If your trash/recyclables were not collected and your property is located outside the impacted areas, please use Get It Done to Report a Missed Collection or download the Get It Done mobile app. 
 
Prior to reporting a missed collection, please review the following possible reasons why your collection was missed: 

• The Container Is Damaged: Cracked and/or damaged containers, including lids, may not be serviced. Please check your containers for damage and contact the Environmental Services Department at the information below if you require a replacement. 

• The Container Is Too Close to Obstacles: Containers within three feet of a parked car, another container, or other obstacles in the right of way create challenges for collection crews. Please ensure adequate spacing between containers and obstacles to allow the collection crews to service the containers safely.  

• The Container Is Overflowing: Containers with overflowing materials and/or large protruding objects such as poles, 2x4’s, cardboard boxes, or other long objects create a hazard and may not be serviced by collection crews. Please ensure that all contents fit within the container to allow for safe disposal by collection crews. 

• The Container Is Under an Obstacle: Telephone wires, low hanging trees, and basketball hoops can all create overhead obstacles for our collection vehicles. Please ensure your container is not under these obstacles.  

• The Container Was Not Placed Out on Time: Containers need to be placed out for collection by 6 a.m. the day of scheduled service.  

• Wrong Collection Week: Recycling collection occurs bi-weekly. Please check the collection schedule. 

Did you know that each day the Collection Services Division provides over 104,000 service stops? That means that each supervisor is responsible for ensuring 15,000 customers receive safe and effective service each day. We provide the tips above as they are the most common reasons service is missed. We are committed to the highest level of customer service and will review all Get It Done reports.   
 
We appreciate your patience. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department Customer Care Center at 858-694-7000. You may also visit the Collection Services Division page to learn more about collection operations. 

The property owner or their designated secondary user will be able to make additional container requests through the Residential Waste Collection Services Portal when it launches later this month. Service level adjustments can be made between July 15 and September 30 in 2025.

Starting July 1, 2026, service levels may be adjusted once annually between July 1 and June 30. Collection Services will deliver your additional container(s) to your property at no additional cost. Once you receive your container(s), you have 30 days, counting from the date of delivery, to request any container size swaps in the Portal.

Learn more about the available container sizes and corresponding pricing. 
 

This table lists common issues reported through Get It Done and their estimated resolution timeframes. The length of time it takes to resolve an issue can vary based on available budget and due to weather, seasonal, or other local impacts.   
 

Report Type	Estimated Timeframe	Description
TRASH COLLECTION, RECYCLING, AND GRAFFITI
Container Left Out	14 days
Dead Animal	3 days
Dumpster Encroaching on Public Right of Way	14 days
Graffiti Removal	Public (City-maintained): 5 days   Private Property - Code Enforcement: 377 days*	Graffiti response time varies based on what type of property the graffiti is located on.   Graffiti located on private property can require code enforcement, which adds time to the process.   Note: Companies are responsible for painting out graffiti on their assets, such as utility boxes and dumpsters. Reports may be referred to the responsible party to be addressed.
Illegal Dumping	5 days	Depending on the type and location of illegal dumping, this type of report may take less than a week or up to 6 months to resolve, if code enforcement actions are involved.  Reports of Illegal Dumping associated with Homeless Encampments should be submitted under the “Homeless Outreach / Encampment” reporting option and may incur additional delays if submitted as “Illegal Dumping.”
Missed Collections	5 days** **When not associated with a known route delay.	Learn more about Collection Service Impacts. Missed trash/recycling container pickups need to be reported to the Environmental Services Department no later than 5 p.m. on the following day after the missed collection to get return service. If container was tagged, please refer to the information left by the driver on the tag and correct the issue.
Overflowing Dumpster	14 days
STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND LIGHTS
Curbs	Damaged Curb: 730 days Faded Paint: 400 days
Damaged Guardrail	50 days*
Faded Striping	700 days*
Pothole	20 days (30+ during significant rain events)	Learn more about Pothole Repair and Street Resurfacing.
Sidewalk Repair Issue	6 days for mitigation/temporary repair; permanent repairs 8+ years	Learn more about Sidewalk Repair.    Sidewalk uplifts are temporarily ramped or patched as soon as possible following reports to City crews. Sidewalk repairs involving concrete work take longer.    Often, repairs are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.
Street Lights	500 days*** Repairs are clustered by priority factors.
Street Sweeping	30 days
Traffic Sign	275 days
Traffic Signals	Signal Issue: 25 days* Signal Timing: 10 days* High priority traffic signal issues are addressed within 24 hours.	Reports related to traffic signal maintenance are completed within the same day. More involved reports related to traffic signal timing may take more time to resolve.
Traffic Sign Maintenance	315 days
BICYCLE, SCOOTER, AND VEHICLE ISSUES
72 Hour Vehicle Violation	30 days****	The time it takes to resolve this type of problem can take longer, due to the code enforcement process.
Bicycle Related Issues	425 days	Variable accuracy due to low report volume.
Parking Zone Violations	2 days****	Monitored Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  For urgent issues outside of this time frame, please call (619) 531-2000.  If this is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
HOMELESS OUTREACH / ENCAMPMENT
Homeless Outreach / Encampment	16 days****	Learn more about what happens when a homeless outreach / encampment is reported. Visit the City's Homeless Strategies & Solutions Department website for more details.
TREE MAINTENANCE
Tree Maintenance (Non-Emergency)	150 days to complete tree work, if work is needed	Emergency tree work is immediately dispatched for service. Other reports of tree maintenance are addressed as soon as possible, depending on the severity of the issue.
Vegetation Encroaching on Sidewalk/Street	629 days*	Due to steps required in the code enforcement process and a backlog of open reports, this type of report is taking longer than normal.
STORMWATER AND DRAINS
Illegal Discharge	30 days
Over Irrigation	30 days
Storm Drain	90 days
Street Flooded	3 days** **Responds to emergencies within 24 hours.

SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY (STROs)
STRO Violations	97 days

 

ADA SERVICES
ADA Compliance Issue	The department assigned to a valid case will respond to the reporter within 30 days. Full case resolution may take several months.

* Updated: 4/29/25
*** Updated 5/5/25
**** Updated 5/8/25

After submitting a 72-hour vehicle violation, the report will be routed to an officer for evaluation. Due to the code enforcement process, please allow up to 30 days to properly evaluate the report. 

Following their evaluation, an officer may close the report for one of many reasons, including: the vehicle has been towed, the vehicle was ticketed, the vehicle was gone on arrival, or the vehicle moved more than 1/10th of a mile (among other closure reasons.) 

For more information on what qualifies as a 72-hour vehicle violation, please see our FAQ. 

The Get It Done system is currently set up to receive certain code enforcement-related complaints. Depending on the issue, different types of Code Enforcement-related issues are handled by different City departments.  The chart below provides direct links to online report forms.
 

Certain report types, like Parking and Homeless Outreach/Encampments, allow you to self-close your report. To do so, open the initial submittal email and click the "Close Report" link.

If your initial submittal email does not include an option to close the report, just reply to the email and request that your report be closed.

Get It Done allows you to report a non-emergency concern involving a need for homeless outreach or an issue related to an encampment. Encampments could be a temporary dwelling and/or an accumulation of belongings blocking a sidewalk or located within public open space or private property. Encampments may be occupied or unoccupied.

As always, emergencies should be reported to 9-1-1. Other police-related non-emergencies should be reported to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) at 619-531-2000.

If you are experiencing homelessness, you can access resources by dialing: 2-1-1 by phone or visiting 211sandiego.org.

Depending on whether people are present, your report will be forwarded to the Neighborhood Policing Division (NPD), the Environmental Services Department (ESD) and/or homeless outreach specialists, as appropriate. NPD team members will respond to reports that indicate people are on-site. ESD team members will respond to reports that indicate people are not on-site and may require cleanup. Homeless outreach specialists receive reports and plan outreach activities based, in part, on data from Get It Done reports to help inform regional outreach efforts and may be contacted directly from NPD team members to offer assistance, such shelter placements and additional resources to help unhoused persons off the streets and into the path of self-sufficiency.

Typical outcomes for this type of report include services being offered to any people present, connection to a homeless outreach specialist, enforcement action, or movement of the encampment.

Learn more on the City's Homeless Strategies & Solutions department website.

Help/resources for residents experiencing homelessness in San Diego: 

• City of San Diego Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department 

• Centralized resource for San Diego homelessness services, assistance, data, and reports 

• City of San Diego Homelessness Response Center - HRCSD@sdhc.org / (619) 880-8810 

• The person is located anywhere in the City of San Diego 

• Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday Closed 

• 211 San Diego for County Resources - Dial 2-1-1 

• The homeless resident is located anywhere in San Diego County 

• Jewish Family Service Safe Parking Program 

• The resident is living in their car or RV and seeking a safe place to park 

 

For encampments: 

• File a Get It Done Report when... 

• The encampment is on the City's public right-of-way (e.g. sidewalks, roads, parks) 

• File a Caltrans Customer Service Request when.. 

• The encampment on state property (e.g. Park & Ride carpool locations, freeway onramps/underpasses) 

• Have the property owner file an SDPD Letter of Agency when... 

• The owner would like to grant police permission to enforce against anyone found on a property without the owner's consent or without lawful purpose 

 

For public safety incidents: 

• Call 911 when... 

• The person is behaving violently and threatening the safety of themselves or others (e.g. they have a weapon) 

• The person is damaging property (e.g. breaking into a home or a business) 

• Call SDPD Non-Emergency at (619) 531-2000 when... 

• There is no immediate threat or the crime already occurred and a report is needed 

• Call the County Mobile Crisis Response Team at (888) 724-7240 when... 

• The person is displaying a mental or behavioral health crisis that does not involve threats of violence or medical emergencies (e.g. yelling nonthreatening verbiage) 

To qualify as a 72-hour violation, a vehicle must be parked at the same location on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. If a vehicle is moved more than 1/10th of a mile (which is just shy of two football fields in length) the 72-hour time allowance will reset. 

This information can also be viewed on the SDPD Abandoned Vehicles webpage. 

Reports of illegal dumping can be made through Get It Done.  Reports made through this system will be automatically referred to either the Environmental Services Department or the Parks & Recreation Department to be resolved.

If the situation is an urgent hazard, please contact the Public Works Customer Service Center (open 24 hours a day) at (619) 527-7500.

Reports of children playing near/around abandoned refrigerators or appliances is an urgent hazard. Please call (619) 527-7500.  If this is a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1.