The City of Victorville Planning Commission on Jan. 14 recommended that the City Council adopt a package of amendments to Title 16 aimed at strengthening property-maintenance enforcement for residential and commercial rental properties and establishing standards for vacant buildings. The three linked resolutions were presented by staff as development-code amendments in case PLN25-00023 and were recommended for council approval after a public hearing with no speakers.

Staff described the package as three parts: a revision to the residential rental-property inspection ordinance to require city-conducted exterior inspections and remove the current self-inspection option; a new vacant-building maintenance ordinance establishing board-up standards, contact-information posting and progressive fines; and a commercial rental-property inspection and licensing program requiring an annual exterior inspection and a business-license requirement for rental of commercial property. "This amendment introduces updates to chapter 1 regarding definitions and several changes to chapter 6 related to code enforcement procedures," staff said, and noted the proposal is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under section 15061(b)(3) because it involves administrative updates rather than new development.

George Duran, the city's code enforcement official and one of the coauthors identified by staff, described specific enforcement tools staff would use. He said the residential change "will aim to require that city staff conduct these inspections" rather than relying on owner self-certification, and that the vacant-property rules will create board-up standards and progressive fines that begin at $1,000 and can increase up to $5,000 with reinspection every 30 days, after which the city may pursue abatement. Duran said commercial owners located more than 85 miles away would be required to designate a qualified local representative to ensure timely compliance.

Staff told commissioners the city has roughly 41,000 housing units, about 38% of which are expected to be rentals, and estimated 9,000–11,000 single-family homes could be subject to the residential program. For commercial property, staff said there are approximately 300 developed commercial locations and more than 20 large retail shopping centers that would be in the program's scope.

Vice Chair Bill Thomas asked whether annual exterior inspections would occur on the same anniversary date each year; staff confirmed licenses are issued for one year and inspections would be roughly timed to that anniversary. Commissioners also asked how Victorville's approach compares to other cities; staff said residential licensing has been in place in Victorville since 2015 and that commercial inspection and vacant-property approaches are common in other jurisdictions. On trash receptacles at shopping centers, staff said the ordinance addresses trash containment methods and that conditions are often added at the development-review stage.

With no public speakers, the commission voted to accept staff recommendations. Commissioner Marshall moved to accept the changes and Vice Chair Thomas seconded; the clerk recorded three affirmative votes (Commissioner Marshall: Aye; Vice Chair Bill Thomas: Aye; Chair Paul Marsh: Yes) and one absence (Commissioner Messon). The commission's action was to recommend City Council adoption of resolutions p-26-001, p-26-002 and p-26-003 as part of development-code amendment PLN25-00023.

The package advances to the City Council for formal consideration and adoption; staff recommended the council find the amendment exempt under CEQA section 15061(b)(3) and adopt the three resolutions. The planning commission noted the changes are intended to reduce blight, protect neighborhood aesthetics, and provide clearer enforcement options for repeat noncompliance.