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California Health and Safety Receiverships are a remedy for distressed properties, which are known as a public nuisance under the law. In a receivership, a receiver is appointed by the court to revitalize nuisance properties after a lawsuit has been filed against the property owner. In these situations under public nuisance law, the receiver will often work with local law enforcement and fire departments until the situation is resolved.

Californians are well aware of just how damaging fires can be. Every year, California’s firefighters respond to hundreds of thousands of fire calls, including wildfires, vacant building fires, electrical fires, and more. When it comes to abating fire hazards, health and safety receivers are an essential resource within the state. The motivating force in all health and safety receiverships is to address substantial health and safety risks that affect property owners, tenants, and their surrounding communities. This includes fire hazard abatement.

Receivers are often appointed by courts to revitalize and potentially oversee the sale of nuisance properties. What Is a Nuisance Property? Nuisance properties are those that are in some form of distress due to being neglected or abandoned. These properties often present health and safety concerns, code violations, and even neighborhood blight. Signs of a nuisance property can include: Abandonment Severe disrepair Dilapidation Safety code violations Criminal activity

Court-Appointed Partition Referees and Post-Judgment Receiverships Business relationships sour, married couples split up, and family members can’t agree on what to do about a property they share. When these situations can’t be resolved through other means, the courts may appoint a partition referee.

It is in the best interest of every municipality in California to address the blighted, abandoned, and dangerous properties that damage property values and create risks for the entire community. This is where a city receivership program comes in and can be highly beneficial for improving such situations.

For years, California’s cities and counties have faced a conundrum when attempting to have a receiver appointed for substandard properties. Previously, the California Health and Safety Code § 17980.7(c) required an enforcement agency to provide a “3 Day Notice” to any property owner that they were going to petition the court for the appointment of a receiver.