Code Enforcement

Who We Are

  • The Code Enforcement Division team is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of San Juan Capistrano
  • We protect the public health, safety, and welfare through the enforcement of local laws and regulations adopted by the San Juan Capistrano City Council
  • We enforce codes in order to help reduce vandalism, deter crime, maintain property values, and prevent deterioration of neighborhoods
  • We actively work with citizens to provide public education on city code requirements

Our Process

  • Potential violations are investigated through citizen complaints and referrals from other agencies
  • Once a violation is verified by a Code Enforcement Officer, the responsible party is issued a Notice of Violation providing a reasonable time to correct the issue
  • Periodic follow-up inspections are conducted to determine if compliance has been met
  • If compliance has not been met, additional time may be provided depending on the circumstances and severity of the violation
  • A great deal of emphasis is placed on obtaining voluntary compliance. However, if a responsible party fails or refuses to voluntarily comply with a Notice of Violation, then administrative citations may be issued. An initial administrative citation will result in a fine of $100. If the violation is not corrected, additional citations can be issued with the fine of each citation progressively increasing to $200, $500 and up to $1,000 per violation per day

Report a Suspected Code Violation

You may report a suspected code violation in any one of the following three ways:

  1. Fill out and submit the online form
  2. Submit an email
  3. Contact Code Enforcement Officers

Please note that all email correspondence submitted to the City of San Juan Capistrano including submittal of code enforcement complaints via email or the form below may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and therefore may be subject to disclosure if so requested by any interested party.

Some violations are handled by other governmental agencies or departments. Please contact the agencies or departments listed below for the following:

IssueAgency / DepartmentPhone Number
Vehicle Issues on a Public StreetCounty Sheriff's Department949-770-6011
Animal Control *County Animal Control714-935-6848
Mosquito, Ant, Rat, Fly ConcernsOrange County Mosquito & Vector Control949-654-2421 ext. 104
Weed AbatementPublic Works Department949-443-6337

* Animal Control addresses the following animal complaints: Animals roaming at large, animal abuse and neglect investigations, dog and cockfighting, animal noise violations, aggressive animals and dead animal pickup. 


Online Submittal of Suspected Code Violations

  2. If you suspect a violation of the San Juan Capistrano Municipal Code, please use this form to send a report directly to the City's Code Enforcement staff. Although you are not required to include your name or address, providing your contact information is helpful in case City staff needs to contact you to get clarification on your report. If possible, please include the street address or a location description (i.e. northwest corner of an X street and Y street) of the suspected violation. The information you provide will be contained in an email received by Code Enforcement staff. As a reminder, all email correspondence received by the City may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and therefore may be subject to disclosure if so requested by any interested party.

  6. LOCATION OF VIOLATION

  8. Address of Violation

  14. Please describe in detail the extent of the alleged violations.

  20. REPORTING PARTY INFORMATION

  22. Enter your name

  25. Your address

  27. City in which you live

  31. Home/Cell number

  32. Secondary number

    33. Leave This Blank:

  35. This field is not part of the form submission.

Code Enforcement Forms

  1. Code Enforcement Request Form (PDF)
  2. Request for Hearing Appealing an Administrative Citation Form (PDF)