Substandard Housing

The City of Solvang takes substandard housing seriously because every resident deserves a safe, healthy, and dignified place to call home. City staff wants to ensure that  landlords, property owners, and developers meet the standards required by our local ordinance and the State of California for safe housing. 

As a tenant, if you identify issues such as structural hazards, inadequate utilities, and unsafe living conditions, we want to know, and we want you to speak up! We work closely with tenants, property owners, and others to uphold housing standards that promote well-being and prevent deterioration.

If you are experiencing unsafe housing conditions, we encourage you to report concerns so we can take action. Together, we are building a stronger, safer community. 

If you have any questions regarding substandard housing, please contact Code Compliance at (805) 688-5575 ext. 240 or via email at codecompliance@cityofsolvang.com 

Submit a Code Compliance Complaint for Substandard Housing

AB 548 Multi-Unit Housing Inspection Policy:

As of January 1, 2025, AB 548, known as the Local Multi-Unit Housing Inspection Policy, requires the City of Solvang to develop policies and procedures for inspection of housing units that substandard or contains a defect that may affect the other units in the building(s). The following is the City's Policies:

  1.  Division staff shall use the following to determine if a substandard condition in one unit could reasonably affect other units: the building type, age, size, type of construction, cause of substandard condition, and history of violations.
  2. If it is determined that a substandard condition may exist in other units, Division staff will contact the property owner or property manager and set up a time to inspect additional units at the property, including at least the units adjacent to, above, and below the unit in which the defect or violation was found. Inspection of additional units shall be consistent with current polices and practices of inspection.
  3. If inspected units as a part of policy #2 are determined to have violations, then all units on the premise shall be inspected.
  4. After inspection of units will provide the property owner notice or an order to repair or abate any substandard conditions discovered. City staff will advise the property owner or operator of each known violation and actions required to remedy the
    violations.
  5. To resolve outstanding code enforcement cases, the property owner or property manager shall schedule a re-inspection of the property to verify all known violations are remedied. 

If you have any questions regarding the City's Multi-Unit Housing policy, please contact code enforcement at (805) 688-5575 ext. 240 or email at codecompliance@cityofsolvang.com