It is that time of the year again where we are requesting your assistance in keeping the alley adjacent to your property clean, neat and accessible. Rather than issuing citation letters, we are requesting your voluntary cooperation. Listed below are the requirements of the Glendale Municipal Code for those properties that adjoin alleys. It is the responsibility of the owners of those properties that adjoin alleys to maintain them.
Ivy must be trimmed and maintained tight to the fence or wall as not to project over the property line;
Shrubs may project a maximum of two (2') feet over a fence or wall;
The alley adjoining your property shall be maintained free of junk and debris at all times;
Trees that overhang the alley or easement shall be maintained with a minimum fourteen (14') foot vertical clearance;
All fences and walls shall be maintained free of graffiti; and
All fences, walls and structures shall be maintained in good repair.
If you need assistance with the alley clean-up, the City’s Property Clean Up Program can provide you basic maintenance services at a very low cost. If you would like to take advantage of this program or to schedule a free estimate, please contact Julio Hernandez at (818) 548-2125.
There are approximately 2.6 million residential fires per year across the U.S. and an average of three children die in those fires daily. Ninety (90%) percent of those deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Fire experts estimate that at least one in three homes have inoperable smoke alarms. Having inoperable smoke alarms can have serious even fatal consequences.
Homeowners and landlords are required to provide functional smoke alarms in sleeping rooms and central locations. Making sure that the batteries are working is your responsibility as an occupant. Having a working smoke alarm in your home may save your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Following these simple guidelines can help make your home safer:
Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery. Make it a habit to change smoke alarms batteries when you change your clocks back to standard time each fall.
Never disconnect or remove batteries from your smoke alarm.
Replace your entire smoke alarm unit every 10 years.
One smoke alarm is probably not enough. To maximize the efficiency of your smoke alarms, it is recommended that you have an alarm in each bedroom and outside the bedroom area, close enough to be heard through closed doors and at least one alarm per level.
Remember that the smoke alarm is there for your protection. It can even save your life.
If you rent and your unit does not have working smoke alarms, make arrangements with your property owner so that they may be installed immediately or contact Neighborhood Services at (818) 548-3700 if you need assistance.
One of the first signs that property is not being maintained is the accumulation of junk and debris. Frequently this problem is aggravated by the presence of inoperative, abandoned, wrecked or junk vehicles. These vehicles, in addition to being unsightly, constitute a fire and safety hazard. Because of this, storing an inoperative vehicle on a driveway, carport or yard area is illegal in Glendale and the City enforces these codes to make the property owner either remove the vehicle or store the vehicle appropriately. An abandoned or inoperative vehicle is defined as any vehicle which is not legally operable on a state highway. That is, it must be registered, running, and in a condition to be driven legally on the street.
Once Code Compliance staff become aware of an abandoned or inoperable vehicle, they notify the property owner. Even if the property owner is not the owner of the vehicle, he/she has the responsibility to get the vehicle removed from the property or stored in a completely enclosed building (not a carport). If a vehicle has been abandoned on your property, State law includes provisions that allow a property owner to dispose of a vehicle. This problem most often affects owners of rental property. Neighborhood Services staff can assist property owners with the removal of abandoned vehicles from their property.
For additional information on this problem, or to report an abandoned or inoperable vehicle or to request assistance with removal of an abandoned or inoperable vehicle, please call Neighborhood Services at (818) 548-3700.
Here in the City of Glendale residential property whether single family or multifamily must be maintained in good condition at all times. As you know, first impressions are very important, maintaining your property in good condition will improve its curbside appeal and increase its property value.
The most important requirements of this code are the maintenance of all exterior areas of the property, this includes landscaping. All yards and parkways must be fully landscaped with live plant materials, irrigated and maintained in good condition at all times. All trees and shrubs should be trimmed away from any buildings or structures; the property should be free of weeds and overgrown vegetation. We recommend that a professional landscaper assist you in the maintenance of your property.
Another important requirement is that property owners must maintain their buildings junk or debris. All siding and broken, rotted, split or buckled roofing must be in good condition. It is also very important to maintain your property graffiti free. We suggest that as soon as graffiti goes up, you remove it immediately. A general rule is to have a gallon or two of paint that matches the building or structure stored on the property to remove it right away.
Owners or property managers must prevent their buildings from becoming dilapidated due to neglect. Regular inspections and maintenance of your property will increase your property value and improve the quality of life in your neighborhood. If you own rental property maintaining it in good condition will attract high quality tenants.
In an effort to assist property owners in these maintenance efforts, the City has developed a number of low interest loans and grant programs specifically designed to finance improvements for properties in need. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact Neighborhood Services at (818) 548-3700.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. Dubbed the "silent killer," carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that several thousand people go to hospital emergency rooms every year to be treated for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is present in low levels in the air. In the home, it is formed from incomplete combustion from any flame-fueled (i.e., not electric) device, including ranges, ovens, clothes dryers, furnaces, fireplaces, grills, space heaters, vehicles, and water heaters. Carbon monoxide (CO) from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.
However, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is avoidable and preventable if the necessary safety measures are taken. California Senate Bill (SB) 183 enacts the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 wherein owners of dwellings intended for human occupancy are required to install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. All single-family dwellings are required to have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors installed on or before July1, 2011 and all other dwelling units (apartment buildings, condominiums, motels, hotels etc…) are required to have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors installed on or before January 1, 2013.
Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are designed to alert the occupants of dwellings when carbon monoxide (CO) levels have begun to accumulate over a period of time, and will sound an alarm before most people would experience any carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning symptoms. Install at least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector on every level of a dwelling and in all sleeping areas. The detector may be placed on the ceiling. Do not place the detector right next to or over a fireplace or flame-producing appliance to prevent false alarms. Do not cover or obstruct the unit. Test the carbon monoxide (CO) detector monthly. The devices must be ones that have been certified by the State Fire Marshall.
This issue’s Code Enforcement Casebook addresses illegal garage conversions. An illegal garage conversion occurs when a property owner alters or modifies their garage for living purposes without obtaining the proper approvals or permits from the City.
When a garage is illegally converted into living quarters, serious health and safety issues are created. Improperly installed electrical wiring may cause fires, improper venting of water heaters may cause asphyxiation resulting in possible death, and plumbing installed not according to the Building Code may lead to other health hazards. Other health and safety issues associated with illegal garage conversions may include not having the proper amount of emergency exits or windows, not having fire resistant construction materials, and insufficient fire prevention systems or smoke alarms.
Illegal garage conversions affect the quality of life in your neighborhood. Improper and illegal occupancy of a converted garage increases the demand for City services such as refuse collection. An increase in the amount of vehicles taking up parking spaces increase the density of our neighborhoods and decrease the quality of life for all residents.
A garage is meant to store your vehicles and personal items, and not to serve as living quarters. An illegal garage conversion may cost someone his or her life, and this is why we take this code violation so seriously. Please be aware that legal action may be taken against any property owner who rents out an illegal dwelling, which results in harm or injury to its occupants.
Due to the assistance of citizens reporting illegal garage conversions and Neighborhood Services’ code enforcement actions, there have been no major incidents in Glendale and we would like to keep it that way. If you have any questions regarding this issue or would like to report an illegal garage conversion in your neighborhood, please call the Neighborhood Services office at (818) 548-3700.
With your cooperation, we will continue to keep Glendale a healthy, safe, clean community.
One of the primary objectives of the City of Glendale’s code enforcement program is to bring substandard housing into compliance with City codes, to eliminate blight and to preserve the high quality of life in Glendale’s neighborhoods. To meet this objective, potential code violations are identified on a proactive and reactive basis. Inspections are performed utilizing a variety of enforcement tools to achieve compliance. These tools consist of verbal and written warnings, letter notifications, citations, office conferences and abatement. The letter notification process is the primary tool used to compel property owners to make the necessary corrections. In most cases, property owners are given thirty (30) days to make the corrections, at which time a follow-up inspection is conducted. If code violations remain, a series of violation letters are sent and a Notice of Substandard (a lien) can be filed with the County Recorders Office that then informs potential purchasers and lending institutions of substandard housing conditions on the property. Continued non-compliance leads to an office conference, prior to forwarding the enforcement case to the City Attorney’s Office for possible legal action.
The goals of the Code Enforcement program are:
To educate property owners on their responsibilities to maintain their property in habitable condition;
To bring substandard housing/property into compliance with City Codes;
The City regulates the outdoor placement of vending machines to preserve access requirements and to protect the aesthetic appearance of our urban neighborhoods. Vending machines are permitted in all commercial and industrial zones. Glendale Municipal Code specifically addresses vending machines within the Commercial Zone sections under "Limitations and exceptions to permitted uses and structures" and in the Industrial Zone sections under "Performance Standards" (for outdoor uses). The development standards for vending machines in both the commercial and industrial zones are summarized as follows:
One (1) vending machine is permitted for every 3,000 sq.ft. of site area up to a maximum of eight (8) machines per site;
Machines shall be attached to or located immediately adjacent to a building;
Machines shall be accessible and shall not encroach into any required pedestrian access or walkway; and
All signs on outdoor vending machines shall comply with the development standards for signs, as listed in Chapter 30.128 of the Glendale Municipal Code.
Remember that proper City permits must be obtained prior to the installation of vending machines which may need plumbing (water) or electrical connections (power for operation). For more information, please contact Building and Safety at (818) 548-3200.
Exterior Property Maintenance & Spring Cleaning Tips
Per City ordinance, residential property must be maintained in good condition at all times. The most important requirement of this code is the maintenance of all exterior areas of the property, including landscaping. All yards and parkways must be fully landscaped with live plant materials, irrigated and maintained in good condition at all times. All trees and shrubs should be trimmed away from any building or structures; the property should be free of weeds and overgrown vegetation.
Another important requirement is that property owners must maintain their buildings and structures free of peeling or flaking exterior paint, broken windows and junk or debris. All siding and broken, rotted, split or buckled roofing must be in good condition. It is also very important to maintain your property graffiti free.
With a minimal amount of effort, you can keep the interior of your home looking as great as the exterior. Just follow these simple steps and enjoy the benefits of a clean home this spring.
Check for mold, mildew or other signs of water damage in the bathroom(s) and kitchen. Keep these rooms well-ventilated. Clean and dry any mold or mildew stains to prevent spreading.
Clean out cabinets, cupboards and drawers and wipe the shelves thoroughly. Toss out any items that have reached their expiration date.
Clean all major appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, and microwave inside and out using soap and water.
Clean in the crevices between kitchen appliances and behind and beneath these if possible. This can help prevent insects from being attracted to your home.
Repair any damages such as holes in the walls where insects could hide, or leaks under sinks.
Remove all garbage and trash on a daily basis.
Inspect all smoke detectors and change the batteries.
If you need assistance with the exterior property maintenance, the City’s Property Clean Up Program can provide you with basic maintenance services at a very low cost. If you would like to take advantage of this program or to schedule a free estimate, please contact Julio Hernandez at (818) 548-2125.
