Quality of Life Problems

• Graffiti and Litter
• Animals
• Unsafe Street Conditions
• Code Violations

The SDPD is not responsible for dealing with all of the problems and incidents that affect public health, safety, and welfare, although in many cases it works with other agencies in addressing them. Problems involving graffiti, litter, unsafe street conditions, certain municipal code violations, and suspected child and elder abuse should be reported to the agencies that have the primary responsibility. All of these reports are completely confidential so you should not be afraid to give your name, address, and phone number.

Graffiti and Litter

Call the City of San Diego's Graffiti Control Hotline at (619) 525-8522 to report graffiti on private or public property. Your report will be verified and the party (property owner) responsible for removing the graffiti will be notified. If the graffiti is not removed, the City will use the enforcement remedies or abatement procedures specified in Sec. 54.0401 et seq of the San Diego Municipal Code to bring the property into compliance. Call 9-1-1 if the graffiti vandalism is in progress. For more information on the Spray and Pay Program visit the Graffiti Control Program website.

Graffiti on the following properties can be reported directly to the property owner or manager. Call (619) 291-5510 for damage to bus benches, (619) 231-1466 for damage to bus shelters, (858) 467-4009 for damage to state highway property, (619) 696-2041 for damages to SDG&E property or electrical boxes, (619) 266-5321 for damage to Cox Cable property, and (619) 697-5123 for damage to Pacific Bell property.

Call the City of San Diego's Solid Waste Enforcement Unit at (858) 492-5055 regarding litter on private or public property. Call City Park and Recreation at (619) 685-1350 regarding litter on property in a Landscape Maintenance Assessment district.

I Love a Clean San Diego (ILCSD) is a non-profit environmental organization that operates under contract with the City's Environmental Services Department to assist the City and the community in dealing with trash, litter, recycling, and other environmental problems, e.g., storm drain pollution. One of its functions is to help community groups plan, organize, and carry out cleanups of neighborhoods and certain public properties, e.g., alleys, canyons, and beaches. ILCSD will provide trash bags, dumpsters, publicity, and some volunteer helpers for your cleanups. It will also provide speakers and informational material on ways to protect the environment. Call ILCSD at (800)291-0103 regarding cleanups and (800)237-2583 regarding recycling.

Animals

Call the County Department of Animal Control 24-hour emergency number, (619) 236-2341, to report incidents involving animals that threaten public health and safety. Call the City Environmental Services Department Refuse Collection Division at (858) 492-5060 during normal business hours or (858) 573-1276 during other hours for the removal of dead animals. The following numbers can be used for other animal control services:

• Spaying or neutering, lost and found, operator assistance, etc. (619) 236-4250
• Licensing and rabies vaccinations (619) 236-4646
• Adoptions (619) 595-4532
• Noise abatement (858) 694-3741

Call the National Conflict Resolution Center at (619) 238-2400 for help in dealing with people whose animals are causing unreasonable noise. Complainants are now referred to this private, non-profit organization of trained community volunteers because City agencies no longer handle these kinds of disputes.

Unsafe Street Conditions

Conditions that should be reported include: holes and cracks in surfaces and curbs; missing, damaged, or obscured signs; inoperative lights and signals; hazardous debris; needs for new safety measures; and trees that need trimming.

Holes and Cracks in Surfaces and Curbs. Call City Street Maintenance at (619) 527-7500 to report potholes, cracks, and other problems with street surfaces, sidewalks, and curbs.

Missing, Damaged, or Obscured Signs. Call (619) 527-7500 to report these problems.

Inoperative Lights and Signals. Call City Communications and Electrical at (619)527-7500 to report these problems.

Hazardous Debris. Call the City of San Diego's Solid Waste Enforcement Unit at (858)492-5055 to report hazardous debris on streets.

Needs for New Safety Measures. Call City Traffic Engineering at (619) 533-3126 to suggest new crosswalks, curb markings, traffic signals, signs, speed bumps, additional street lights, tree and other obstruction removal, etc.

Trees. Call City Street Maintenance at (619)527-7500 to report city-owned trees that need trimming.

Code Violations

Call the City Neighborhood Code Compliance Department's Citizen Complaint Intake Line at (619) 236-5500 regarding violations of the City's housing, building, sign, zoning, vehicle parking, weed abatement, and noise regulations. Some common violations that should be reported include vehicles parked in front yards, excessive weeds on private property, dilapidated or unsafe structures, unsecured vacant structures, uninhabitable rental housing, building or remodeling without permits, illegally posted signs, operating a business from a home, other illegal uses of residential property, and garages converted to living spaces.

To report code violations in person, visit your local Community Service Center (CSC). You can discuss the general problem with a Code Compliance Information Officer and make an appointment to meet with an inspector about your specific complaint. The addresses and phone numbers of the existing CSCs are listed below.