Housing

The purpose of the housing program is to ensure safe housing such as rental units in regulated areas of the County. To accomplish this the Food and Housing Division enforces state laws pertaining to sanitation, maintenance, ventilation, and occupancy. This program does not serve the following cities: Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, or San Diego.

Under this program element 2,500 housing sites are regulated, including 77,000 apartment, condominium, and hotel units. In addition, there are 30 jails and detention facilities such as the downtown jail, juvenile hall, and medium security camps in the mountains that do fire prevention work with the Forestry Department. County staff conduct yearly inspections of all of these housing establishments and detention facilities, including inspections conducted in accordance with complaint investigations.

Housing Disputes: The California Department of Consumer Affairs has published a handbook called "California Tenants: a guide to residential tenants' and landlords' rights and responsibilities" that is available on their website.

• "California Tenants" (CA Dept. of Consumer Affairs)

Mold

• Mold (CA Dept. of Health Services website)

• Mold (pdf)

Vermin Control

• "Vermin Control in Apartment Buildings" (English) 
• "Control de Plagas en Viviendas" (Spanish)

Lead Poisoning: The County of San Diego Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program provides information regarding protecting children from the dangers associated with environmental exposure to lead. Their telephone number is (619) 515-6694. The following websites also have lead-related information:

www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead

www.epa.gov/lead

www.hud.gov/lead 

If you have any questions, please call (619) 338-2379 or fax (619) 338-2377 or email: fhdutyeh@sdcounty.ca.gov