Cal. Civ. Code § 17992
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
Any person who obtains an ownership interest in any property after a notice of pendency of an action or proceeding was recorded with respect to the property pursuant to Section 17985 or any other notice of a violation of this part was recorded with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located, and where there has been no withdrawal or expungement of the notice, shall be subject to any order to correct a violation, including time limitations, specified in a citation issued pursuant to Sections 17980 and 17981 or any other notice of a violation of this part that was recorded with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located and is liable for any costs and fees of the receiver or enforcement agency, as applicable.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17992 establishes that when a notice of a pending enforcement action or recorded violation exists on a property's title at the time someone acquires an ownership interest, that new owner steps into the shoes of the prior owner with respect to any outstanding correction orders, deadlines, and financial obligations tied to those violations. The rule prevents a change in ownership from resetting or erasing active enforcement obligations. As long as the notice has not been formally withdrawn or expunged from the county recorder's records, the recorded notice serves as constructive notice to anyone who later acquires the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and investors conducting due diligence under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17992 generally search county recorder records for any notices of pendency or recorded violation notices before completing a property acquisition. A compliant purchaser accounts for any outstanding correction orders, their associated deadlines, and potential receiver or enforcement agency costs as part of the transaction. Property managers who inherit such obligations typically coordinate with the relevant enforcement agency to understand the scope of required corrections and any applicable timelines already in place.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17992 means that a change in property ownership does not extinguish a landlord's obligation to correct previously cited violations — the new owner inherits those duties. Tenants living in a property subject to a recorded violation notice can check county recorder records to confirm whether an active notice remains on title, and may raise the existence of unresolved violations when engaging with a local code enforcement agency or housing department. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how recorded violations under this provision relate to habitability rights and available complaint processes.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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