Alleys in San Diego: Who Maintains Them and How to Report Problems

The City maintains public alleys. The Municipal Code's land development definitions say: "Alley means a public way that is no wider than 25 feet that is dedicated as a secondary means of access to an abutting property," and "Public right-of-way means a public easement for streets, alleys, or other uses." The City's January 2024 Pavement Management Plan says the City maintains "over 6,600 lane miles of streets and alleys," and that "Alleys support critical services such as residential parking, waste removal, and utility maintenance." For traffic and parking rules, the Code's section 81.0102 separately says: "Alley means any unnamed highway having a width of 25 feet or less and not provided with a sidewalk or sidewalks."

• How an alley becomes public. It has to be dedicated to and accepted by the City. The City's public alley easement deed form is a grant to the City of "a permanent easement and right-of-way for public alley." A strip that was never dedicated, such as a shared driveway or a private access easement between neighbors, is not a public alley.
• Checking the records. The Development Services Department's Right-of-Way Permit page lists "Determination of street/roadway, alleys and paper streets limits, public and/or private easements (i.e., sewer, water, storm drain, shared access, pedestrian, etc.) through as-built research at the Development Services Department," and says: "A search of City records (As-built drawings) and a review of the property's Title Report are required to determine if the proposed work lies within a City right-of-way." It recommends a licensed professional or research at the downtown Development Services Center.
• Maps. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City map for residents that labels each alley as public or private. The City's streets.sandiego.gov map, which the Pavement Management Plan page says shows "the current condition of each road segment in the City," plus ongoing and planned projects, is a useful first check: an alley segment there is part of the City's street inventory. An alley missing from it is not proof that the alley is private.
• Vacated alleys. The Municipal Code has procedures for vacating a public right-of-way, started by a City Council resolution or by a petition or request (section 125.0910). An alley on an old map may have been vacated since, so an old map alone may not show its current status.
• Private alleys and easements. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City page describing who maintains private alleys or shared access easements. Those questions usually turn on the deed, easement or HOA documents; a title company or attorney can help. Things on private property next to a public alley, such as fences, garages and walls, belong to the property owner; for code violations there, see our code enforcement guide.

• Potholes. Use the Get It Done Pothole report. The form says potholes "are small bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement surface; this does not include cracks," and: "Please do not use this service type to report entire street segments or resurfacing requests." As of November 3, 2026, it estimates 10 days, or 20 or more days during significant rain events. Our pothole guide covers repair times and damage claims.
• Repaving. The City's resurfacing page says each street segment gets a Pavement Condition Index (PCI), used "in conjunction with other factors, such as traffic volume, road type, maintenance history, other construction projects and available funding." It says: "there's no need to report a street needing resurfacing. Pavement surveys are conducted regularly." It points to streets.sandiego.gov for paving projects that are completed, in progress or planned.
• How alleys rate. In the City's 2023 pavement assessment, reported in the January 2024 Pavement Management Plan, alleys had an average PCI of 48, "ranking the worst street type followed by major (PCI=61) and prime (PCI=62) streets." The PCI runs from 0 to 100.
• Torn up by construction or utility work. If an alley is dug up for a project, see our road work guide.

Some alleys in San Diego were never built to City standards. The City's Council Policy 200-01 (effective February 12, 2021) defines an "UNIMPROVED ALLEY" as "A public way that is no wider than 25 feet, which is paved with less than 2 inches of hot mix asphalt, is not graded or paved for drainage, and lacks a sufficient underlying base."

• How many. The January 2024 Pavement Management Plan says the network "includes approximately 62 miles of unimproved alleys and streets," and: "Of the 62 miles of unimproved streets, 45 miles are paved, although not to City standards, and 17 miles are unpaved."
• What the policy allows. Council Policy 200-01 says: "City funds may be used to bring Unimproved Streets and Unimproved Alleys to City standards," but improvements "shall be contingent upon the availability of funding. The decision to allocate funds to such improvements will be in the City's sole discretion." It adds that the City "will not make improvements to Unimproved Streets and Unimproved Alleys where the Abutting Property contains unpermitted improvements," and that until improved they "will continue to be maintained at the level of service set forth in Resolution R-107424."
• Funding so far. The 2024 plan describes one option of improving "two unpaved unimproved streets and alleys per year at approximately $4.3M annually," which would take 85 years for all 17 miles. The City's April 2026 FY26 update says that "no dedicated construction funding was allocated" for the unimproved street request in the FY26 budget, and that "Formal evaluation and pilot selection activities have been deferred until dedicated funding is identified." As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City program that residents can apply to for alley paving.
• Upkeep of dirt alleys. The 2024 plan says maintenance for unimproved streets "often involve[s] grading, adding gravel, and addressing erosion or drainage issues." As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a Get It Done report type specifically for unpaved alleys. The Pothole form is for potholes, not whole segments, so for ruts, washouts or a damaged dirt alley, use the Get It Done Other report and describe the alley. Get It Done lists 619-527-7500 for urgent street-related issues.
• Fire risk. The Get It Done Vegetation Encroachment form says: "Vegetation and trees on unimproved streets or open space areas that present an imminent fire risk can be reported to the San Diego Fire Department at 619-533-4444."

• Standing water or flooding. Use Get It Done Street Flooded. As of November 3, 2026, it estimates 3 days "(emergencies are addressed within 24 hours)." For a clogged, broken or overflowing drain, use Storm Drain (estimate 90 days). Both forms say: "To report a sewer spill or bad sewer odor, immediately call (619) 515-3525."
• Alleys built without drainage. By definition an unimproved alley "is not graded or paved for drainage" (Council Policy 200-01), so ponding there may be a design problem rather than a clogged drain. Report it anyway so it is on record.
• More detail. Our storm drains and flooding guide covers sandbags, private drainage, pollution in the gutter or alley, and damage claims.

• City streetlights. The City's streetlights page says: "The Street Division is responsible for all the streetlights in the City of San Diego." Report one that is out with Get It Done Street Light. As of November 3, 2026, the form estimates 500 days and says: "Emergencies and safety issues responded to ONLY at this time." The Street Division lists 619-527-7500.
• Lights on buildings and garages. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City page about lighting in alleys specifically. A light mounted on a garage, fence or building belongs to that property, not the City. Our street lights guide explains the City report and which lights the County, SDG&E and Caltrans handle.

• Dumping. The Get It Done Illegal Dumping form says it is for "the unlawful disposal of large items or multiple materials on public streets, alleys, sidewalks, or other City-owned property where waste is not allowed," such as furniture, appliances, tires, construction or demolition debris, and large quantities of household waste. It says not to use it for small or scattered trash or for waste tied to a homeless encampment, which has its own report. See our illegal dumping guide.
• Overgrown plants and branches. Get It Done lists Vegetation Encroachment as "Private property vegetation obstructing sidewalks, streets, or alleys." The form says property owners are responsible and that compliance "can take several weeks" through the Transportation Department's Right of Way Code Compliance team. As of November 3, 2026, it estimates 629 days. See our overgrown hedges guide.
• Parked cars. The City's parking rules say: "Parking is prohibited in alleys, except for the purpose of actively unloading goods or passengers, unless the alley is specifically designated as an alley parking zone." Municipal Code section 86.0121 limits loading to "three minutes for passengers" and "20 minutes for materials," and says: "No person shall stop or stand any vehicle in an alley in such a manner that would prevent the passage of emergency vehicles." As of November 3, 2026, the City's fine schedule lists $86.50 for alley parking. Report it with the Get It Done Parking form, which has an Alley category; see our illegal parking guide.
• Cars left for days. The same Parking form has a 72 Hour Violation category. As of November 3, 2026, it estimates 25 days for 72-hour and abandoned vehicle reports and lists 858-495-7856 (Monday to Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) for questions. It says parking reports are reviewed 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and to call 619-531-2000 for urgent issues outside those hours. See our abandoned vehicles guide.
• Objects, bins and dumpsters. Municipal Code section 54.0110 makes it unlawful to "erect, place, allow to remain, construct, establish, plant, or maintain any vegetation or object on any public street, alley, sidewalk, highway, or other public property or public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided by this Code." Our right-of-way encroachments guide explains which report to use for boulders, cones and other private objects, and our dumpsters and storage pods guide covers construction bins and materials.

• Setting out bins. The City's collection guidelines say: "all containers must be placed at the curb in front of your home or alleyway by 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day," and "Set the authorized container on the street or alley, wheels against the curb and with the handle facing your home." Containers should be 3 feet from other containers, parked cars, lamp posts, trees, mailbox posts and other obstructions.
• Unimproved alleys. The 2024 Pavement Management Plan lists "impacted services, including street sweeping and trash collection" among the factors in its prioritization for unimproved streets.
• Missed pickups and bins left out. Our trash and recycling guide covers schedules, missed collections and containers left out after collection day.

• Exact location. Alleys rarely have their own addresses. Name the two cross streets and the nearest address backing onto the alley (for example "the alley between 30th and 31st Streets, behind the 3000 block of Elm Street"), and drop the map pin on the problem itself.
• The problem. Whether the alley is paved or dirt, how big the pothole or rut is, where water collects, the pole number for a light, or the plate, make, model and color of a vehicle.
• Date and time. When you saw it, how long it has been there, and whether it blocks emergency or trash truck access.
• Photos. A wide shot showing the alley and a landmark, plus a close-up. Take photos from the public alley; do not enter private property.