Vacant commercial properties are on the rise nationwide, driven by hybrid work models and delayed leasing decisions. As buildings sit idle for extended periods, they become more susceptible to break-ins, fire hazards, and liability issues that can escalate without active oversight.
In the Bay Area, commercial vacancies have reached historic levels, with nearly 30% of office space sitting unused in parts of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. These issues are growing quietly across the region, affecting everything from industrial parks in Fremont to retail centers along El Camino Real.
For property managers, security directors, and facility leaders, the stakes are clear: Without a proactive physical security strategy, vacant sites become soft targets.
Here’s what you need to know about the risks of unoccupied buildings and the role physical security plays a critical role in keeping them protected, compliant, and secure.
Article FAQS: Securing Vacant Commercial Properties
Why Vacant Properties Are a Rising Liability in Northern California
In early 2024, San Jose recorded one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in the country, with San Francisco close behind. As foot traffic declined, risk took its place.
Vacant commercial properties throughout the Bay Area are now more exposed to break-ins, fires, and expensive liability claims. Insurance providers are taking note.
According to NFPA, vacant structures are significantly more likely to suffer a fire or vandalism than occupied structures.
Meanwhile, property insurers are raising premiums or adding strict conditions for coverage, especially when buildings sit unmonitored, unprotected, or improperly secured.
Key Risks Facing Empty Facilities:
- Break-ins – often targeting copper wiring, HVAC units, or just a dark place to squat.
- Fires – from trespassers, faulty systems, or neglected infrastructure.
- Injury claims – when someone enters unlawfully… and leaves with an attorney.
- Code violations – for unsecured hazardous materials or failure to maintain fire protection.
As risks accelerate, property owners and managers are increasingly turning to remote surveillance, smart access control, and environmental monitoring to protect their assets.
Industries Most Impacted by Vacant Properties in Northern California
The Bay Area’s overall retail vacancy rate isn’t the worst in the country. It is higher than Seattle’s but still below New York City’s. What sets it apart is the intensity of vacancy in specific neighborhoods.
While New York’s retail vacancy has barely climbed above pre-COVID levels, parts of San Francisco tell a different story. Union Square now faces a 22% vacancy rate, and the Van Ness corridor has surged to 53%.
Higher interest rates, maturing debt, and evolving work habits have all contributed to a growing number of idle buildings. And when buildings sit empty, risk grows quietly but quickly.
Industries with high-value assets or regulatory obligations are particularly vulnerable. Many are turning to smart, scalable security systems to reduce exposure and prevent costly incidents.
Here’s where those risks are most concentrated and why proactive security measures are becoming essential across these industries.
Industrial and Manufacturing Property Security in the Bay Area
Older industrial sites in Fremont’s Warm Springs District, Hayward’s Industrial Parkway, and the South San Jose corridor still house valuable machinery, wiring, and HVAC units, making them frequent targets for scrap metal theft.
Properties around Southwest Stockton and Concord Naval Weapons Station redevelopment zones are also seeing increased activity from unauthorized occupants. Many of these facilities aren’t permanently decommissioned, leaving gaps in physical security that can be exploited without remote monitoring or locked perimeters.
Strategies for Securing Idle Industrial Sites:
- Layer entry control: Combine physical barriers (locked gates, bollards) with electronic access control and remote monitoring for real-time visibility.
- Deploy mobile surveillance: Use trailer-mounted surveillance with floodlights and speakers to deter nighttime trespassers and document activity.
- Audit infrastructure monthly: Check utilities, HVAC units, and electrical rooms for tampering or theft at inactive buildings still holding equipment.
Warehouse and Logistics Facility Security in the East Bay and Central Valley
Large logistics parks near Tracy’s International Parkway, Livermore’s Greenville Road corridor, and West Sacramento’s Port District have warehouses that often sit idle between tenant transitions.
Remote locations and multiple entry points make them easy targets for trailer theft and unauthorized overnight parking. Sites off I-580, Highway 4, and even Cordelia Junction near Fairfield see a mix of legitimate freight activity and opportunistic trespassing, primarily where visibility is low and fencing is incomplete.
What Works in High-Risk Logistics Zones:
- Secure perimeters: Install motion-activated lighting, reinforced fencing, and clear signage indicating 24/7 video surveillance.
- Use license plate readers: Monitor vehicle access with ALPR systems to log all inbound and outbound traffic, helping identify unauthorized visitors.
- Establish virtual patrols: Schedule after-hours remote camera sweeps through a central monitoring service to reduce reliance on onsite guards.
Vacant Retail and Shopping Center Security in San Mateo and Contra Costa
Vacant big-box spaces in retail centers like Tanforan Mall in San Bruno, Sunvalley Mall in Concord, and El Camino Real corridor in Redwood City often attract graffiti, loitering, and break-ins.
Closed anchor stores with power still running, often overlooked, pose security and fire risks. Even partially leased strip malls in Vallejo and Pleasant Hill have seen problems with unauthorized vendors, illegal dumping, and after-hours activity when lighting is inadequate and surveillance is absent.
Prevention Tactics for Vacant Retail Sites:
- Keep the lights on: Maintain lighting in parking lots and entryways, including unleased spaces, to deter criminal activity.
- Position mobile trailers visibly: Place surveillance units with speakers near anchor store fronts to send a clear deterrent message.
- Engage current tenants: Coordinate security protocols with remaining businesses to ensure shared areas are covered and incidents are reported quickly.
Vacant Healthcare and Life Sciences Facility Security in Silicon Valley
Empty medical office buildings near El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Alum Rock’s health corridor in San Jose, and former biotech spaces in South San Francisco’s Oyster Point retain specialized equipment and, in some cases, controlled substances.
These sites require not only environmental sensors but also ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with hazardous materials protocols. In regions like Emeryville’s biotech cluster, properties can be vacant but still subject to regulatory inspection.
Compliance-Focused Safeguards:
- Install environmental sensors: Monitor temperature, humidity, and smoke for early signs of HVAC failure or unsafe storage conditions.
- Control and track entry: Use smart access control with digital logs to verify who enters and exits and when.
- Schedule quarterly inspections: Work with compliance consultants or in-house safety teams to ensure standards are maintained during periods of inactivity.
Industries Most Impacted by Vacant Properties in Northern California
Empty buildings don’t stay quiet for long. Whether it’s a curious trespasser, a copper thief, or a slow leak in the sprinkler system, vacant sites are vulnerable in ways that occupied ones aren’t.
Most property teams aren’t staffed to watch every door and corner 24/7 but they don’t have to be. The right mix of tools can create a strong security presence without adding full-time personnel. Think smart access, mobile surveillance, real-time alerts, and sensors that catch problems before they grow.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the core physical security layers that help protect vacant commercial properties across:
Core Physical Security Measures to Secure Vacant Properties
| Category | THREAT | SOLUTION | IMPACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Unauthorized entry | Smart Access Control Systems (mobile credentialing, remote lock/unlock) | Restricts access to authorized personnel; creates audit trails |
| Visibility | Break-ins, loitering | Mobile Surveillance Trailers (camera towers, floodlights, speakers) | High-visibility deterrent with live remote monitoring; deployable anywhere |
| Detection | Vandalism, fires | Perimeter Alarms & Motion Sensors | Detects breaches or movement in real time; supports rapid response |
| Monitoring | Trespassing, liability | AI Video Surveillance (cloud-managed, 24/7 alerts) | Provides real-time awareness and incident documentation |
| Safety | Fires, leaks, power loss | Environmental Sensors (smoke, water, temperature) | Detects internal failures before they escalate into major loss |
The key is a layered security strategy that combines deterrence, detection, and documentation. These tools work together to provide 24/7 coverage, reduce exposure, and support insurance and compliance requirements.
Secure Your Vacant Bay Area Commercial Property
Vacant properties don’t manage themselves. Whether you're overseeing a shuttered office in San Francisco, a logistics site in Tracy, or a quiet retail center in Contra Costa, risk builds quickly and quietly.
With the right tools in place, you can secure your site without overcommitting resources. From mobile surveillance to smart access and remote monitoring, modern systems are built to protect empty spaces efficiently and at scale.
Security 101 in Northern California helps businesses lock down vacant assets with solutions that are fast to deploy and easy to manage.
Book your security assessment today
Our local experts will evaluate your site and recommend a plan that fits your needs, budget, and risk profile.