By Sara Beth Williams–
A revised Commercial Vacancy Reoccupancy ordinance is scheduled to be up for approval at the upcoming Citrus Heights City Council meeting, city officials announced in a business newsletter.
The Citrus Heights City Council meeting agenda packet for Jan. 28 indicates that a public hearing will be held to discuss a proposed Commercial Property Reoccupancy Program Ordinance and an Establishment of fees schedule related to the ordinance.
In response to a growing number of commercial vacancies throughout Citrus Heights, city leaders have spent much of 2025 researching policies that could strengthen maintenance standards, encourage reinvestment in existing buildings, and support more expedited reoccupancy of unused storefronts and office spaces.
According to the city’s website, the first version of the ordinance was drafted in July 2025 and presented to various stakeholders for feedback in the months following. An initial workshop was held in August 2025 before the draft was first proposed to the city council in September 2025.
City staff held a second community workshop on Dec. 3, 2025, to present refinements to the proposed ordinance. The updates were developed based on feedback from the business community received during the first workshop, and feedback from other stakeholders outside of the workshop.
Among the proposed changes is an extension of the registration window for vacant commercial properties from 30 days to 60 days. Staff also proposed expanding fee-relief options for properties that are well maintained and waiving registration fees for property owners who self-register within the required timeframe.
Feedback gathered during the Dec. 3 workshop was incorporated into the next draft of the ordinance, and the revised proposal is scheduled to return to the Citrus Heights City Council for formal consideration at the upcoming meeting. the city’s website states.
During an initial workshop, several business owners and representatives disagreed with many aspects of the proposed ordinance draft, including the high annual cost of registration with the city, and a lack of positive incentives. City staff in turn, emphasized the prolonged problem of long-term vacancies, highlighting several vacant buildings which have become unusable due to extensive deterioration and continued vandalism.
At the Sept. 24 City Council meeting, officials presented survey results showing strong resident support for the potential commercial vacancy reoccupancy ordinance, but several council members pressed for greater outreach to property owners.
The proposed ordinance aims to establish consistent minimum requirements to ensure vacant commercial properties meet basic safety and maintenance standards, prevent deterioration that can contribute to blight, and promote the long-term health and economic well-being of the city’s commercial corridors, the website states.
Under the draft framework, both property owners and the city would share responsibility for improving conditions and reducing vacancy. Property owners would be expected to actively market empty spaces, communicate future plans for their sites, and maintain a secure and well-kept property. The city, in turn, would offer incentives and resources to support reoccupancy efforts, provide outreach to brokers, help navigate zoning or code issues, and continue responding to public safety or code compliance concerns.
City officials describe the ordinance as a proactive partnership. Early communication between property owners and staff, they say, can prevent many issues before they arise, while improved maintenance helps increase safety and build community trust. Ultimately, the shared goal is to activate vacant spaces, boost property values, and maintain vibrant, attractive business corridors throughout Citrus Heights, the website emphasizes.
Residents and property owners can follow updates on the proposed ordinance through the city’s dedicated commercial vacancy reoccupancy ordinance webpage.
See the full agenda packet for Wednesday’s meeting here.
Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at City Hall, at 6 p.m., or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
