Inglewood 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 Inglewood; sources are listed at the end.

In Inglewood, code enforcement is handled by the Code Enforcement Division, which enforces property maintenance, zoning, and weed and waste municipal code requirements. You can reach it at 310-412-5590, and complaints can be filed in person, by mail or by telephone.

Inglewood code enforcement at a glance

What does Inglewood code enforcement handle?

The division enforces the city’s property maintenance, zoning, and weed and waste requirements. The city also has a Vacant and Abandoned Property Ordinance, and residents are told to report blighted properties to the Code Enforcement Division. Under an ordinance amending the building code chapter, the division can issue administrative citations to correct property maintenance violations.

What happens when an Inglewood house is cited?

A complaint can lead to an inspection and a notice or citation requiring the owner to correct a violation. Deadlines and penalties depend on the violation, so read the notice itself and call the division at 310-412-5590 with questions. If a violation involves unpermitted construction, ask the Building Safety Division what the city would require to resolve it.

Can I sell a house in Inglewood with code violations?

Yes. A violation does not by itself prohibit a sale, but a buyer will want it resolved, want a lower price, or take it on knowingly. Sellers in California generally must disclose known problems, so cited violations should be disclosed.

What the Property Maintenance Division enforces

The city describes the division’s mission as safeguarding community beautification and economic development by enforcing property maintenance, zoning, and weed and waste municipal code requirements. Complaints can be filed with the Code Enforcement Section in person, by mail or by telephone.

The city’s municipal code includes separate articles on property maintenance (Article 11), administrative citations (Article 11.4) and weed and waste abatement (Article 12), which together show how a case can unfold.

Weed and waste notices

The weed and waste article includes a form notice telling an owner to remove the offending material from the property within ten days of the date of the notice. If an owner does not act, the code provides for the city to abate the problem.

That ten-day window is short, which is why an overgrown or debris-strewn lot is one of the easier violations to fall behind on, particularly if the owner lives elsewhere or the house is vacant.

Administrative citations and costs

Article 11.4 sets up administrative citations.

The definitions in that article include the fine imposed for a violation and the city’s enforcement costs, which the code counts from first discovery of the violation through any appeal until compliance is achieved, including staff time to inspect the property, send notices and prepare for and attend an appeal hearing.

In practice that means an unresolved case can carry costs beyond the fine itself. The code’s amounts are in the article, and your citation will state what you owe.

Property maintenance and building codes

Article 11 on property maintenance covers enforcement authority for violations of the California Building Code, the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings and similar state codes, as the Inglewood Municipal Code adopts them. A violation involving structural work can therefore involve the Building Safety Division as well as Code Enforcement. See our Inglewood building permits guide for fees and plan check.

Vacant or abandoned property

The city’s document center carries a Vacant or Abandoned Ordinance. If the house you are selling is empty, read it or ask the division whether registration or maintenance rules apply before you list.

When you get a notice

1. Read the notice for the violation, the code section and the date to comply, and photograph the property.
2. Contact the Code Enforcement Section and ask what proof of correction is required.
3. Keep receipts and dated photos for every fix.
4. If the notice includes an appeal, check the deadline in the notice itself, because the code treats appeal costs as part of the case.
5. Tell your agent or escrow officer about the case before you accept an offer.

Disclosure

California Civil Code section 1102.1 keeps your disclosure duty in place in an as-is sale, and section 1102.3 gives the buyer three days to cancel after in-person delivery, or five days after mailing or agreed electronic delivery, if a disclosure comes after the offer. See our statewide guide.

How to sell a house in Inglewood with code violations

1. Get the paperwork: the notice or citation and any correspondence with the division.
2. Check the permit history. See our Inglewood building permits guide.
3. Compare options: correct the violation, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the work in.
4. Disclose honestly and keep communicating with the city until the sale closes.

We buy Inglewood houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Inglewood or our cash home buyer page.

Dealing with a notice and not sure what it means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Getting your Inglewood paperwork in order before you list

Before you talk to buyers, collect everything the Code Enforcement Division has sent you: the notice, any administrative citation, and any photos or letters.

Call 310-412-5590 and ask for the status of the case in plain terms: is it open, is it waiting on a re-inspection, or has it been closed. Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and what they said.

A buyer or title officer will ask for the same things, and having them ready shortens the conversation.

Weeds, trash and exterior fixes you can do quickly

Because the division enforces weed and waste requirements as well as property maintenance, many Inglewood notices involve overgrown lots, debris or exterior upkeep. Those are the kind of items an owner can often address in a weekend. Take dated before and after photos and keep any dump or hauling receipts.

If a fix is bigger than that, such as structural repairs or work that needs a permit, ask the Building Safety Division what the city would require rather than guessing.

If the house is vacant

The city has a Vacant and Abandoned Property Ordinance and asks residents to report blighted properties at (310) 412-5590. If you inherited a house or moved out and left it empty, check on it regularly.

A vacant house that draws complaints can accumulate notices quickly, which is a common reason owners decide to sell as-is instead of repairing from a distance. For broader sale-time rules, see our California guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work.

Inglewood code enforcement FAQ

How do I report a code violation in Inglewood?

Complaints may be filed with the Code Enforcement Section in person, by mail or by telephone at 310-412-5590.

What does Inglewood code enforcement enforce?

Property maintenance, zoning, and weed and waste municipal code requirements.

Can I sell a house in Inglewood with an open code violation?

Yes. Disclose it, then choose between correcting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for it in the offer.

Who do I call about a vacant or abandoned property in Inglewood?

The city’s Vacant and Abandoned Property Ordinance flyer says to call the Code Enforcement Division at (310) 412-5590.

How do I file a code complaint in Inglewood?

The city says complaints can be filed with the Code Enforcement Section in person, by mail or by telephone.

How long do I have to clear weeds or debris in Inglewood?

The form notice in the city’s weed and waste abatement article directs the owner to remove the material within ten days of the date of the notice.

Can enforcement costs be added to an Inglewood citation?

The administrative citations article defines enforcement costs as the city’s costs from first discovery through the appeal process until compliance, including staff time for inspections, notices and appeal hearings.

Who do I call about an Inglewood code case?

The Code Enforcement Division at 310-412-5590. Complaints can be filed in person, by mail or by telephone.

Does Inglewood have rules for vacant houses?

Yes. The city has a Vacant and Abandoned Property Ordinance, and blighted properties are reported to the division at (310) 412-5590.

Sources

• City of Inglewood: Code Enforcement
• City of Inglewood: How to File Nuisance Complaints
• City of Inglewood: Vacant and Abandoned Property Ordinance

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the City of Inglewood.