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.

Other assessment district programs managed by the City include Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and Maintenance Assessment Districts (MADs).

For questions or more information, contact us at sdbusiness@sandiego.gov.

Downtown PBID

On February 22, 2000, City Council approved the establishment of the San Diego Downtown Property and Business Improvement District (Downtown PBID) for a five-year term. Subsequently, City Council approved the renewal of the District for ten-year terms in 2005, 2015, and most recently in 2025. 

The Downtown PBID is managed by the San Diego Downtown Partnership through their Clean & Safe program. The District provides maintenance, beautification and placemaking, installations, safety and hospitality services, business attraction and retention, and related administration directly and only to assessed parcels within its boundaries. All PBID services are provided over and above those provided by local government agencies and constitute a special benefit to assessed parcels.

The Downtown PBID boundary encompasses the majority of Downtown San Diego south and west of Interstate 5. The District is divided into six benefit zones: Columbia, City Center, Cortez, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, and Marina.

The current Management District Plan and levy of PBID assessments is effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2035.

Downtown PBID Documents

Current District

R-315884 | Resolution of Intention to Renew 2025 

R-315996 | Resolution to Establish to the Downtown PBID 2025

Downtown PBID Management District Plan and Engineer’s Report 2025

Prior Districts 

R-292716 | Resolution to Form an Advisory Board 2000

R-292796, R-292797, R-292798 | Resolutions to Establish the Downtown PBID 2000 

R-300287 | Resolution of Intention to Renew 2005

R-307698 | Resolution to Establish the Commercial Marketing District 2012

Downtown PBID Management District Plan and Engineer’s Report 2015

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 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.