Consequences of Zoning Code Violations in the City of Long Beach

Building a structure or establishing a land use that violates the Long Beach Zoning Regulations is classified as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Each day that a violation continues to exist is considered a separate and distinct offense, and the City of Long Beach may choose to correct the violation and place a lien on the property to recover all costs. The City of Long Beach also designates every zoning violation as a public nuisance, making the property owner liable for criminal and civil penalties [Section 21.10.080 and 21.10.090].

Criminal and Civil Penalties

The City of Long Beach enforces strict penalties for any failure to comply with Title 21 of the Municipal Code. Upon conviction of a zoning violation, the court may impose the following maximum penalties:

Penalty Type	Maximum Punishment
Criminal Classification	Misdemeanor
Monetary Fine	$500.00
Imprisonment	Six (6) months
Frequency of Offense	Every day of continuing violation is a separate offense

If the violation occurs within the Long Beach Coastal Zone, it is additionally subject to the remedies, fines, and penalties provided in Division 20, Section 30000 et seq., of the California Public Resources Code [Section 21.10.080.C].

Administrative Enforcement and Correction

Upon discovery of a violation, the Long Beach Department of Planning and Building will issue a formal notice of violation to the property owner. The following procedures and timelines apply:

Correction Timeline: The owner must take reasonable action to begin correcting the violation and must diligently pursue the completion of the correction within ten (10) days of receiving the notification [Section 21.10.080.B].
Prosecution: If the owner fails to correct the violation, the Department of Planning and Building will notify the City Prosecutor to take appropriate legal action [Section 21.10.080.B].
City Abatement: If the City of Long Beach must step in to abate the violation (such as removing a prohibited structure or stopping a prohibited use), all costs incurred by the City become an indebtedness of the owner and a lien upon the affected property [Section 21.10.080.D].

Revocation of Permits and Entitlements

If a building or use is operating under a specific permit (such as a Conditional Use Permit, Variance, or Administrative Use Permit) and is found to be in violation of the terms or conditions of that permit, the City of Long Beach may initiate a revocation hearing.

Public Hearing: The Zoning Administrator will schedule a public hearing to determine if the permit or approval should be revoked [Section 21.21.601].
Grounds for Revocation: If the hearing body finds that the conditions of the permit have been violated and the property owner has not made a "good faith effort" to comply, the permit will be revoked [Section 21.21.605.B].

Continuous Liability and Successive Owners

The City of Long Beach holds all subsequent owners accountable for existing violations. Pursuant to Civil Code Section 3483, every successive owner of a property who fails to correct a zoning violation or abate a continuing nuisance created by a former owner is liable criminally and civilly in the same manner as the person who originally created the violation [Section 21.10.090.B].

Special Provisions for Prohibited Signs

The City of Long Beach has specific procedures for the removal of illegal or dilapidated signs:

Illegal or Dilapidated Signs: If a sign is in disrepair, prohibited, or abandoned, the Director of Development Services will inform the owner in writing that the sign must be removed [Section 21.44.740.A].
Safety Hazards: The City Engineer has the authority to authorize the immediate removal of any sign that poses an immediate threat to public safety or is displayed in violation of ordinances on public right-of-way without prior notice [Section 21.44.740.B].
Abandoned Signs: Signs defined as "abandoned" (generally those unused for 90 days or more) must be removed immediately [Section 21.44.720].

Sections Cited