CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Members of the Citrus Heights City Council will take up for discussion a draft vacant commercial building ordinance as an agenda item at their next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at City Hall.

Feedback from two prior public workshops, one held last August, and another in December 2025 at City Hall, have been incorporated into the recent draft of the Commercial Property Re-Ooccupancy (CPR) Support ordinance under consideration by the city council.

The proposed ordinance stemmed from the city’s annual strategic planning meeting in March 2025, where the City Council identified rising vacancies in commercial properties as a concern and directed city staff to explore a vacant building ordinance that would help “encourage the upkeep and reuse of vacant properties,” according to the city.

A full version of the draft ordinance under consideration can be viewed at: CitrusHeights.net/CPR.

“As part of its strategic planning process, the Citrus Heights City Council directed staff to address the growing challenges associated with vacant commercial buildings by bringing forward a Vacant Building Ordinance for City Council review and consideration,” said Marisa Brown, city communications officer.

“The proposed Commercial Property Re-occupancy initiative is intended to continue the City’s progress on blight abatement and community beautification, while also protecting public safety and encouraging reinvestment through earlier communication and basic preventive maintenance,” she said.

“In response to feedback received from the December workshop, the ordinance proposal was refined to provide additional flexibility and incentives for commercial property owners, including extending the registration timeframe from 30 to 60 days, expanding fee-relief options for well-maintained properties with no recent code enforcement issues, shortening compliance timelines, and allowing registration fees to be waived for owners who self-register within the required timeframe,” she said.

“These refinements are intended to avoid penalizing responsible commercial property owners and to reinforce both a prevention and a partnership focused approach.”

Workshop attendees included representatives from the Sunrise Marketplace business improvement district, the Citrus Heights Police Department and the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce as well as other local business owners who each provided substantial feedback and voiced their concerns about the proposal, she said.

Revised provisions have changed registration reporting requirements.

“Property owners must register any commercial building that has been vacant for more than 60 days,” she said. Previously, registration would have been required within 30 days.

Property owners that self-register their vacant property within the 60-day requirement are also eligible for waived registration fees. The option for waiving registration fees in the earlier version of the ordinance was not available.

The draft ordinance which is under consideration by the Citrus Heights City Council would apply to all commercial properties within the City of Citrus Heights that meet the definition of a vacant building, including partially vacant structures and those under foreclosure, or in significant disrepair.

According to the city, this draft ordinance, if approved, is designed “to be a constructive pathway for getting vacant commercial spaces back into use - safely, quickly, and in alignment with community goals.”

The draft ordinance also seeks to ensure vacant commercial buildings meet minimum property maintenance and safety standards. 

“Through a combination of clear standards, proactive support, and consistent enforcement, the City aims to reduce vacancy-related blight while strengthening local investment,” according to workshop presentation materials.

Secondary goals stated by the city include the prevention of deterioration and associated public nuisances, the encouragement of pro-active re-occupancy and investment in existing commercial structures and the promotion of the long-term health, safety, and economic well-being of the community.

Brown summarized some of the key provisions now featured in the draft of the proposed city ordinance.

If approved, vacant commercial properties would be subject to regular City inspections and must comply with exterior, interior, and security maintenance requirements. Alarm systems or approved physical monitoring are required to deter trespassing and nuisance activity. 

Registration and annual monitoring fees are designed to recover costs of enforcement efforts and are eligible for partial refunds upon reoccupation, according to the city. 

Vacant commercial buildings must display a visible sign with the owner or property manager’s contact information to support transparency and reporting. Non-compliance may result in citations, legal action, or other penalties, according to the city. 

Monitoring fees may be pro-rated and refunded if a building is legally re-occupied, subject to inspection and compliance confirmation. Property owners must update the City within 10 days of any change in ownership, contact information, or responsible parties, she noted. 

Vacant commercial properties with valid planning or building permits and active construction may be exempt from registration requirements. 

Property owners may also apply for relief from monitoring fees if the property is *well maintained in good repair with no open or outstanding code enforcement cases within the last 12 months.”

Brown said that earlier versions of the ordinance, eligibility for relief required the property to be at least 75 percent occupied; and this threshold has since been removed.

To further assist property owners in returning buildings to productive use and achieving compliance, the City will provide a Re-occupancy Support Packet (RSP) at the time of registration, she said. “This packet includes a maintenance and compliance checklist which provides a clear summary of city ordinance requirements related to upkeep, signage, and safety.”