Public Restrooms in San Diego: How to Report Problems

Before you report, work out who runs the restroom. A 2024 City staff report on public restrooms says public restrooms in the City "include facilities that are managed either by the City of San Diego, Port of San Diego or County of San Diego as well as private entities," and that "Civic facilities such as recreational centers, aquatic complexes, libraries, and public parks provide the largest number of publicly accessible restrooms within the City."

• City parks, beaches and recreation centers. The Parks and Recreation Department. Get It Done lists its restroom report under Parks and Recreation. For other park problems, see our park and playground guide; for beaches and Mission Bay, our beach and bay guide.
• City libraries. The San Diego Public Library (the City's Library Department). See library restrooms below.
• Port of San Diego. Parks and piers on the bayfront under Port jurisdiction are not City property. The Port's Service Portal has a Facilities and Equipment report to "Report issues related to parks and open spaces, such as restroom maintenance." The Port says the portal "is only for areas under the Port of San Diego's jurisdiction."
• County parks. The County Department of Parks and Recreation. Its contact page says its front desk is "open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday" at 858-565-3600, and lists [email protected].
• State Parks and State Beaches. California State Parks, for example at Torrey Pines State Beach and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The Torrey Pines page lists the San Diego Coast District headquarters at (619) 688-3260.

• The City's restroom map. sandiego.gov/restroom opens the City's "City of San Diego Public Restrooms" map, which the City describes as showing "public restrooms, and libraries." As of November 3, 2026, it has separate layers for City Parks and Recreation restrooms, other City restrooms, County restrooms and Port of San Diego restrooms. Clicking a City restroom shows its address, listed hours of operation, cleaning frequency and status.
• Posted hours. Hours differ from restroom to restroom. On the map, examples include 24 hours, dawn to dusk, recreation center hours, skate park hours and "during field use." Some are listed with recreation center or aquatic center hours. Check the sign at the restroom too. Park curfews are a separate rule; see the park hours section of our park and playground guide.
• Seasonal closures at Mission Bay. The City's Mission Bay Park page says: "There are 28 restrooms in Mission Bay Park. Of those, 11 are closed from Nov. 1 through March 30." It lists the closed locations, and says some unisex restrooms at Rose Marie Starns South Shores Park, Fanuel Park, Dana Landing and Santa Clara also close during the off season. The Parks and Recreation home page links to "Beach and Bay Park Updated Restroom Availability."
• Temporary closures. The map marks some restrooms as closed or temporarily closed. If a restroom shown as open is locked during its listed hours, report it (see the next section).

On the City's Get It Done page, the Restroom/Comfort Station report sits under Parks and Recreation, described as "Report maintenance, plumbing, sanitary, safety and electrical issues."

• What it covers. The form says: "Please use this form to report any maintenance issues associated with restrooms and comfort stations. This could include supplies (toilet paper, soap), plumbing issues (clogged or running toilet/sink)," electrical issues such as lights and hand dryers, "and general cleanliness."
• How long it takes. As of November 3, 2026, the form shows an estimated resolution time of 5 days for cleanliness or supplies and 15 days for repair or maintenance, and says the estimate "is calculated using data from the last 6 weeks as well as seasonal trends and staff knowledge." The City's timeframes list (last updated May 7, 2026) gives the same figures and says timeframes "can vary based on available budget and due to weather, seasonal, or other local impacts."
• Locked or closed restrooms. As of November 3, 2026, the form has no separate option for a locked restroom. Describe it in the description box: the date and time, and the hours posted on the sign or shown on the map.
• The steps. You place the location on a map, write a description, can add location details, and can upload photos. The form asks for "multiple photos (not just close-ups) to help our staff pinpoint the exact equipment location more efficiently," and says: "For emergencies, call 911."
• Safety and other problems. For a crime in progress or someone in danger, call 911; for a police matter that is not an emergency, SDPD's contact page lists 619-531-2000. Graffiti, trash and after-hours use in parks have their own reports, explained in our park and playground guide.

• Who to tell. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a Get It Done report type for library restrooms. Tell staff at the branch. The library's contact options are 619-236-5800 (Monday and Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.), text 619-324-3988, and an online comments form. The library asks: "Would you like to share feedback about your library experience?"
• Hours. Library restrooms are inside the branches, so check the branch's hours. The library's hours sheet (August 2026) says libraries are closed Sunday, open Monday at 15 locations, and that "HOURS VARY BY LOCATION." Check the branch on the library locations page.
• Library rules. The library's Rules of Conduct (updated July 2026) include: "Restroom sinks shall be used for washing hands and face only."

• What the City has said. In its November 6, 2023 response to a County Grand Jury report on downtown restrooms, the City said: "There are currently 15 public restrooms in the downtown area with 24/7 public access, as shown on this map: https://www.sandiego.gov/restroom, of which three are permanent facilities and 12 are portable restrooms." It added: "Restroom facilities are adjusted (added, removed, repositioned) in response to need, construction impacts, and health concerns," and that cleaning "for each restroom facility occurs between two to six times per day."
• Standalone units. The same response listed sites including Faultline Park, Horton Plaza Park, Children's Park and the "Portland Loo at Park & Market (reopened 2022)." As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a current City page describing the downtown Portland Loo units, their hours or who services them. Use the restroom map for current status; City restroom entries there show who operates each one.
• Reporting. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City page naming a separate report type for downtown standalone or portable restrooms. The Get It Done Restroom/Comfort Station form is listed under Parks and Recreation, and its description does not say whether it covers restrooms outside parks. For a restroom in a downtown City park, such as Children's Park, use that form and give the exact location.
• Plans. The City's August 2024 public restroom study, an information-only staff report, describes a 2023 incentive under which downtown developments can get additional floor area "if they include a public restroom building with a minimum of two stalls," and lists possible future options for the City to consider.

• Inside a City park restroom. A clogged, overflowing or running toilet is a plumbing issue for the Restroom/Comfort Station report, which Get It Done says covers "plumbing, sanitary, safety" issues. Say in the description if water or waste is on the floor.
• Sewage leaving the building or coming from a sewer. Call the Public Utilities Department. Its sewer spill page says: "If you see, smell or suspect a sewer spill, or see a sewer manhole that's been vandalized, report it immediately by calling 619-515-3525." Its customer support page gives the same number for a water leak or sewer spill. Our sewer spills guide explains what happens next.
• Keep people away. Do not touch the spill or let children or pets walk through it. If sewage reaches a beach or the bay, see the water quality section of our beach and bay guide.

• City facilities. If you cannot use a City restroom because of a disability, such as no accessible stall, a broken automatic door, or a blocked accessible route, contact the City's ADA Compliance and Accessibility office. Its Make a Complaint or Request page links to the Get It Done ADA Compliance report and lists 619-236-5979, TTY 711, and [email protected].
• Where it goes. The City says: "When an ADA complaint is filed, the complaint is sent to the City department responsible for that specific program, service, or activity." Its example: "an automatic door opener not working at a branch library is sent to the Library Department." It asks for "the date of the incident (if applicable), exact location, a detailed description of the issue" and your contact details.
• Not for other agencies. The City says this procedure "is not for reporting complaints against private landlords, private businesses, other government agencies, or other non-City entities." Our accessibility barriers guide covers the ADA process in more detail.

• Exact location. The park, beach, library or street, and which restroom building if there is more than one, such as the one by the parking lot or the playground. The name on the City map helps.
• The problem. Which side (men's, women's or all-gender), which stall or fixture, and what is wrong: no supplies, clogged or running toilet, broken lock, lights out, or locked during posted hours.
• Date and time. When you saw it, and for a locked restroom, the hours posted on the sign.
• Photos. A wide shot of the building plus a close-up of the problem. Never photograph people inside a restroom.