Code Enforcement

Code Enforcement Helps Maintain Cerritos’ Park-like Appearance

Thousands of residents, business owners, school leaders and managers of places of worship have helped make Cerritos one of the best-looking cities in Southern California by taking pride in their property. The Cerritos Code Enforcement program was established to help maintain the City's park-like look, enhance property values and preserve the high quality of Cerritos neighborhoods.

City code enforcement officers respond to more than 3,000 calls from residents each year. The team patrols Cerritos streets for health, safety and appearance concerns before the problems contribute to neighborhood decay.

The City of Cerritos prides itself on having clean, well-maintained neighborhoods. Not only are such neighborhoods aesthetically pleasing, higher property values are a result as well. You can help Cerritos remain the model city in this region by calling our Code Enforcement Unit at (562) 916-1203 if you observe any Municipal Code violations.

Common Code Enforcement Violations

Residential Violations

Residential violations include:

Lack of landscape maintenance including mowing, edging, watering and weed removal
Lack of adequate landscaping in the front yard
Trash cans stored in public view
Debris or trash visible from the street
Inoperable vehicles, boats, trailers or equipment stored in public view
Poorly maintained house paint, trim, garage doors or wood siding

Business and Industrial Code Enforcement Violations

Violations include:

Illegal temporary signs, such as banners and window signs (see the City's sign regulations for details)
Outside storage of goods or equipment
Lack of landscape maintenance

How to Make a Code Enforcement Complaint

Cerritos residents or business owners can report concerns to the City's Code Enforcement Division by calling (562) 916-1203 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may also file a complaint using the Code Enforcement Report Form.

Please note that a barking dog complaint cannot be made anonymously. For more information on submitting a barking dog complaint, visit the Barking Dog Ordinance page.

Code Enforcement Complaint Processing

Code Enforcement Process Flow Chart

Problems are addressed in a confidential, friendly and understanding way. When the City receives a complaint or observes a property maintenance violation, a City Code Enforcement Officer will leave a door tag on the resident’s door with information about the violation and ways to remedy the situation. If the violation is not corrected, multiple letters (if necessary) will be sent to the homeowner. The letters will explain the situation, steps to resolution, and provide a deadline by which the resident must contact the City to discuss the violation. If the resident still does not contact the City, the case will go to the Property Preservation Commission. The Property Preservation Commission will review the case and adopt a resolution with a timeline that gives the resident up to 30 days to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected within the specified timeline, a Code Enforcement Officer will re-inspect the property and schedule an office conference with the resident and City staff. If the violation is still unresolved after the office conference, the administrative citation may be issued.

In most other cities with administrative citation processes, the resident receives a notice and then a citation. The City of Cerritos’ process is designed to give residents ample time to correct the violation prior to the issuance of a citation.

For the first property maintenance violation, a $100 fine will be levied. For the same violation that occurs a second time within one year of the first violation, a $200 fine will be levied. For the same violation that occurs a third time within one year of the first violation, a $500 fine will be levied.

Keeping a Cerritos Home in Top Shape

Most Cerritos residents maintain their homes well and have no trouble avoiding code violations.

You can keep your home in top shape by:

Regularly mowing, edging, watering and keeping weeds in check
Placing trash cans at the curb after sundown the night before your scheduled collection day, then storing the empty cans out of public view by midnight on collection day
Storing inoperable vehicles, boats, trailers and equipment in the garage, backyard or side yard, out of public view
Keeping an eye on exterior paint, trim, garage doors and wood siding, making sure to paint or stain the wood when needed
Repairing broken or falling fences or block walls
Removing oil stains from the driveway with cat litter or detergent
Pulling weeds from cracks in the sidewalk or driveway
Adding personal touches, such as flowers and decorative paving
Referring to the Cerritos Cornerstone section for tips on caring for your Cerritos home

Property Maintenance Violations

The following are property maintenance violations in the City:

Landscape not being properly maintained and property in need of painting
Trailers, boats and camper shells stored in driveways, or stored on side yards not screened from public view
Inoperable vehicles, construction materials and miscellaneous debris stored on the driveway, or stored on side yards not screened from public view
Major auto repairs being performed in public view
Holiday lights not removed within 15 days of the holiday
Trash cans stored in an area visible from the street

Permits

The Department of Community Development can help residents with their home improvement permits.

Parking Restrictions

Please refer to the following regarding parking restrictions:

Vehicles may only be parked in a garage, on the driveway or other approved parking areas
No portion of a vehicle may be parked on a lawn
No portion of a vehicle may block a sidewalk, park on an unapproved driveway or park on the driveway parallel to the street
A parking permit is required for all vehicles parked on City streets between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. everyday (10.02.040 CMC).
City parking permits are free of charge and must be clearly displayed on the driver’s side dashboard of the vehicle (left corner) from 3 a.m. until 5 a.m.

General Maintenance

Refer to the following regarding general maintenance:

If your parkway tree needs maintenance, call the Department of Public Works at (562) 916-1220.
You can report graffiti by calling the Graffiti Hot Line at (562) 916-1233 to report specific locations for removal.
For disposal of washers, dryers, water heaters, or other large items, call Athens Services at (833) 791-2376.

For More Information

Call the City's Code Enforcement Division at (562) 916-1203.