CHAPTER 8. Conveyance of Unredeemed Property [6550. - 6556.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 8.

in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6550. Section 6550.

In order to obtain a deed, the purchaser of the property or his assignees shall, 60 days prior to the expiration of the time of redemption, or 60 days before the date of his application for a deed, request the treasurer to send a written notice by certified mail, postage prepaid, to the owner of the property purchased, stating his intention to apply for a deed to the property purchased. In addition, the treasurer shall have the notice described in this section served upon the property owner by a process server pursuant to Section 415.10 of the Code of Civil Procedure and verified pursuant to Section 2009 of that code. The term “owner”, as used in this section, is the name and address of the property owner as shown on the last equalized roll for taxes, and any person whose name appears as owner on the records of the county assessor’s office which the county will use to prepare the next assessor’s roll. However, if the owner of the property has not been personally served at the end of 60 days after posting the notice required by this section, and if reasonable diligence has been used to find and serve the owner, the notices mailed and posted pursuant to this section shall be deemed adequate service. In such a case, the notice requirements of this section shall be deemed complied with upon the execution of the treasurer of a certificate stating the nature of the efforts made to personally serve the owner and that the owner cannot, with reasonable diligence, be so served. At the time of making such request, the purchaser or his assignee shall pay to the teasurer the following sums: (i) For issuance of the notice and mailing the same by certified mail and for cost of preparation of the affidavit required by Section 6552, the sum of three dollars ($3). (ii) For search of the last equalized assessment roll to determine the name and address of the owner, as defined, the sum of three dollars ($3). (iii) For service of the notice and verification thereof. (iv) For posting the notice as required by this section, the fees provided by Sections 26725 and 26746 of the Government Code. The notice shall include all of subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, with subdivision (a) printed in at least 14-point boldface type. IMPORTANT FINAL NOTICE (a) Your property located at (address) was sold by the city (or county) treasurer on (date of sale) because you did not pay for ____ improvements made in your area. You can still save your property, but you must pay what you owe by ____. Contact the foreclosure clerk at the treasurer’s office at telephone number ____ to arrange for payment of this debt. You will receive no further notices regarding this matter. (b) That the property has been sold to satisfy the bond lien. (c) The date of sale. (d) The date, number, and series of the bond. (e) The amount then due. (f) The time when the right of redemption will expire, or when the purchaser will apply for a deed. The treasurer shall immediately, upon such request being made and payment of the required fees, send a copy of the notice addressed to the owner of the property purchased as shown on the last equalized roll for taxes, and any person whose name appears as owner on the records of the county assessor’s office which the county will use to prepare the next assessor’s roll. Such notice shall be mailed at least 60 days before the expiration of the time for redemption, or 60 days before the purchaser applies for a deed. The treasurer also shall post a copy of such notice in a conspicuous place upon the property, if a survey is not required to identify and locate the property. Any travel fees incurred in attempting to post such notice shall be charged in the same amount as is provided for an actual posting in Section 26746 of the Government Code. Such notice shall be posted at least 60 days before the expiration of the time for redemption.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6551. Section 6551.

The owner of the property shall have the right of redemption until such notice is given and the deed applied for, upon the payment of the fees, penalties and costs as required, or if no deed is applied for, until four years after the date of the issuance of the certificate of sale at which time the certificate of sale would be conclusively presumed to be redeemed.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6552. Section 6552.

No deed to the property sold shall be issued by the treasurer to the purchaser until the treasurer has filed for the record an affidavit showing that the required notices have been given. The affidavit shall be filed and preserved by the treasurer with other records kept by him in his office.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6554. Section 6554.

If the property is not redeemed within the time allowed the treasurer shall upon application of the purchaser or his assignee make a deed to the property, reciting in the deed substantially the matter contained in the certificate of sale, and that no person has redeemed the property during the time allowed for its redemption. The treasurer shall be entitled to receive seven dollars ($7) from the purchaser for making the deed. All money so received by the treasurer shall be deposited in the treasury for the use of the city after payment has been made therefrom for the acknowledgement of the deed.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6555. Section 6555.

The deed of the treasurer, when duly acknowledged or proved, is primary evidence of the regularity of all proceedings theretofore had, and conveys to the grantee the absolute title to the lands described therein, as of the date of the expiration of the period for redemption, free of all encumbrances, except: (a) The lien for general taxes or ad valorem assessments in the nature of and collected as taxes levied by the state or county, city, special district or other local agency. (b) The lien of any special assessment or assessments the lien date of which is prior in time to the lien date of the assessment for which the deed is issued. (c) Easements constituting servitudes upon or burdens to said lands. (d) Water rights, the record title to which is held separately from the title to said lands. (e) Restrictions of record. If the treasurer of another city, as city is defined by Section 5005, has issued subordinate bonds, as defined by Section 5373, against the same property upon which the treasurer’s deed was issued, then the treasurer of the other city shall cancel the subordinate bonds and enter upon the bond register the notation “canceled by foreclosure of prior lien,” provided that he is notified of the issuance of the deed by the owner of the deed. If the superintendent of streets of another city, as city is defined in Section 5005, has issued subordinate assessments, as defined by Section 5373, against the same property upon which such treasurer’s deed was issued, then the superintendent of streets shall cancel the subordinate assessments and enter upon the assessment roll the notation “canceled by foreclosure of prior lien,” provided that he is notified of the issuance of the deed by the owner of the deed. If the treasurer has issued subordinate bonds, as defined by Section 5373, against the same property upon which the treasurer’s deed is issued, then the treasurer shall cancel the subordinate bonds, and enter upon the bond register the notation “canceled by foreclosure of prior lien.” If the superintendent of streets has issued subordinate assessments, as defined by Section 5373, against the same property upon which such treasurer’s deed is issued, then the superintendent of streets shall cancel the subordinate assessments and enter upon the assessment roll the notation “canceled by foreclosure of prior lien,” provided that he is notified of the issuance of the treasurer’s deed by either the treasurer or the owner of the deed.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 6556. Section 6556.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the purchaser of owner-occupied residential property at a sale under Section 6509, or an assignee or transferee of the purchaser, has not applied for the deed to the property and recorded the deed in the office of the county recorder in which the property lies, within 16 months of the date of issuance of the certificate of sale, the certificate of sale and the deed are void and neither the certificate of sale nor the deed shall have any legal effect. This section shall apply to sales held after the effective date of this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026