If your music is clearly audible 50 feet from your property line between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., you are in violation of the law. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 59.5.0502]
If you are disturbing a neighbor at any time, the neighbor can affect a citizen's arrest for disturbing the peace. [California Penal Code Section 415]
If a party causes a substantial disturbance, the police can issue a $1000 Administrative Citation to each tenant, each responsible party and/or the owner of the property. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 12.0901]
Instruct your guests to respect the peace of the neighborhood as they leave your party. Loud voices, slamming of car doors, screeching tires, etc. are annoying, especially late at night.
Be sensitive to the volume of your voices and the language that you use. Shouting and/or obscenities may be offensive to your neighbors.
It is illegal to consume an alcoholic beverage on public property within areas of San Diego, including the College Area. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 56.54]
It is illegal to furnish alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 or to someone who is obviously intoxicated. [California Business and Professional Code Sections 25658 and 25602]
It is illegal to collect money for admission to parties where alcoholic beverages are provided. [California Business and Professional Code Sections 25604]
It is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to possess alcoholic beverages in a public place or consume alcoholic beverages in a private or public place. [California Business and Professional Code Section 25662, San Diego Municipal Code Section 56.61]
It is illegal to host or allow a gathering where a person under the age of 21 consumes alcohol. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 56.62]
It is illegal for a person to be intoxicated while in a public place such that the person cannot exercise care for his/her own safety. [California Penal Code Section 647(f)]
Never drive after drinking or let your friends drive if they've been drinking.
Other Public Nuisances
It is illegal to urinate, defecate or engage in lewd conduct in public. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 56.55 and California Penal Code Section 647(a)]
Trash, Recycling & Hazardous Waste Regulations and Expectations
The City of San Diego collects refuse, recycling and yard waste from most San Diego residences for free.
You must follow a few guidelines for using your collection containers:
Residents must use City-issued refuse containers. The black containers are for household trash; the blue containers are for recyclables including all paper (even shredded paper), cardboard, bottles, plastic containers and cans. Curbside yard waste recycling is also available in the College Area. Residents with the curbside yard waste recycling service are asked to put yard waste into 32- or 45-gallon trash containers, or a white nylon 65-gallon reusable bag. Never use plastic bags. For directions, call the Environmental Services Department at (858) 694-7000
During non-collection hours, store your containers on private property, out of public view.
All containers must be placed at the designated point of collection by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Set the container on the street or alley, wheels against the curb, and with the handle facing your home. The container should be three feet away from other obstructions so the collection truck can access your container.
Trash containers may be put out after 6:00 p.m. the evening before collection, but must be taken in by 6:00 p.m. the day of collection. Failure to remove containers may result in fines ranging from $100 to $500. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 66.010]
Automobile maintenance products, tires, computer monitors and televisions, and household hazardous waste cannot be disposed of in the trash, recycling bins or brought to the landfill.
Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste is any hazardous waste generated incidental to owning or maintaining a residence, vehicle, or yard. Waste examples: paints, solvents, varnishes, acids, flammables, acrylics, resins, motor oil, and gasoline.
Household hazardous waste may never be thrown away in the trash; it must be brought to the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility located at the Miramar Landfill entrance on Convoy Street, just north of State Highway 52. The facility accepts household hazardous waste on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except holidays. An appointment is required and can be scheduled by calling the Environmental Services Department at (858) 694-7000.
Appliances and Electronics Recycling
Call Environmental Services at (858) 694-7000 for a list of companies that recycle appliances, as well as a list of state-approved recycling facilities for televisions, computers and other electronics.
The Miramar Recycling Center serves as a drop-off center for many recyclable materials, including large or bulky items that can be recycled but cannot go in either the black trash bin or the blue recycling bin.
When you have parties, it is your responsibility to pick up all party-related litter on your property, your neighbors' yards, the curb and the street, including sweeping up broken glass. This should be done no later than 10:00 a.m. the day after the party.
No junk or debris may be stored or placed in yards, established setbacks, and landscape areas. Furniture (couches, etc.) cannot be stored on roofs.
Furniture and large items must be hauled off to a landfill.
Parking is not permitted on lawns, required front yard, street side yard, or established setback. [San Diego Municipal Code Sections 142.0510 (e) & 142.0510 (f)]
It is illegal to park across sidewalks or block driveways. [California Vehicle Code Sections 22500 (f) & 22500 (c)]
Vehicles parked in driveways cannot extend over the sidewalk. [California Vehicle Code Sections 22500 (f)]
It is illegal to park vehicles crosswise in a driveway. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 142.0510 (f) (1) & (2)]
Garages are required to have enough free space for parking. [San Diego Municipal Code Section 142.0510 9(c)]
No inoperable vehicles are permitted in public view. [San Diego Municipal Code Sections 86.23 (h), 81.09 (a) (1), & California Vehicle Code Section 22669 (d)]
No vehicle, including boats and trailers, may be stored or parked in the same place for more than 72 hours on public streets. [SDMC 86.23 (g)]
Some streets near San Diego State University are designated as Residential Permit Parking District "B." Parking on the designated streets is limited to residents only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Each residence is entitled to four permits, one of which may be a visitor’s permit (must be used in the same block as the applicant's residence). The permits are valid for one year, renewable in August.
Special rules apply to parking recreational vehicles and equipment. [SDMC 142.0510 9(g)]
Be courteous when parking curbside in front of residences, especially since street parking is limited in the College Area. When there is room for two vehicles, allow enough room in front or behind your vehicle for another vehicle to park. Whenever possible, park in front of your own residence rather than inconveniencing neighbors by taking up the spaces in front of their homes.