(a) Any employee housing which does not conform to this part, building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to employee housing, the other regulations adopted pursuant to this part, or conditions of the permit, is a public nuisance and, if not made to conform within five days or within a longer period of time, not to exceed 30 days, which may be allowed by the enforcement agency after written notice, shall be abated by proper action brought in the superior court of the county in which the employee housing or greater portion thereof is situated. Where inspection verifies that the owner or operator of employee housing is proceeding with reasonable diligence, or where conditions beyond the control of the owner or operator prevent conformance, the enforcement agency may grant time extensions not to exceed 30 days in duration. No more than two of these extensions shall be allowed by the enforcement agency prior to initiation of action to abate the public nuisance.
(b) Any violation of this part, building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to employee housing, the other regulations adopted pursuant to this part, or the provisions of the permit which constitute an immediate or material hazard to the health or safety of the occupants of employee housing, shall be remedied within five days after written notice by the enforcement agency, or shorter time in case of emergency. In the event of failure to comply with this section, the Attorney General, or the attorney for the enforcement agency, shall, by verified complaint setting forth the facts, apply to the superior court for an order granting the relief for which the action or proceeding is brought until the entry of a final judgment or order.
(c) The superior court may make any order for which application is made pursuant to this section.
(d) In any action or proceeding brought pursuant to this part, service of summons is sufficient if served in the manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure.
(e) (1) Any enforcement agency which institutes an action or proceeding pursuant to this section shall, at the time of filing the action or proceeding, record in the office of the recorder of the county or counties in which the property affected by the action or proceeding is situated, a notice of the pendency of the action or proceeding.
(2) The enforcement agency may charge the property owner for any costs involved in recording the notice and shall reimburse the owner for any amount charged if the action or proceeding is dismissed or if judgment is rendered for the property owner.
(f) The notice recorded pursuant to subdivision (e) shall be withdrawn by the enforcement agency by recording in the office of the county recorder, in the county or counties in which the notice was recorded, a notice of withdrawal within five days following satisfaction of a court order or other resolution of the action or proceeding.
(g) In any action or proceeding brought pursuant to this part, it is not necessary for the complainant to provide or file any undertaking or bond for the issuance of any preliminary or permanent injunction. In addition, it is not necessary for a complainant to allege or prove actual damages or the threat thereof, or actual injury or the threat thereof, to the plaintiff, so long as a violation of this part is alleged and proven.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 589, Sec. 95. Effective January 1, 1994.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018