Portions of Moreno Valley Mall Temporarily Closed Pending Fire Code Compliance
Original Press
Release |
Updated Press Release
Beginning at the close of business on February 19, 2026, portions of the Moreno Valley Mall that have been deemed unsafe by the Riverside County Fire Department/CAL Fire will be temporarily closed. Numerous health and safety code violations have been identified as posing significant risks to tenants and customers alike, including the potential loss of life in the event of a fire. The closures will remain in effect until the repairs, which are required by law, are effectively and comprehensively addressed by the Mall owner, who has repeatedly failed to comply with prior requests to correct the code violations.
Riverside County Fire/CAL Fire provides fire protection and fire prevention services under a contract with the City of Moreno Valley. As a result, the City’s Building Official received a recommendation from Riverside County Fire/CAL Fire that, based on the violations, selected portions of the Mall were deemed unsafe, and were recommended to be immediately shut down and be issued a “red-tag” until all life-saving measures are addressed. Macy's and JCPenney are independently owned buildings at the Mall and will be permitted to remain open, as they have sufficient exits for their occupancy and provide their own appropriately maintained fire protection systems that are independent and separate from the Mall’s systems. Harkin's Theaters will also remain open after making modifications to their normal business practices. The safety of the community remains a top priority for both the City of Moreno Valley and Riverside County Fire/CAL Fire. The City of Moreno Valley will continue to work to support business owners and others directly affected by the closure.
ABOUT MORENO VALLEY MALL
Moreno Valley Mall, built in 1992, is an enclosed two-level shopping center. The property
encompasses 87 acres and serves clientele primarily from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
The
City of Moreno Valley has a library branch located in the Mall, and was in the process of
constructing an immersive museum prior to the partial closure.
City Council Special Meeting
March 4, 2026 Update
The Order to Vacate posted at the Moreno Valley Mall on February 19, 2026, has been officially lifted. Pursuant to a Letter Agreement executed by the Mall Owner and the City Manager, the Mall is permitted to reopen for business.
The Letter Agreement provides:
1. Prior to reopening the Mall, the Mall shall retain, at no cost to the City, qualified Fire Watch individuals to monitor and assist with opening and closing two of the Mall’s Fire Rated Doors. This Fire Watch shall continue until such time as the City’s inspectors confirm that the doors have been properly repaired/replaced in accordance with the California Fire and Building Code. If the doors are not properly prepared by March 31, 2026, then the Closure Notice will be automatically reinstated.
2. Prior to reopening the Moreno Valley Mall for use and occupancy, the Mall shall temporarily seal two fire-rated doors to prevent the passage of smoke and hot gases. If the doors have not been permanently sealed by March 31, 2026, then the Closure Notice will be automatically reinstated.
3. The onsite permanent Emergency Generators shall be restored, repaired, or replaced prior to the expiration of the Temporary Generator Permit, which was issued for a period not to exceed 90 calendar days.
4. The owner of the Mall agreed to indemnify the City for any loss, injury, death, or damage to persons or property during a fire or evacuation.
March 3, 2026 Update
On Tuesday, March 3, at the request of the Mall’s representatives, the City dispatched Fire and Building Inspectors to the Mall to review the status of the last remaining Life Safety/Fire Protection violation associated with the Mall’s fire-rated doors.
The Mall’s representatives informed the City’s inspectors that they anticipated that all the necessary fire-rated doors would be properly installed and fully functional in compliance with the applicable Fire Code specifications, by the evening of March 3 or sometime on March 4.
As soon as the Fire-Rated Doors are installed, the City will immediately dispatch Fire and Building inspectors to conduct the necessary inspections. If it is determined that the fire-rated doors meet the necessary Fire Code specifications, the Closure Order will be immediately lifted to allow the Mall to reopen.
Fire-rated doors are specially designed doors that resist fire and smoke for a specified duration, providing critical protection during a fire emergency and evacuation. Fire-rated doors are engineered to compartmentalize fire, protect escape routes, and maintain structural integrity under extreme heat conditions.
Code Violations Status Update
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why has the Moreno Valley Mall temporarily partially closed?
The Moreno Valley Mall has been temporarily partially closed due to unresolved, life-threatening fire code violations.
Q: What specific issues led to the temporary partial closure
Safety inspections identified fire code violations that the property owner failed to correct following a reinspection. Because these violations posed serious safety risks, additional enforcement action was required.
Q: Who conducted the inspections?
The City contracts with Riverside County Fire/CAL FIRE for Fire Protection and Fire Prevention Services. The City received findings from Riverside County Fire/CAL FIRE indicating that, due to the identified violations, the mall was deemed unsafe. As a result, the City’s Building Official ordered a temporary partial closure of the mall until all required life-safety corrections are completed.
Q: How long will this temporary partial closure last?
The duration of the temporary closure depends entirely on how quickly the property owner addresses and resolves the identified life-safety concerns.
Q: Is the City providing any resources to affected mall tenants?
Yes. The City of Moreno Valley’s Economic Development Department, through its Business and Employment Resource Center (BERC), is providing support to businesses and employees impacted by this temporary partial closure. Available support includes technical assistance, 1-on-1 consulting, information on financial assistance and bridge funding, unemployment and job search assistance, and upskill training. For more information, interested parties can visit moval.org/berc.
Q: Which businesses are still operating at the mall and which are temporarily closed?
Macy’s, JCPenney, and Harkins are the only stores that will remain open during the temporary partial closure. Macy's and JCPenney are independently owned buildings at the Mall. They have sufficient exits for their occupancy and provide their own appropriately maintained fire protection systems that are independent and separate from the Mall’s systems. Harkin's Theaters will also remain open after making modifications to their normal business practices.
Q: What is the being done to help the Mall achieve timely compliance?
A Fire Inspector will conduct follow-up inspections daily, Monday through Friday, to monitor progress until all items are brought into compliance. This approach is intended to support the mall in achieving timely compliance.
Q: Will the Mall still be available to walk in the morning?
No. Due to safety concerns, the Mall is temporarily closed to morning walkers.
Q: What should employees of businesses located in the Mall do?
Employees should contact their employers right away for guidance.
Q: Is the Moreno Valley Public Library Mall Branch temporarily closed?
Yes, the Moreno Valley Public Library Mall Branch is temporarily closed until further notice, but the City's Main Library and Iris Plaza Branch remain open.
Q: The City held a Special Council meeting on Thursday, February 26, to address the Mall closure with the public. What was the outcome of the meeting?
After the conclusion of the Special Closed Session Meeting, held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the City Attorney announced that the City Council unanimously voted 5-0 to direct the City Manager and City Attorney, in consultation with the Fire Chief, Fire Marshall and Building Official, to negotiate with the Mall owner on an Inspection and Abatement Agreement to facilitate the reopening of the Moreno Valley Mall as expeditiously as possible in a manner deemed by the Fire Department to resolve, correct, and abate all pending Life Safety and Fire Protection violations.
The City Attorney conveyed this information to the Mall’s legal counsel, and they are both committed to working together on the matter immediately and expeditiously.
Q: How can the community stay updated on the situation?
The City will issue updated Media Releases, available at moval.org/news. Updates will also be posted on the City’s website and official media channels.