Common Code Concerns & Contacts

Who should I call?

The table below outlines a number of common code concerns and the best agencies or departments to contact about these concerns. If you do not see your concern listed here, feel free to call us at (650) 329-2605 and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction. Just a friendly reminder, though, our area of expertise is in property maintenance, building code and zoning code enforcement.

Please note that all emergencies or any dangerous situations should be reported to the Palo Alto Police by calling 911 immediately! 

Code Concern or Issue	Department or Agency
Abandoned Bicycles	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Abandoned Vehicles	Palo Alto Police 650-329-2258
Building Codes	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Business Signage Placed on Public Property	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Child Support and/or Safety	Santa Clara Department of Child Support Services 866-901-3212 (from inside the US) 011-408-273-0073 (from outside the US) 408-503-5230 (TTY)
Cracked Sidewalk or Potholes	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5935
Debris in Storm Drain Grate (causing clogging)	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5935
Excess material surround trash receptacles	Public Works Department (Solid Waste) 650-496-5914
Flooding Near Storm Drain	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5935
Graffiti on Public Buildings	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Landlord Tenant Rights & Responsibilities	CA Department of Consumer Affairs 800-952-5210
Leaf Blowers	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Litter	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Missing Storm Drain Cover	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5935
Mold	Center for Disease Control 800-232-4636 888-232-6348 (TTY)
Neighbor to Neighbor Concerns	Palo Alto Mediation Program 650-856-4062
Newsracks	Public Works Department (Engineering) 650-617-3103
Pavement Cleanliness for Sidewalks, Parking Lots	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Project Sentinel	Project Sentinel (local provider contracted by the City to provide housing services) 1-800-339-6043
Property Maintenance	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Spills/Dumping into Storm Drain Inlet/Street/Gutter	Public Works Department (Watershed Protection) (650) 329-2421
Stickers on Public Property, (e.g. fire hydrants)	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Tables and Chairs	Public Works Department (Engineering) 650-617-3104
Tallow Bin/Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) Issue	Public Works Department (Watershed Protection) (650) 329-2421
Traffic Signs Bent or Damaged	Public Works Department (Operations) 650-496-5945
Trash bin and cart cleanliness	Public Works Department (Solid Waste) 650-496-5914
Trees in Public Ways	Palo Alto Urban Forestry 650-496-5953
Unpermitted Fence Encroachment	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Vector Control	County of Santa Clara Vector Control District 800-675-1155
Vegetation Growing Over Sidewalk	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605
Waste Management Bins Leaking	Public Works Department (Watershed Protection) (650) 329-2421
Zoning Code	Planning Code Enforcement 650-329-2605