Compton Code Enforcement Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from City of Compton pages; sources are listed at the end.

Compton handles code enforcement through its Building and Safety Department, which also enforces building and health codes, and residents can report violations online. If you received a notice, here is where to start.

Compton code enforcement at a glance

What if Compton cites my property?

Read the notice for what must be fixed and by when, and contact the department with questions. If the fix needs construction, check whether a permit is needed; see our Compton building permits guide.

How code violations affect selling a house in Compton

An open violation can make buyers and lenders nervous, and sellers in California generally must disclose known problems. On a traditional listing, the usual choices are to correct the violation, lower the price, or give a credit.

How to sell a house in Compton with a code violation

1. Get the notice in writing.
2. Weigh repair cost and time against selling as-is.
3. Talk to the city about what resolves the case.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change disclosure duties but removes repair steps.

We buy Compton houses as they are. See selling as-is in Compton or our Compton zoning and ADU guide.

Have a notice and not sure what to do? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Who handles code enforcement in Compton

The city’s Building and Safety Division lists enforcement of building and health and safety codes among its services, and also lists emergency abatement of unsafe property and illegal contracting. The city’s Public Safety Department describes a Code Enforcement division among its four divisions.

In practice, a notice on your house can come from either side depending on whether the issue is a structure, a nuisance or property maintenance, so read the notice for the issuing office and contact number.

How to report or respond

Compton’s online services page lists a way to report a code enforcement issue, and the city’s main line is (310) 605-5500 at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue. Building and Safety, at (310) 605-5509, is open Monday through Thursday, 7:00am to 6:00pm. If you received a notice, call the number on it, ask for the exact code section and ask what proof of correction the city accepts.

Responding to a Compton notice, step by step

1. Read the notice for the violation, address, code section and deadline.
2. Call the issuing office and confirm what correction is required.
3. Fix cleanup items first and take dated photos.
4. Check permit needs before hiring a contractor. See our Compton building permits guide.
5. Ask for a written closure and keep it with your sale documents.

Unsafe property and illegal contracting

The division’s emergency abatement authority covers unsafe property. If a house has a collapsed roof, exposed wiring, fire damage or an unsafe structure, the city can act, and costs can follow the property. Illegal contracting is also on the division’s list, which is a reminder to use licensed contractors and to keep their permit paperwork.

Disclosing a violation when you sell

Civil Code section 1102.1 requires delivery of the transfer disclosure statement even in an as-is sale and leaves your duty to disclose material facts in place. A known open notice belongs in that disclosure conversation with your agent or escrow officer. Under section 1102.3, a disclosure delivered after an offer gives the buyer three days after in-person delivery or five days after mailing or agreed electronic delivery to cancel.

Selling with an open case

Options include correcting the issue and getting the case closed, crediting the buyer, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accepts the condition. The choice depends on the cost of the repair and on how soon you need to close.

Contacting the department and asking the right questions

Compton’s code enforcement sits with the Building and Safety Department at 205 S. Willowbrook Avenue, (310) 605-5509, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When you call about a notice, ask four things: what exactly is the violation, what is the deadline, what will the re-inspection look for, and whether the case can be closed in writing once it is fixed. Write the answers down with the date.

Using the city’s online tools

The city’s Report a Violation page is for complaints, and its Code Enforcement page redirects to the Citizen Serve portal. If you are the owner, the portal is also useful for checking whether any permit or case is already tied to the address before you accept an offer. A case you did not know about is better found by you than by a buyer’s title company.

Planning the sale if the work is too big

Some notices are quick to fix and some are not, especially if the violation involves structure or unpermitted work. If you cannot realistically finish before you want to sell, choose between a listing with disclosure and a price adjustment, or an as-is sale to a cash buyer. Our Compton building permits guide and California as-is guide explain how each works.

What an inspector is likely to look for at re-inspection

Re-inspections are usually narrow: the inspector returns to confirm that the specific items on the notice are fixed. That is why it helps to ask, at the start, exactly what is listed. If the notice says to remove debris, the inspector will look for debris.

If it says to repair a fence, the inspector will look at the fence. Do not assume other areas will be ignored, but do not spend money on items that are not named either.

Take photos the day you finish and keep any receipts, then ask the department how to request the re-inspection.

Unsafe property and unlicensed work

The department also deals with unsafe property and illegal contracting. If a past owner hired an unlicensed contractor for a remodel, the result may fail inspection or lack a permit. Check the permit record before you assume the work is sound.

If the work is poor or unpermitted, you may have to choose between redoing it and selling the house as it is. Our California tenant-occupied home sale guide is useful if the property is rented while a case is open.

Keeping a record

Keep the notice, your photos, receipts and a short log of calls with dates and names. Whether you finish the repairs or sell as-is, the record shows what you knew and what you did, and it makes the conversation with a buyer, agent or title company faster.

Compton code enforcement FAQ

How do I report a code violation in Compton?

Use the city’s Report a Violation page, or contact Building and Safety at (310) 605-5509.

Which department enforces codes in Compton?

The Building and Safety Department, which the city says enforces building and health codes.

Can I sell a Compton 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.

Which Compton office enforces building and safety codes?

The city lists enforcement of building and health and safety codes, plus emergency abatement of unsafe property, among Building and Safety Division services.

How do I report a code enforcement issue in Compton?

The city’s online services page links to a code enforcement report option, and the city’s main line is (310) 605-5500.

Where do I report a violation in Compton?

Use the city’s Report a Violation page, or contact Building and Safety at (310) 605-5509.

Where is the Compton code enforcement portal?

The city’s Code Enforcement page redirects to its Citizen Serve portal.

Sources

• City of Compton: Report a Violation
• City of Compton: Building and Safety

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and contacts change; confirm with the City of Compton.