Grand Terrace, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 5.80 § 5.80.080
Exterior building maintenance standards
Operative Text
In addition to the California Model Building Codes and City of Grand Terrace Municipal Code, and California Health and Safety Code, residential non-owner occupied/rental buildings shall meet the following exterior building maintenance standards: A. Buildings, or portions thereof, shall have exterior walls that are weather tight, or watertight, and kept free of deterioration, holes, breaks, or loose boards or coverings. Roof surfaces shall be watertight and not have any defects that will allow water to enter into the structure. B. The exterior finish of all structures shall be maintained. If the exterior finish of a structure is paint or stain, the structure shall be painted or stained prior to a time when the exterior finish has substantially deteriorated. C. All architectural projections such as cornices, moldings, lintels, sills and similar projections shall be maintained in good repair and free of defects. D. All chimneys, antennas, vents, gutters and downspouts and similar projections or building accessories shall be structurally sound and in good repair. Such projections shall be properly secured, when applicable, to an exterior wall or roof. E. Windows shall be weather tight, free from loose and broken glass and cracks that could cause physical injury or allow the elements to enter the structure. Exterior doors shall be maintained weather tight, water tight and rodent proof. Exterior doors of rental dwelling units shall be solid core or equivalent and be provided with an inside thumb-turn deadbolt-locking device that tightly secures the main entry door. F. All structures and exterior property shall be maintained free of rodent, insect or vermin infestation, which creates an unsafe or unsanitary environment on the subject, or adjacent buildings or properties. G. All accessory structures shall be maintained in a state of good repair or removed from the site. Such structures shall include, but not be limited to, clubhouses, offices, maintenance buildings, carports, retaining walls, fences, garages, swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and miscellaneous sheds or structures.
Grand Terrace Code of Ordinances ch. 5.80 § 5.80.080 establishes a set of exterior maintenance standards that apply specifically to non-owner-occupied residential rental buildings, layered on top of existing state and local building codes. The rule covers a broad range of physical components — from exterior walls, roofs, and windows to chimneys, gutters, doors, and accessory structures — requiring each to be kept structurally sound, weather-tight, and free of deterioration or infestation. Exterior doors of rental units must specifically be solid-core or equivalent and fitted with a thumb-turn deadbolt, and any accessory structures on the property must either be properly maintained or removed entirely.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of non-owner-occupied residential rental properties in Grand Terrace are generally expected to conduct regular inspections of all components addressed in ch. 5.80 § 5.80.080, including roofs, exterior walls, windows, doors, gutters, chimneys, and accessory structures. Compliant operators typically repaint or restain exterior surfaces before deterioration becomes substantial, verify that all entry doors are solid-core with functioning thumb-turn deadbolts, and address any signs of rodent, insect, or vermin infestation promptly. Accessory structures such as carports, fences, garages, and sheds that cannot be brought into good repair are generally removed from the site rather than left in a deteriorated state.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Grand Terrace Code of Ordinances ch. 5.80 § 5.80.080, tenants in non-owner-occupied rental units have a right to exterior conditions that meet specific maintenance standards, including weather-tight walls and roofs, properly maintained windows and doors, and freedom from pest infestation. If a rental unit's exterior door lacks a solid-core construction or a functioning thumb-turn deadbolt, or if other exterior deficiencies exist, tenants may document the conditions and raise those deficiencies through available channels, such as contacting the City of Grand Terrace's code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations can help renters understand how documented violations under this provision may be relevant to habitability concerns or other remedies available under local and state law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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