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Office of the City Attorney

Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit (HPU)

The Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit (HPU) is a unit within the City Attorney’s Office dedicated to ensuring that housing in San Diego is safe, fair, and livable. HPU takes a focused approach to addressing persistent code violations, substandard rental housing conditions, unfair business practices, and situations where there may be a pattern or practice of violating the Tenant Protection Ordinance or the Short-Term Residential Occupancy Ordinance.

By identifying patterns of noncompliance, HPU pursues legal action against repeat violators and works to resolve broader public nuisance issues that undermine housing stability, distort the rental market, and impact quality of life. Its goal is to bring problem properties into compliance as quickly as possible, so that safe housing remains accessible to all San Diegans.

This new unit reflects the City Attorney’s strong commitment to protecting residents, supporting healthy communities, and ensuring that all San Diegans have access to housing that meets the standards of the law.

Complaint Form

Use this form to alert the HPU to any of the following issues:

  • Drug dealers or Drug Abusers
  • Illegal Activity at Abandoned Property
  • Prostitution, Lewd Acts
  • Illegal Business or Other Zoning Violation
  • Illegal Trash Dumping
  • Substandard Housing
  • Short Term Rental Ordinance Violations
  • Tenant Protection Ordinance Violations
  • Other

If the violation you wish to report is not listed above, please submit a complaint through Get-It-Done, City of San Diego