Santa Maria Code Enforcement Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Santa Maria Code Enforcement page; sources are listed at the end.

Santa Maria’s Code Enforcement Division works from written service requests and by appointment only. If your house has a notice, or you are about to sell a property with visible issues, here is what the city says it handles and how to reach it.

Santa Maria code enforcement at a glance

What does Santa Maria code enforcement handle?

The city lists building or remodeling without permits and garage conversions, substandard housing such as lack of heat, hot water or sanitation, inoperative, abandoned or burned vehicles on private property and vehicles parked on lawns, zoning violations such as businesses in residential districts, noise complaints, blighted property, weeds, junk and debris, unlawful signs, wastewater and standing water, and public nuisances.

How do I report a problem?

The city says to call the office to request a Service Request Form, or use the English and Spanish forms on its website. You print and complete the form and send it to the office. The page does not list an email address.

How code violations affect selling a house in Santa Maria

An open violation can complicate a traditional sale because buyers and lenders may want it cleared, and sellers generally must disclose known problems. Work without permits and garage conversions often involve permits too, so read our Santa Maria building permits guide alongside this one.

How to sell a house in Santa Maria with a code violation

1. Get the notice in writing. Know which items are listed and any deadline.
2. Call the office. Book an appointment at (805) 925-0951 ext. 2420 to ask what is required.
3. Compare your options. Fix and list, sell with a credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose.

We buy Santa Maria houses as they are. Read how selling a house as-is in Santa Maria works, or see our Santa Maria cash-offer process.

What Santa Maria Code Enforcement investigates

The city lists these issues on private property where access has been authorized: building or remodeling without permits, garage conversions, substandard housing such as a lack of heat, hot water or sanitation, inoperative vehicles on private property, vehicles parked on lawns, abandoned vehicles, zoning complaints such as a business in a residential district, noise complaints, blighted property such as abandoned or open structures, weeds, junk and debris, unlawful signs, wastewater and standing water, and public nuisances.

Two items on that list, unpermitted work and garage conversions, are the ones most likely to come up when you sell.

Where to go and who to call

The office is at 110 South Pine Street, Suite 107. The city lists hours of Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only, closed Fridays, and the phone as (805) 925-0951 ext. 2420.

To request service, call for a Service Request Form or use the forms on the city website, then print, complete and send the form to the Code Enforcement office.

Other numbers on the city’s page include the Santa Maria Police Department abandoned vehicle hotline for vehicles on the street at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2956, the graffiti hotline at (805) 925-0951 ext. 2667, and the Community Mediation Program of Santa Barbara County at (805) 349-8943 for neighbor disputes.

The city’s page does not describe notices, deadlines or fines, so ask the office what applies to your case.

California rules on timing and disclosure

An open notice does not suspend your disclosure duties. If a disclosure or a material amendment reaches the buyer after an offer is signed, Civil Code section 1102.3 lets the buyer cancel within three days of in-person delivery or five days of mailing or agreed electronic delivery. Delivering known problems early avoids that window. Our California as-is guide covers what selling as-is does and does not change.

Need to talk it through? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Who to call: matching the problem to the right Santa Maria office

Santa Maria splits code-related issues across several lines, so the fastest route depends on what you are dealing with. The numbers below are the ones the city lists.

• Code Enforcement (building without permits, substandard housing, blight, zoning): (805) 925-0951 ext. 2420. The city says the office works Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment, and is closed Fridays.
• Abandoned or inoperative vehicles: the city lists the Police Department line at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2956.
• Sign regulations: Planning, ext. 2244.
• Graffiti: ext. 2667.
• Neighbor disputes: the city points residents to Community Mediation at (805) 349-8943 or (805) 963-6765.

Calling the wrong line costs time, particularly because Code Enforcement is closed on Fridays. If a notice names a department, call that one first.

Preparing for a Code Enforcement appointment

Because the city handles code visits by appointment, it helps to arrive prepared. Bring the notice or complaint reference, photos of the condition, and any permit paperwork for work on the property.

If the issue is a garage conversion or an addition, ask what the city would accept as proof that the work is permitted. If the condition has been corrected, ask how the city verifies that and whether it will confirm in writing.

The city’s pages we reviewed do not publish fine amounts, response timelines or an appeal process, so do not assume any. Ask about each of them directly and write down the answers with the date and the staff member’s name.

Selling a Santa Maria home while a code issue is open

An open code case does not prevent a sale, but it changes the conversation. Buyers using a loan generally want the issue resolved or a clear plan to resolve it. A cash buyer can take the property as it stands and price the remaining work into the offer.

If you are weighing both routes, compare the likely cost and time of fixing the problem against the discount of selling as-is.

California sellers are also expected to disclose known problems on the Transfer Disclosure Statement under Civil Code section 1102, so an open case is something to raise rather than hide. Our California as-is guide explains what selling with unresolved issues looks like step by step.

Santa Maria code enforcement FAQ

How do I report a code violation in Santa Maria?

Call (805) 925-0951 ext. 2420 to request a Service Request Form, or use the English or Spanish form on the city website and send the completed form to the office.

When is the Santa Maria code enforcement office open?

The city says Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only, and closed Fridays.

Who handles cars parked on the street?

The city says to contact the Police Department abandoned vehicle hotline at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2956.

Can I sell a Santa Maria house with a code violation?

Yes. A violation does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house as it is.

How do I request code enforcement service in Santa Maria?

The city says to call the office for a Service Request Form or use the forms on its website, then send the completed form to the Code Enforcement office.

Does Santa Maria code enforcement cover garage conversions?

Yes. The city lists building or remodeling without permits and garage conversions among the issues it enforces.

Is the Santa Maria Code Enforcement office open Fridays?

No. The city lists Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only, and says the office is closed Fridays.

Is Santa Maria Code Enforcement open on Fridays?

No. The city says the office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment and is closed on Fridays.

Which number do I call about an abandoned vehicle in Santa Maria?

The city lists the Police Department abandoned-vehicle line at (805) 928-3781 ext. 2956. Other code issues go to Code Enforcement at (805) 925-0951 ext. 2420.

Sources

• City of Santa Maria: Code Enforcement

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm requirements with the City of Santa Maria.