Have You Had a Problem with Squatters?

Paul Stewart, SAMCAR Government Affairs Director | July 29, 2014

One of the fastest growing housing issues in California is the problem of squatters taking over vacant properties. And SAMCAR needs to know your experiences. A bill to address this obstacle was recently amended to establish a pilot program to expedite the eviction of squatters. The program is currently limited to cities of Lancaster and Palmdale in L.A. County.

However, the bill—Assembly Bill 1513 authored by Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale)—allows additional cities or counties to "opt in" if they make an official request in writing to Fox. While AB 1513 is currently awaiting hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee there is no guarantee it will become law. Nonetheless, now is the time to ascertain if San Mateo County will "opt in" to the legislation and in order to do that, we need your input.

The practice is becoming so pervasive statewide that there are now websites providing "how to" guidelines for squatting on residential properties. It is clear that under California law, it can take a minimum of 30 to 60 days to evict a sophisticated squatter.

This program will permit the owner of a vacant property to register it with local law enforcement and file a "Declaration of Ownership" with the District Attorney. Upon notification of unauthorized occupants local law enforcement will respond and require the "squatters" to provide written evidence that they are legally entitled to be there within 48 hours. If the property occupants are unable to provide such verification within 48 hours they will be removed from the property by law enforcement, and, upon conviction, can be subject to 1 year of jail time and a fine of up to $1,000.

Send your 'squatter's stories' to paul@samcar.org. Thank you.

TAGGED: AB 1513, Eviction, Lancaster, Palmdale, Squatters, Squatting, Steve Fox

Other Posts

Published: July 29, 2026

Redwood City Council Unanimously Opposes Rent Control Ballot Measure

In a decisive 6-0 vote, the Redwood City Council has officially opposed the Redwood City Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance, which will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The Council's decision follows an independent supplemental economic impact analysis that concluded the measure extends far beyond traditional rent control and could have significant unintended consequences for tenants, housing providers, affordable housing, and the City's financial stability. SAMCAR applauds the six Redwood City Councilmembers for carefully reviewing the analysis and taking a position based on the long-term interests of the entire community. We encourage Realtors, property owners, homeowners, and renters to learn more about the measure before casting their vote this November.