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Property Maintenance in San Francisco, CA (2026)

5 verified property maintenance rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Trash Bin Storage

San Francisco requires proper storage and placement of trash, recycling, and composting bins under the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19) and the Public Works Code. Bins must be stored on private property and placed curbside only on collection days.

San Francisco Trash Bin Storage & Placement

Some Restrictions

Property Blight

San Francisco actively enforces property maintenance standards through the Housing Code, Building Code, and Health Code. Blighted properties with peeling paint, broken windows, overgrown vegetation, graffiti, or accumulated debris face code enforcement action from DBI and DPH.

San Francisco Property Blight & Nuisance Ordinance

Heavy Restrictions

California Vehicle Code Sec. 22660 (Local Authority to Abate Abandoned Vehicles as Public Nuisances)

22660. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city, county, or city and county may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private or public property, and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the...

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Vacant lots in San Francisco must be maintained in a clean and safe condition under the Public Works Code and Health Code. Owners must prevent accumulation of debris, control weeds and vegetation, and secure the lot against unauthorized access.

San Francisco Vacant Lot Maintenance Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

San Francisco does not experience snowfall and has no snow removal ordinance. However, property owners are responsible for maintaining adjacent sidewalks in a clean and safe condition under Public Works Code Article 1, including removal of debris and hazards.

San Francisco Snow & Sidewalk Clearing Rules

Few Restrictions

California Streets and Highways Code Sec. 5610 (Adjacent Owner Duty to Maintain Sidewalk in Safe Condition)

5610. The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property and maintain it in a co...

Garage Sale Rules

San Francisco does not require a permit for residential garage sales or yard sales. Sales must be conducted on private property and must not obstruct sidewalks or public rights-of-way. General property maintenance standards apply.

San Francisco Garage Sale Property Maintenance

Few Restrictions