Get It Done: the City's reporting system
The City of San Diego handles non-emergency service requests through Get It Done. You can use the "Get It Done San Diego" mobile app or the website at getitdone.sandiego.gov. It covers more than two dozen kinds of problems, including potholes, graffiti, illegal dumping, missed trash or recycling pickups, street light outages, damaged signs, sidewalk repairs, flooded streets and storm drains, vehicles parked over 72 hours, tree maintenance, park repairs and short-term rental violations.
Each report is routed to the City department responsible for that kind of problem. You can check its status afterwards, so you know whether it is still open, being worked on or closed.
Get It Done is only for non-emergencies. If someone is in danger, or there is an immediate hazard, call 911.
How to write a report that gets fixed
The City's own guidance comes down to three things:
- One issue per report. A pothole and a broken street light go to different departments. If you put both in one report, one of them can get lost. Submit them separately.
- Add a photo, and include the surroundings. A close-up of a crack is hard to find on a long street. Step back so the photo also shows a house number, a storefront, a cross street or a landmark.
- Pick the category that fits best. The category decides which team receives the report, so "Pothole" will reach a repair crew faster than a general comment.
A few more details help crews on the ground: the exact spot (which lane, which side of the street, in front of which address), how big the problem is, and whether it is getting worse. Pin the location on the map rather than relying on a typed address alone.
When to call someone else
Not every problem belongs in Get It Done. The City lists these exceptions:
| Problem | Where to report it |
|---|---|
| Emergencies (danger to life or property) | Call 911 |
| Police matters that are not emergencies, including time-sensitive ones | San Diego Police Department: 619-531-2000 or sandiego.gov/police |
| Urgent street problems | City street line: 619-527-7500 |
| Sewer spills (if you see, smell or suspect one) | Report immediately: 619-515-3525 |
| Freeway and state highway problems (litter on shoulders, graffiti on highway signs) | Caltrans: 619-688-6670 or csr.dot.ca.gov |
| Gas and electric concerns | SDG&E: 800-411-7343 |
For street repaving (as opposed to single potholes), the City points residents to sandiego.gov/pothole and to streets.sandiego.gov, which maps completed, current and planned concrete, overlay and slurry seal projects.
How long repairs take
The City publishes estimated resolution times for each type of report. They are based on the last 90 days of closed reports, so they move with the seasons, the weather and the backlog. These are the published estimates as of May 7, 2026:
| Report type | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Pothole | 10 days (20+ days during significant rain) |
| Graffiti on public, City-maintained property | 3 days |
| Illegal dumping | 5 days (up to 6 months if code enforcement is involved) |
| Missed trash or recycling collection | 5 days |
| Dead animal | 3 days |
| Street flooded | 3 days (24 hours for emergencies) |
| Traffic signal issue | 10 days |
| Street sweeping | 30 days |
| Sidewalk repair | 60 days for a temporary fix; 8+ years for a permanent repair |
| Storm drain | 90 days |
| Non-emergency tree maintenance | 150 days |
| Traffic sign | 290 days |
| Street lights | 480 days |
Some of these numbers are long. Sidewalks are a good example: the City aims to put a temporary fix (mitigation) in place within about 60 days, while a permanent replacement can take years. If a report you filed is past its estimate, check its status in Get It Done before filing a duplicate. For the current list, see the City's estimated timeframes page.
Dumped furniture, mattresses or debris? Our illegal dumping guide covers how to report it, the fines, and where to take bulky items legally. Graffiti? Our graffiti guide explains why public graffiti goes in days and private property can take much longer. Street light out? Our street light guide covers the repair estimate and who to call when the light is not the City's. Broken sidewalk? Our sidewalk guide explains when the property owner, not the City, has to make the permanent repair.
Potholes and street paving
The City describes potholes as small, bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement, usually with sharp edges and vertical sides near the top. It repairs more than 40,000 of them a year, using a hot patch compound and bagged asphalt.
For the full pothole picture, including County roads, freeways and claims step by step, see our San Diego pothole guide. A patch fixes one hole. Whole streets are repaved through the City's paving program, which rates every street segment on a Pavement Condition Index and sets priorities based on roughness, cracking, traffic volume, road type, maintenance history and available funding. If your street has many potholes, it is worth checking streets.sandiego.gov to see whether it is already scheduled.
Rain makes potholes worse: water gets under cracked asphalt and traffic breaks it apart. That is why the City's pothole estimate doubles during significant rain, and why reporting early helps.
If a street problem damaged your car
If you believe a City-maintained street or sidewalk caused damage or injury, you can file a claim with the City's Risk Management Department. Key points from the City:
- Deadline: most claims must be presented no later than six months after the incident.
- Online: the City's preferred route is its Public Liability claims portal, linked from the Risk Management liability page.
- On paper: mail or drop off the RM-9 claim form at City of San Diego, Risk Management Department, 1200 Third Ave., Suite 1000, San Diego, CA 92101 (phone 619-236-7300).
- Not by email: the City stopped accepting claims by email on December 11, 2023.
Keep photos of the damage and of the spot, repair estimates or receipts, and the date, time and exact location. After a claim is filed, the City investigates it and assigns an adjuster. Filing is not a promise of payment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Keep your neighbors in the loop
A Get It Done report goes to the City. Your neighbors usually do not see it. That is where SaveSanDiego comes in. After you report a problem to the City, post it on our community issue board so others on your street can see it is known, add details or photos, and follow it until it is fixed.
SaveSanDiego is an independent community platform, not a City service. Posting here does not file a City report, so always use Get It Done (or the numbers above) as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is SaveSanDiego the same as Get It Done?
No. SaveSanDiego is an independent community platform where residents share and follow neighborhood issues. Posting here does not file a report with the City. To get a repair crew sent out, report the problem through Get It Done as well, then share it here so neighbors can see it and add what they know.
How do I submit and track a Get It Done report?
You can submit reports through the Get It Done San Diego app or the website at getitdone.sandiego.gov, and use its View Reports option to check the status of a report.
How long does the City take to fix a pothole?
The City's published estimate is 10 days, rising to 20 days or more during significant rain. Estimates are based on the last 90 days of closed reports, so they change over time.
Who fixes potholes on freeways?
Freeways and state highways are run by Caltrans, not the City. Report highway problems to Caltrans at 619-688-6670 or csr.dot.ca.gov.
My car was damaged by a pothole. Can I get compensated?
You can file a claim with the City's Risk Management Department. Most claims must be presented within six months of the incident, through the online Public Liability claims portal or on the RM-9 form. The City reviews each claim; filing one is not a guarantee of payment.
Should I put several problems in one report?
No. The City asks for one issue per report, because different problems can go to different departments.
Sources
- City of San Diego: Get It Done
- City of San Diego: Get It Done FAQ (PDF)
- City of San Diego: estimated timeframes by service type (as of 5/7/2026)
- City of San Diego: potholes and street paving
- City of San Diego Risk Management: public liability claims
Last checked October 26, 2026. Phone numbers and timeframes can change; the City's pages are the final word.