California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §33031: (a) This subdivision describes physical conditions that cause blight: (1) Buildings in which it is unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work.

Read the full statutory text
(a) This subdivision describes physical conditions that cause blight: (1) Buildings in which it is unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work. These conditions may be caused by serious building code violations, serious dilapidation and deterioration caused by long-term neglect, construction that is vulnerable to serious damage from seismic or geologic hazards, and faulty or inadequate water or sewer utilities. (2) Conditions that prevent or substantially hinder the viable use or capacity of buildings or lots. These conditions may be caused by buildings of substandard, defective, or obsolete design or construction given the present general plan, zoning, or other development standards. (3) Adjacent or nearby incompatible land uses that prevent the development of those parcels or other portions of the project area. (4) The existence of subdivided lots that are in multiple ownership and whose physical development has been impaired by their irregular shapes and inadequate sizes, given present general plan and zoning standards and present market conditions. (b) This subdivision describes economic conditions that cause blight: (1) Depreciated or stagnant property values. (2) Impaired property values, due in significant part, to hazardous wastes on property where the agency may be eligible to use its authority as specified in Article 12.5 (commencing with Section 33459). (3) Abnormally high business vacancies, abnormally low lease rates, or an abnormally high number of abandoned buildings. (4) A serious lack of necessary commercial facilities that are normally found in neighborhoods, including grocery stores, drug stores, and banks and other lending institutions. (5) Serious residential overcrowding that has resulted in significant public health or safety problems. As used in this paragraph, “overcrowding” means exceeding the standard referenced in Article 5 (commencing with Section 32) of Chapter 1 of Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations. (6) An excess of bars, liquor stores, or adult-oriented businesses that has resulted in significant public health, safety, or welfare problems. (7) A high crime rate that constitutes a serious threat to the public safety and welfare.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.