Mission Statement

Housing Inspection / Code Enforcement Services inspects buildings for code compliance in residential housing under building permits or as a result of complaints and inspects apartments and hotels.  Addresses complaints and conducts inspections associated with interior/exterior lead-based paint disturbance/removal.  Responsible for abatement of code violation cases referred from the building, electrical, and plumbing inspection divisions.

Code Enforcement
Telephone:  (628) 652-3430
Fax:  (628) 652-3439

The Code Enforcement Section (CES) investigates complaints of violations of the Building, Plumbing and Electrical Codes and employs abatement procedures to correct code deficiencies. This section also initiates follow-up enforcement when cases have been referred by other divisions within DBI by holding Director’s Hearings and referring cases to the City Attorney for litigation. Assessment fees are collected from building owners that have code violations in order to recover costs incurred by investigations. The section also assists in the preparation and issuance of Emergency Orders for imminent hazards arising from natural disasters and emergencies.

back to the top

Housing Inspection
Telephone:  (628) 652-3700
Fax:  (628) 652-3709
Email:  DBI.HID.Complaints@sfgov.org

Housing Inspection Services (HIS) implements and enforces the San Francisco Housing Code and pertinent related City Codes.  HIS establishes and maintains minimum maintenance standards for existing residential buildings to safeguard life, limb, health, property, and public welfare by conducting periodic health and safety inspections and responding to tenant complaints.

HIS is also responsible for the Code Enforcement Outreach Program which is designed to provide support to tenants, owners and the Department of Building Inspection, so that the City and the community can work together to bring housing into code compliance.  These are the organizations involved in the Code Enforcement Outreach Program:

Housing Inspection Services is also responsible for a wide variety of programs with emphasis on the Asthma Task Force Program, The Avian and Pandemic Influenza Program, the Environmental Health and Safety Program, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program and the West Nile Virus Program.

The Asthma Task Force (ATF) Programs responsible in representing the Department at the ATF of the CCSF, as mandated by an ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors (Ordinance No. 72-01, Ordinance Amending Ch. 19A of the Administrative Code by Adding Article II to Establish an Asthma Task Force).  The Avian and Pandemic Influenza (A&PI) Program is responsible in representing the Department as a member in the inter-agencies of CCSF coordinated response that ensures continuity of public and private work forces are maintained in the event of an avian influenza pandemic (refer to e-mail from DHR dated 5/11/06 and Pandemic Flu SFC&C Preparedness distributed by DPH dated 4/14/06).  The Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Programs are responsible in developing policies to reduce the potential for injuries and illnesses of the Department’s employees and to comply with applicable health and safety regulations.  The Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Program inspects buildings for compliance with the Work Practices for Lead-Based Paint on Pre-1979 Buildings and Steel Structures legislation (SFBC Ch. 34, Section 3407).  The West Nile Virus (WNV) Program is responsible in representing the Department as a member in the inter-agencies of the CCSF “…planning effort to limit the impact of the WNV in San Francisco ”, as requested by the Director of Health, Department of Public Health (refer to letter dated 5/21/03).
 

New Ban on Wooden Fixed-Utility ladders (pdf)
Notice of New Housing Law on Exterior Wooden Fixed Utility Ladders (pdf)
Link to Board of Supervisor’s Ordinance No. 255-08 - Ban on Wooden Fixed-Utility ladders

Related brochures
Related forms and checklists

back to the top