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City council backs steeper administrative penalties for absentee owners after push from councilmembers
Summary
Council approved a group memo to increase maximum administrative penalties for property owners whose neglected properties cause blight, raising the per‑day top end to 'up to $20,000' for the worst actors and maintaining a $500,000 annual cap per staff direction. The action was approved as part of the consent calendar with board-level support.
San Jose’s City Council voted Aug. 26 to adopt a group memorandum raising the city’s maximum administrative penalties for property owners who repeatedly allow properties to degrade. The measure—moved as part of consent calendar changes—aims to make fines a stronger incentive for compliance and to hold absentee owners accountable when properties become public hazards.
Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who co‑authored the group memo with Councilmembers Campos and Tordillos, said the changes target “absentee owners who repeatedly fail to act while our neighborhoods pay the price” and asked the council to add “up to” language to preserve staff discretion. Ortiz proposed increasing the per‑day maximum administrative penalty for severe, worst‑actor cases to “up to $20,000” per day; staff guidance will also provide operational detail on how fines are applied.
Chris Burton, Director of Planning, Building and Code…
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