Moreno Valley Mall Resolves Some Code Violations But Remains Closed

Mall faces $665,000 in unpaid fines and fees as it works to address fire safety issues

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Moreno Valley Mall in California has resolved some of the fire code violations that led to its closure last week, but the shopping center remains shuttered as it works to address a lengthy list of outstanding issues. City officials say the mall owes over $665,000 in unpaid fines, fees and law enforcement services, and has received 88 code violation citations since 2019.

Why it matters

The closure of the Moreno Valley Mall, a major shopping destination, has significant economic implications for the city and its residents. The unresolved fire code violations raise serious public safety concerns that the city is working to address, even as the mall's owners dispute the city's claims about unpaid fees.

The details

According to documents obtained by local media, the Moreno Valley city manager notified the mall's owners last month that the fire marshal had been monitoring the property around the clock since March 2025 due to unresolved fire code violations. The city claims the mall owes over $665,000 in unpaid fines, fees and law enforcement services. While the mall has resolved three of the nine major violations, inspectors found more than 21 issues, including blocked emergency exits, faulty fire doors, exposed electrical wiring, and dirty smoke detectors.

  • The city first notified the mall of fire code violations in March 2025.
  • The mall was shut down by the city on February 20, 2026 due to the unresolved violations.
  • The mall has resolved three of the nine major violations since the closure.

The players

Moreno Valley Mall

A shopping center in Moreno Valley, California that was shut down by the city due to unresolved fire code violations.

City of Moreno Valley

The local government that issued the mall 88 code violation citations since 2019 and shut down the mall due to fire safety concerns.

Matt Silver

A commercial real estate attorney who commented on the dispute between the city and the mall.

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What they’re saying

“What it looks like, what the city is saying they received some kind of communication for the mall owner offering to cut some kind of deal. And the city, I think rightfully so, is saying no deal. We need to stay focused on these life safety issues. We need to focus on getting these fire issues and other building problems, big stuff, to make the small safe for the residents of Moreno Valley.”

— Matt Silver, Commercial Real Estate Attorney (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The city and the mall's owners are continuing to negotiate over the outstanding violations and unpaid fees, with the goal of resolving the issues so the mall can reopen.

The takeaway

The closure of the Moreno Valley Mall highlights the importance of maintaining proper fire safety standards in large public spaces. While the mall has made some progress, the lengthy list of unresolved violations and unpaid fees suggests a complex situation that will require cooperation between the city and the mall's owners to fully address.