Did you know that the City's Municipal Code requires residents and property owners to maintain the exterior conditions of their home to reduce blight — and that you can be issued a citation for exterior code violations?

Video in other languages:  Español | Tiếng Việt | Tagalog | 简体中文

Requiring a minimum level of maintenance of front yards and all areas visible from the street helps to reduce blight. Blight can attract rodents, be a fire hazard, lead to illegal activity, and decrease property values or affect the success of nearby businesses. See below for the common types of exterior code violations that are considered as blight.

City launches FAST Program to reduce blight. The City launched the Focus Area Service Team (FAST) program in late 2023 to focus on six neighborhoods in San José that have a high rate of complaints for exterior violations. The goal is to inform property owners and residents in these neighborhoods about common exterior code violations and how to correct them BEFORE City Inspectors come into the neighborhoods to perform a general exterior inspection, as viewed from walking or driving by properties. 

COMMON Examples of Blight VIOLATIONS

Here are common blight violations. Click on the image below or watch this video for details and actions you can take to correct these violations.

Fast Program Inspection Timeline

Dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions and other unforeseen delays. 

WAYS TO FIGHT BLIGHT

You can fight blight and help improve your neighborhood with any of these actions:

• File a service request. Report blight violations on private property to San José's Code Enforcement team at www.sanjoseca.gov/RequestCodeService. 
   
• See it; report it to 3-1-1: Report blight and illegal dumping online at 311.sanjoseca.gov, via the San José 3-1-1 App for Apple or Android, or by calling 3-1-1.

• Join or start a neighborhood cleanup: Residents 15 or older can assist with litter removal in their neighborhood or in other areas within City boundaries. Sign up to volunteer. Groups interested in organizing a neighborhood cleanup or beautification project can apply for a BeautifySJ grant.

• Adopt a Park or Trail Program: Residents of all ages and groups of any kind can sign up to adopt a park or trail in their neighborhood or in other areas within City boundaries. Volunteers will perform a variety of cleanup and gardening activities. For more information, email adopt-a-park@sanjoseca.gov.

The Focus Area Service Team (FAST) Program is designed to help neighborhoods get a fast response to blight code violations in the six areas of San José with the highest blight complaints.

Code Enforcement Inspectors will visit these areas to identify exterior blight violations as visible from the street or sidewalk. This is a change from the current approach which has relied on the public to report issues. FAST also expedites the enforcement process. The program steps include:

• Notification Mailer & Outreach: A multilingual notification (see bottom of this page) will be mailed to property owners and tenants before inspections begin with information on the common exterior violations and how to correct them to avoid a citation and fine. Staff is providing educational zoom meetings, publicizing information on social media and the Nextdoor platform, contacting neighborhood and business districts, and providing an explainer video.  
   
• Inspection & Enforcement: Code Enforcement Inspectors will walk or drive through the focus areas to identify visible blight violations. They will take photographs to document the violations. The following week, citations will be mailed. Property owners who receive a citation will have ten days to correct the violation/s before the property is reinspected for compliance. Failure to correct the violations may result in additional citations and higher fines.

The FAST Program was developed in response to Mayor Mahan’s March Budget Message for FY 2023-2024. See FAST Program Council Memorandum, June 9, 2023 for more information.

For language assistance or accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please email FAST@sanjoseca.gov or call (408) 793-6851.

We want to help residents avoid a citation. For more information, assistance with correcting blight violations, or to request a FAST presentation, please email FAST@sanjoseca.gov or call (408) 793-6851.

• FAST Program bilingual Flyer

• FAST Example Notification Letter:  English | Español | Tiếng Việt | Tagalog  | 繁體中文 | 简体中文

• Focus Area Service Team Pilot Program Council Memorandum, June 9, 2023