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San Francisco Planning Department
Welcome to the Planning Department’s Code Enforcement Web Site
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Code Enforcement Division of the Planning Department to promote the understanding and compliance of the Planning Code in partnership with the people of San Francisco.
What is Planning Code Enforcement?
We help maintain and improve the quality of San Francisco’s neighborhoods by helping the public to understand the Planning Code and initiating fair and unbiased enforcement action to correct Planning Code violations.
We work with residents, neighborhood associations, and other City and County of San Francisco departments including the Department of Building Inspection, Police Department, Department of Public Health, and the City Attorneys Office in order to ensure the quality of San Francisco’s neighborhoods.
Planning Code Enforcement Process FAQ:
What type of complaints can I file with the Planning Department?
The Planning Department maintains the Planning Code, which regulates the ‘location’ and the ‘use’ of buildings and land adjacent to streets and sets forth standards for the development. Therefore,
All properties under the jurisdiction of San Francisco Planning Code shall be used only for the uses as permitted in the Planning Code and in accordance with the regulations established for those uses under the various Zoning districts.
- No structures shall be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, or relocated so as to result in a greater height, bulk, or floor area ratio, less required open space, less off-street parking or loading space, reduction in setbacks and landscaping than permissible under the Planning Code.
- Every condition, stipulation, special restriction, and other limitations imposed in actions on building permits, planning approvals such as conditional uses, variances, discretionary reviews shall be complied with.
Failure to comply with any of the above without due process and authorization constitutes a violation of Planning Code. Thus, a complaint can be made in regards to any of the above violations. The Planning Department will investigate the complaints and/or refer them to other City Departments for their investigation as deemed necessary. In addition, the Planning Department's code enforcement process does not affect the City Attorney's Charter authority to bring its own civil enforcement action.
Common Complaints:
How can I file a complaint?
You can file a complaint in any of the following ways. There is no fee to file the complaint.
- In person at the Public Information Counter (PIC) located at the first floor of 1660 Mission St where you can fill out the complaint forms.
- By phone at Code Enforcement Complaint Hotline Number 415-575-6863
- By fax at number 415-558-6409. Fax the letter to the Code Enforcement Division
- By regular mail. You can mail a written complaint to the Planning Department at 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103-2479
- By E-mail: Christine.haw@sfgov.org
What happens after I file a complaint?
- Your complaint will be logged in and assigned to an enforcement planner in-charge of the area where the complaint has occurred.
- The assigned planner will investigate and send a ‘Notice of Alleged Violation’ to the owner of property alleged with complaint if there is some evidence to believe that a violation of Planning Code may have occurred.
- The assigned planner may request alleged property owner to conduct a site visit as needed
- If the violation is confirmed, a ‘Notice of Violation’ (which can be appealed to the Board of Appeals) will be sent.
- If the Notice of Violation is not appealed and the violation continues, the enforcement planner will take further steps to enforce compliance with Planning Code, which may include issuance of courtesy Reminder Notice or Cease and Desist Order, and then referral to the City Attorney for imposition of civil penalties for violation of Planning Code and take other legal actions.
Will I be notified of the enforcement actions taken?
You may also call back within a few weeks to find out which planner has been assigned the case and can call that planner directly to get an update on the complaint status.
Can I file anonymously?
Yes, please be sure to provide the correct information regarding the alleged complaint.
I don't want to file a complaint but have questions on the Planning Code?
Please contact the Public Information Counter by phone at 415-558-6377 or in person at the first floor of 1660 Mission St. You may also visit the Planning Department website at http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp to learn about the general planning process, applications, and review the Planning Code.
Code Enforcement Programs:
General Advertising Sign Program
Coming Soon!
- Guide to Restoring Landscaping within a Required Front Setback:
Code Enforcement Staff is currently working to develop public outreach and downloadable guidelines with information on how to comply with the city ordinance (Planning Code Section 132(g)) requiring at least 20 percent of the front yard to be devoted to landscaping or plant material. Please check back in the near future for information regarding this program.
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