SERVICE

Report a residential building concern

Report building or living condition problems for residential buildings including single room occupancy (SRO) hotels.

What to know

Response time

Varies. Typically within 2 business days. 

What to do

For concerns relating to lack of water or low water pressure, use a different form instead.

For concerns relating to tap water quality, use a different form instead.

1. Fill out a form

We will need to know:

  • The location and legal address of the building
  • The type of problem (nature of request)
  • A description of the problem

Make sure that you select the right nature of request when filling out the form, this will help ensure your request is routed to the correct agency to handle. View the special cases at the bottom of this page for examples of different types of problems you can report. 

2. Track your case

After you report, you will get a tracking number from 311. You can use this number, and your email address if provided, to track your case online.

Expected Response Time

The City's goal is to inspect within 1 business day for:

  • Blocked exit in common areas
  • Electrical problems
  • Elevator problems
  • Fire alarm system
  • Fire sprinkler system or other fire hazard
  • Inadequately secured perimeter or other security issues
  • Lack of heat
  • Lack of hot water
  • Missing or broken smoke detectors
  • Paint with lead that is violating safe practices
  • Visitor Policy violations

The City's goal is to inspect within 2 business days for:

  • Bathrooms
  • Bed bug infestation
  • Broken doors or windows
  • Broken or leaking plumbing
  • Clutter or hoarding inside the unit
  • Community kitchen problems
  • Decks, stairs, or handrails
  • Dirty or flooded light wells
  • Garbage receptacles
  • Illegal unpermitted construction
  • Illegal guest room conversions
  • Inadequately maintained building exterior
  • Inadequate ventilation
  • Mail service delivery problems
  • Missing or expired fire extinguishers
  • Mold and mildew
  • Other general maintenance
  • Peeling paint

The City's goal is to inspect within 4 business days for:

  • Noise caused by building systems
  • Rodent or insect infestation

Call 311 to make a report

415-701-2311 if calling from outside San Francisco
For TTY, press 7

Supporting information

Special cases

Bathrooms

For reporting issues pertaining to bathrooms. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Bathroom not maintained in a clean or functional manner
  • Inadequate mechanical or window ventilation
  • Insufficient number of working bathrooms for a floor

Community kitchen

For reporting issues pertaining to community kitchens. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Kitchen area not maintained in a clean or functional manner
  • Entry doors to the kitchen area are not self closing
  • Counter, flooring or sink not made of impervious or non-absorbent materials
  • Kitchen lacks electrical power

Doors

For reporting issues pertaining to doors. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Exterior door not properly maintained or not fully functional
  • Exterior door not waterproof
  • Exterior door too tight fitting in frame
  • Residential building door being used for front entrance
  • Garage, stairway, boiler room, or garbage room door lacks self-closing mechanism or are blocked from closing properly
  • Unlit entrance door not self closing or lacks a 135-degree viewer

Elevator

For issues pertaining to elevators. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Elevator not working or not properly maintained
  • Elevator certification expired or not displayed

Elevators not working in building with seven or more stories

For reporting broken elevators in buildings with seven or more stories. 

Garbage receptacles

For reporting issues pertaining to garbage receptables and trash cans or the rooms where they are kept. 

Some examples of problems include:

  • Insufficiently covered garbage receptacles
  • Inadequate garbage pick-up service
  • Garbage room doesn't have sheet metal walls, sheet metal ceiling, or fire sprinkler
  • Garbage room is full of debris 

Illegal guest room conversions

For reporting the illegal repurposing of a permanent housing unit for tourist or other temporary uses. Learn more about the Residential Hotel Unit Conversion and Demolition Ordinance on the Department of Building Inspection's website. 

Light wells

For reporting issues pertaining to light wells. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Light well not kept clean or operational
  • Dirt or debris obstructing light from entering into the building

Non-hazardous electrical

For reporting non-hazardous electrical issues. For hazardous electrical problems, call 311. 

Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Built in electrical appliances not working
  • Lights or switches not working

Plumbing

For reporting issues pertaining to plumbing. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Plumbing not working or backed up
  • Leaking pipes

Visitor policy violation

Report a guest that was prevented from visiting a residential room in violation of the Uniform Hotel Visitor Policy. 

Ventilation

For reporting issues pertaining to ventilation. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Ventilation or vent system not maintained, functional, or is missing
  • Inadequate ventilation for clothes dryers, garages, garbage rooms, public halls, or any room with a gas appliance

Windows

For issues pertaining to windows. Some examples of problems to report are:

  • Window not properly maintained, tightly fitting in frame, not weather-proofed, or not fully operational
  • Window painted or nailed shut
  • Replacement window lacking sufficient weather stripping
  • Escape window is not 25 inches wide or 24 inches deep

Get help

Phone
311
415-701-2311 if you are calling from outside of San Francisco For TTY, press 7