Notwithstanding Section 17980, whenever the enforcement agency inspects any vacant single-family dwelling within the City of Los Angeles or the City of San Diego pursuant to this chapter, all of the following shall apply:

(a)  If a nuisance exists in any vacant single-family dwelling or upon the lot on which it is situated, the enforcement agency shall, after 15 days’ notice to abate the nuisance, institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate the nuisance.

(b)  (1)  Whenever the enforcement agency has inspected or caused to be inspected any vacant single-family dwelling and has determined that the building is a substandard dwelling, the enforcement agency shall, after giving 15 days’ notice to the owner, commence proceedings to abate the violation by repair, rehabilitation, or demolition of the building. The owner shall have the choice of repairing or demolishing. However, if the owner chooses to repair, the enforcement agency shall require that the building be brought into compliance according to a reasonable and feasible schedule for expeditious repair. The enforcement agency may require demolition or may itself repair, demolish, or institute any other appropriate action or proceeding, if any of the following occur:

(A)  The repair work is not done as scheduled.

(B)  The owner does not make a timely choice of repair or demolition.

(C)  The owner selects an option that cannot be completed within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the department, for any reason, including, but not limited to, an outstanding judicial or administrative order.

(2)  In deciding whether to repair as necessary, the enforcement agency shall give preference to the repair of the building whenever it is economically feasible to do so without having to repair more than 50 percent of the dwelling, as determined by the enforcement agency, and shall give full consideration to the needs for housing as expressed in the local jurisdiction’s housing element.

(c)  All notices issued by the enforcement agency to correct violations or to abate nuisances shall contain a provision notifying the owner that, in accordance with Sections 17274 and 24436.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, a tax deduction may not be allowed for interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization paid or incurred in the taxable year.

(d)  The enforcement agency may charge the owner of the building for its postage or mileage cost for sending or posting the notices required to be given by this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 594, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)