Right-of-Way Enforcement

The Right-of-Way Enforcement section provides services to residents in the unincorporated communities of San Diego County to ensure safe, sustainable, and quality roads within the San Diego County. We respond to requests from residents to investigate concerns and educate the public about San Diego County codes in order to gain voluntary compliance. 

The County right-of-way include portions of privately owned land dedicated to the San Diego County for public use (easement). The boundary lines of the County right-of-way are marked out in official survey maps that use survey pins and monuments as reference points. Generally, the County right-of-way extends beyond the actual traffic lanes including 10-feet past the face of curb or edge of the paved road. This may not always be the case and only an official survey map showing the measurements can verify the exact location of the boundary line between the County right-of-way and privately owned land. Private structures or work (including construction, excavation, and landscaping) within the County right-of-way are not permitted without the review, approval, and issuance of the appropriate DPW Right-of-Way permits.
 
Right-of-Way Enforcement investigates the following within the County maintained road right-of-way:
- Debris and/or obstructions.
- Overgrown vegetation or landscaping work without the appropriate DPW Right-of-Way permits.
- Structures or construction without the appropriate DPW Right-of-Way permits.
- Prohibited signs.
- Road encroachment related cases

Right-of-Way Enforcement does not investigate the following:
- Civil issues between neighbors such as boundary line disputes.
- Private road easement issues.
- Lack of general private property maintenance that doesn't cause imminent threat to the County right-of-way.
- Private property issues.
- Vehicles used as homes or parking violations. 
- Trash and litter. 

Contact Right-of-Way Enforcement

The Right-of-Way Enforcement officer is an office and field staff that may be out in the field investigating and responding to resident complaints. However, you do not need an appointment to simply file a request for investigation; you may stop by our office or email/call the Right-of-Way Enforcement officer. 

Helpful Resources

County Maintained Roads - Roads in the San Diego County Maintained System recorded in the Road Register.

Online Road Service Request Form - Road service request for County road maintenance. 

PDS Code Compliance - Reviews requests from residents to investigate potential violation concerns.

Traffic Advisory Committee - Reviews requests for regulatory traffic controls on County maintained roads.

San Diego Regional Standard Drawings - Regional construction standards for San Diego area agencies.

DPW Right-of-Way Permits and Forms - San Diego County permit applications.

LUEG Customer Resource Guide - Contains contact information for various public agencies.