Long Beach 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 Long Beach Community Development Department; sources are listed at the end.

In Long Beach, code enforcement is handled by the Code Enforcement Bureau of the Community Development Department. It responds to a range of complaints, from substandard buildings and property maintenance to land use violations, so a cited house can be a sale problem even when the work was never yours.

Long Beach code enforcement at a glance

What does Long Beach code enforcement investigate?

The city says the Bureau investigates non-compliant buildings, enforces zoning and land-use regulations, and responds to reports of abandoned vehicles and more. Together with the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation, it aims to keep the city safe, functional and visually appealing.

The Permit Center’s Code Enforcement counter takes complaints about substandard buildings, property maintenance, inoperative vehicles, weed abatement and land use violations, and the city also provides a code violation reporting page and a referrals page.

What happens when a Long Beach house is cited?

A complaint or inspection can lead to a notice requiring the owner to correct a violation. Details such as deadlines and fees depend on the type of violation, so read the notice itself and call the Bureau at 562.570.CODE (2633) with questions. If you believe a violation was cited in error or you cannot finish the work in time, ask the Bureau about your options before a deadline passes.

Can I sell a house in Long Beach with code violations?

Yes. A violation does not by itself prohibit a sale, but a buyer will either want it resolved, want a lower price, or take it on knowingly. In California, sellers generally must disclose known problems, so cited violations should be disclosed. On a traditional listing, selling with an open violation often means resolving it first, which can mean permits, contractors and inspections before closing.

How to sell a house in Long Beach with code violations

1. Get the paperwork: the notice, inspection reports and any correspondence from the Bureau.
2. Check the permit history. Our Long Beach building permits guide explains how.
3. Compare your 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 Bureau until the sale closes.

We buy Long Beach houses as they are, with no repairs or showings. See how we buy houses in Long Beach 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.

Who to call in Long Beach, depending on the problem

The city’s Code Enforcement page lists a set of numbers that show how split Long Beach’s enforcement is. Excessive auto repair goes to Code Enforcement at 562.570.2633. Landlord and tenant issues go to 562.989.1206. Illegal dumping is 562.570.2700, option 4.

Graffiti on buildings is 562.570.2773, parking complaints are 562.570.2866, the Noise Control Program is 562.570.4126, and construction permit questions go to the Building Department at 562.570.6651. The general Community Development line is 562.570.5223.

If you received a notice, call the number printed on it first, but knowing the others helps when a neighbor’s complaint turns out to be about something other than the building itself.

Reporting and tracking cases

The city’s page offers online tools to report code violations, track referrals and search code cases. For a seller, the case search is useful: before you list, look up your address to see whether anything is open that you did not know about, since a prior owner’s case may still be on record. Print or save what you find, and ask the Bureau about anything that looks unresolved.

Rental properties and the PRHIP inspection program

Long Beach runs a Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program (PRHIP), listed on the Code Enforcement page. If you own a rental that is part of that program, ask the Bureau whether it has open inspection findings or unpaid fees before you sell, because a buyer or lender is likely to ask. Our California tenant-occupied home sale guide covers what sellers owe tenants when a rented house is sold.

Appeals and the Board of Examiners

The Bureau works with the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation, which handles appeals of certain building-related actions. The city’s page does not set out deadlines or fees, so the notice you receive is the controlling source.

If you think a violation was cited in error, or you cannot finish the correction in time, contact the Bureau before the deadline passes and ask in writing what the appeal or extension options are.

Seller checklist for a Long Beach violation

• Gather the notice, any case number and all correspondence.
• Search the city’s code case lookup for your address.
• Check permit history for related work; see our Long Beach building permits guide.
• Decide whether to correct, discount or sell as-is.
• Disclose a cited violation on the Transfer Disclosure Statement for a traditional sale.

Long Beach code enforcement FAQ

Who handles code enforcement in Long Beach?

The Code Enforcement Bureau of the Community Development Department. You can reach it at 562.570.CODE (2633).

What kinds of violations does Long Beach code enforcement handle?

The city lists substandard buildings, property maintenance, inoperative vehicles, weed abatement and land use violations, plus zoning and land-use enforcement.

Can I sell a house in Long Beach 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.

Does Long Beach have an appeals process for code cases?

The city says the Bureau works with the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation. Ask the Bureau how to appeal your specific notice.

Can I look up open code cases on a Long Beach address?

The city’s Code Enforcement page offers a way to search code cases and track referrals online.

Does Long Beach inspect rental properties proactively?

The city lists a Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program (PRHIP) on its Code Enforcement page. Ask the Bureau whether your rental is part of it.

Sources

• City of Long Beach: Code Enforcement
• City of Long Beach: Permit Center
• City of Long Beach: Community Development

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the Long Beach Code Enforcement Bureau.