Menu

Fire-Rescue Department

Site Menu

Citizen Complaint Inspections

Complaint inspections are conducted when a citizen is concerned about a potential fire hazard. Complaints can relate to buildings or brush management/weed abatement. Only complaints within the City of San Diego and Port of San Diego are inspected.

For areas outside of the City, contact the jurisdiction of the address in question.

Complaints Related to Brush Management or Weed Abatement

Before submitting your complaint, please review the Brush Complaint Process section below to ensure a smooth and efficient submission. This will help SDFD address your concern as promptly and effectively as possible.

Examples of common concerns related to brush management and weeds:

  • Fire hazards to structures.
  • Visual hazards to motor traffic, bicyclists or pedestrians.
  • Physical hazards to motor traffic, bicyclists or pedestrians.
  • An impediment in the right-of-way.
  • An impediment to drainage.

Visit the Terms & Definitions page for a description of "brush" and A City of San Diego Guide to Fire Safety and Brush Management for Private Property for brush management requirements.

Brush Complaint Process

1 Verify the Property Address

Search for the property address of your complaint in the map below to determine if the property is on City of San Diego owned land.

  • If the address is on City owned land go to step 2
  • If the address is on privately owned land go to step 3

Open map in a new tab                

2 Complaints on City Owned Land


Contact the responsible City department from the list below to submit the complaint.

3 Complaints on Privately Owned Land

Follow the link below to submit your complaint or call (619) 533-4444.

Submit a Brush Complaint

Note: The Fire-Rescue Department receives a high volume of complaints regarding weed abatement and brush. We cannot respond to all complainants, but all complaints will be investigated.

4 Other Weed Abatement and Brush Complaints

For requests related to trees or tree maintenance on City of San Diego streets

For requests related to SDG&E Brush Clearing, Powerlines and Pole Safety

For requests or complaints in the CAL Fire's State Responsibility Area (SRA)

For requests related to State Highways, Bridges and Right of Way

For additional resources and updates, visit the Wildland Management and Enforcement page.

Complaints Related to Buildings

Complaints related to fire and life safety concerns or fire access and protection in and around buildings can be submitted following the link below. For complaints involving conditions inside individual dwelling units, continue to Other Complaints Related to Buildings and Individual Dwelling Units.

Examples of common concerns related to fire and life safety:

  • Emergency egress (locked or blocked exits)
  • Fire alarm or sprinkler malfunction and maintenance
  • Hazardous materials storage
  • Overcrowding and unpermitted assemblies
  • Fire lanes and fire access roads concerns

Submit a Fire and Life Safety Complaint

Other Complaints Related to Buildings and Individual Dwelling Units

Complaints about conditions inside individual "dwelling units" should be directed to Building & Land Use Enforcement (BLUE), the Office of the City Attorney's Nuisance Abatement Unit (NAU), or the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

A "dwelling unit" is a building or portion thereof that contains living facilities (i.e. provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation). A dwelling unit could be a single-family home, an apartment in an apartment building, a condominium in a larger residential building, etc.

Examples of common complaints related to buildings and individual dwelling units:

  • Public nuisances and abandoned properties (BLUE/NAU).
  • Dangerous/unstable structures (BLUE/NAU).
  • Uninhabitable living and substandard living conditions (BLUE/NAU).
  • Accessory structures (BLUE).
  • Unpermitted construction and dwelling units (BLUE).
  • Food trucks, street vendors and sidewalk cafes (BLUE).
  • Letter of Agency/trespass authorization (SDPD).

Community Risk Reduction