Maintenance Assessment Districts

A Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) is a revitalization mechanism by which property owners within specified boundaries of the City can vote to assess themselves for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, installing, or maintaining improvements and providing activities that will provide certain benefits to properties located within a district. Self-managed MADs differ from the City's Park and Recreation Department managed MADs in that district property owners may select, an Owner’s Association (nonprofit entity) to administer all contracts necessary to provide the improvements and activities within the district as well as manage the day-to-day operations of the district. Click here to enter an address and see whether your business or property is in a MAD.

The Owner’s Association’s represents the assessed property owners or property owners’ representatives in a district. It is the City's responsibility to oversee the Owners Association administration of the MADs to ensure compliance with local and State statutes.

North Park Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) Formation

What is a PBID? A Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) is a tool available to property and business owners to improve a downtown or other commercial area. It is a public-private partnership organized for the improvement of a specific geographic area. In California, PBIDs are formed pursuant to the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994. A PBID is a special benefit assessment district designed to raise funds within a specific geographic area. Funds may be raised through a special assessment on real property, businesses, or a combination of both, and are used to provide supplemental services beyond those provided by the City. Click here to enter an address and see whether your business or property is in a PBID.

PBID Formation: The City was approached by North Park Main Street, in conjunction with property owners, to request the formation of a PBID within the center area of North Park. The purpose of the North Park PBID is to provide improvements, maintenance and activities that constitute and confer a special benefit to assessed parcels. The North Park PBID will provide sanitation, landscaping, improvements and economic development services directly and only to assessed parcels within its boundaries.  

North Park PBID Documents

• North Park PBID Management District Plan and Assessment Engineer’s Report
• North Park PBID Ballot Guidelines
• North Park PBID Request to Withdraw Ballot/Request for Replacement Ballot
• North Park PBID Public Notice and Sample Ballot

Questions? Contact Sean Karafin of the Economic Development Department at 619-236-6493 or Skarafin@sandiego.gov.

Downtown Property and Business Improvement District

The Downtown PBID currently provides maintenance, beautification, installations, disorder and nuisance abatement, business attraction and retention, and related administration directly and only to assessed parcels within its boundaries. All of the services are above and beyond those provided by local government agencies, and constitute and provide a special benefit to assessed parcels.

See these documents for more information: Management District Plan + Appendices 1-8 ; Appendix 9 - Roll ; Appendix 10 ? Map Book ; Map ; and Resolution Of Intention R-309520 .

Special Assessment Refund Claim Form

Property owners that wish to file a refund claim for a City of San Diego property-based special assessment must complete the Special Assessment Refund Claim Form (PDF) and return it to the Economic Development Department.

The refund claim form must be accurately completed, printed, signed by the claimant and mailed or personally presented in hard copy format to:

City of San Diego
Economic Development Department
Attn: Special Assessment Refund Claim
1200 Third Ave., 14th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101

After the claim has been received by our office:

1. A review and verification process will be conducted. Claims are usually reviewed and processed within 45 days after receipt by our office. When filling out the form, please be as accurate as possible to expedite the review and verification process.
2. Provide written justification for the amount of refund indicated on the form:

Information requested by the Economic Development Department does not guarantee that your claim has been accepted for payment. Any information provided will be evaluated as part of the review process.