or the beneficiary must register the property within the City within ten (10) days of the inspection using forms provided by the City. Both the trustee and the beneficiary may be issued citations if the property is not registered.

Please fill out the Foreclosure Ordinance Application. This form must be completed and submitted, either by mail or personally delivered to the Business Tax desk, located on the first floor of the Garden Grove City Hall at 11222 Acacia Parkway. For questions regarding this ordinance, please contact Code Enforcement at (714) 741-5358 or (714) 741-5350.

Pool

If there is a pool on the property, and it must be drained, the discharge of pool water shall be performed in accordance with the City of Garden Grove's NPDES permit, City of Garden Grove Stormwater Quality Ordinance, and local guidelines.

Hazardous Waste

The disposal of Household Hazardous Waste shall be done in accordance with the Garden Grove Sanitary District Code of Regulations (2004), Chapter 5.10.

Residential Zoning Codes

Your Neighborhood Improvement Guide

Garage Alterations and Permitted Uses

Enforcement Methods

In most cases, the person responsible for a code violation is given an opportunity to voluntarily comply with the law and correct the situation. Once the deadline in the Compliance Order has passed, the owner or responsible person is subject to one or more of the remedies listed below. (In addition to any fines that result from a remedy, fees may be charged after the second re-inspection for multiple housing properties.)

Administrative Citation

- This remedy is designed to address minor violations. The fines increase with each offense. For the first offense, the fines are:

• Lawn parking - $39.00
• Non-permitted Auto Repair - $150.00
• Inoperable vehicle - $150.00
• Non-permitted Occupancy of a Trailer or Vehicle - $150.00
• Illegal Sign - $125.00

Administrative Remedies

- This remedy is used for major violations. The fine is recommended by the City but decided upon by the Appeals Hearing Board. The fine can be as much as $2,500 per day starting from the date that non-compliance is documented. Administrative fees may also be assessed.

Abatement

- This remedy is used where the City needs to take action to abate a nuisance. In a typical case, the City's Code Enforcement Division will hire a private contractor to either demolish or board and secure a structure, or to clean a property of junk and debris.

Judicial Remedies

- These remedies are used where the other remedies are not considered to have a high probability of success. The two options are criminal prosecution or civil injunction.

Mediation also is available through the County of Orange.

• Volunteers in Code Enforcement Program