Neighborhood Nuisance Program

The City of San Diego sponsors a program to help residents abate nuisances in their neighborhood. Nuisances can include an unsightly property, excessive noise, gang activity, prostitution, drug activity, trespassing, CC&R violations, etc. The basis for the program is California law that makes property owners responsible for using their property in an ordinary and reasonable manner that is conducive to the peace and harmony of the neighborhood and does not interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property by others. Property owners violate the law by allowing a nuisance to exist on their property whether they themselves live there or not. Once they become aware of the nuisance they become responsible for abating it.

Under the Neighborhood Nuisance Program, the affected residents work with a City representative who guides them through a process to abate the nuisance. The process involves the following steps: collection of evidence, documentation of the nuisance effects, notification and negotiation with the property owner, demand that the nuisance be stopped, etc. If the owner fails to abate the nuisance the residents can file a suit in small claims court where they can describe the nuisance and their efforts to resolve it. In addition to a court cost of $22, service fees range from $15 to $150 depending on the method of service and number of defendants. The judge has the power to order the property owner to abate the nuisance and/or pay monetary damages to the residents.

For information about this program contact the City of San Diego Neighborhood Code Compliance Department at (619) 533-6123.