How do I report a flooded street, pothole or downed tree in San Diego, and claim for pothole damage?
In the City of San Diego, call 619-527-7500 for street flooding or use Get It Done for potholes and clogged drains. County roads use Tell Us Now, freeways go to Caltrans, and downed lines go to 911 and SDG&E.
- City flooding / urgent street issues
- 619-527-7500
- Downed power line
- 911 + 1-800-411-7343
- Claim deadline
- 6 months
- Caltrans small claims
- $12,500 or less
City of San Diego dispatch
SDG&E
Gov. Code 911.2, property damage
Form DOTLD-0274, no filing fee
The short version
- City of San Diego: call 619-527-7500 for flooding or urgent street issues; use Get It Done for potholes and blocked storm drains.
- Unincorporated County: the Tell Us Now app takes potholes, fallen trees and flooded roads; urgent after-hours hazards go to (858) 565-5262.
- Freeways and state routes like I-5 and SR-94 are Caltrans; report at csr.dot.ca.gov, emergencies to 911 or CHP.
- Downed power lines: call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343, and stay away.
- Government Code 911.2 gives 6 months to file a property-damage claim against a public agency.
When it pours, the right number depends on whose road it is. City streets, County roads and state freeways each have their own crews and their own claim process. Downed power lines are SDG&E's, and anything that threatens life is 911. Here's the cheat sheet.
| Problem | Where | Who | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyone in danger, car in water, fire, live wire | Anywhere | Emergency services | 911 |
| Flooded street | City of San Diego | City emergency dispatch | 619-527-7500, or Get It Done "Street Flooded" |
| Clogged storm drain | City of San Diego | Stormwater | Get It Done "Storm Drain" |
| Pothole | City of San Diego | Streets | Get It Done "Pothole" (app or getitdone.sandiego.gov) |
| Tree down or tree hazard | City of San Diego | Street tree crews | Get It Done "Tree Maintenance"; urgent street issues 619-527-7500 |
| Pothole, fallen tree, flooded road | Unincorporated County | County Public Works | Tell Us Now app, or Road Service Request form |
| Urgent road hazard after hours | Unincorporated County | County Public Works | (858) 565-5262 |
| Storm drain or culvert blocked | Unincorporated County | County Public Works | (877) 684-8000 |
| Pothole, flooding, debris on freeway | I-5, I-15, I-805, SR-94 and other state routes | Caltrans District 11 | csr.dot.ca.gov (Mon–Fri, 8–4); emergencies 911 or CHP |
| Downed power line | Anywhere SDG&E serves | SDG&E | 911 and 1-800-411-7343 |
| Power outage | Anywhere SDG&E serves | SDG&E | outage.sdge.com or sdge.com/report-outage |
Anyone in danger, car in water, fire, live wire
- Where
- Anywhere
- Who
- Emergency services
- How
- 911
Flooded street
- Where
- City of San Diego
- Who
- City emergency dispatch
- How
- 619-527-7500, or Get It Done "Street Flooded"
Clogged storm drain
- Where
- City of San Diego
- Who
- Stormwater
- How
- Get It Done "Storm Drain"
Pothole
- Where
- City of San Diego
- Who
- Streets
- How
- Get It Done "Pothole" (app or getitdone.sandiego.gov)
Tree down or tree hazard
- Where
- City of San Diego
- Who
- Street tree crews
- How
- Get It Done "Tree Maintenance"; urgent street issues 619-527-7500
Pothole, fallen tree, flooded road
- Where
- Unincorporated County
- Who
- County Public Works
- How
- Tell Us Now app, or Road Service Request form
Urgent road hazard after hours
- Where
- Unincorporated County
- Who
- County Public Works
- How
- (858) 565-5262
Storm drain or culvert blocked
- Where
- Unincorporated County
- Who
- County Public Works
- How
- (877) 684-8000
Pothole, flooding, debris on freeway
- Where
- I-5, I-15, I-805, SR-94 and other state routes
- Who
- Caltrans District 11
- How
- csr.dot.ca.gov (Mon–Fri, 8–4); emergencies 911 or CHP
Downed power line
- Where
- Anywhere SDG&E serves
- Who
- SDG&E
- How
- 911 and 1-800-411-7343
Power outage
- Where
- Anywhere SDG&E serves
- Who
- SDG&E
- How
- outage.sdge.com or sdge.com/report-outage
From sandiego.gov (Storm Preparedness, Get It Done), County DPW Roads Contacts and County News Center, Caltrans Contact Us, and SDG&E. Checked Oct 29, 2026.
City of San Diego: Get It Done
Get It Done takes non-emergency reports by app or at getitdone.sandiego.gov. The City's page lists the app as San Diego 311 in the App Store and Google Play. Storm-related categories include Street Flooded, Storm Drain, Pothole and Tree Maintenance. On Oct 29, 2026, the page showed Tree Maintenance as "Operating at reduced capacity." For police non-emergencies the City lists 619-531-2000. We couldn't find a City page that names a number just for fallen trees; the City lists 619-527-7500 for urgent street-related issues.
Unincorporated County: Tell Us Now and DPW
If you live outside city limits (places like Ramona, Alpine, Fallbrook or Spring Valley), County Public Works handles the roads. The County's free Tell Us Now app takes storm damage like potholes, fallen trees, flooded roadways and downed powerlines, and lets you track your report. County DPW's main line is (858) 694-3850 during business hours, and each area also has a local road station number on the DPW contacts page. Other cities, like Chula Vista, Oceanside or Escondido, run their own streets; we didn't verify each city's line, so check your city's website.
Freeways and state routes: Caltrans
Caltrans District 11 covers San Diego and Imperial counties. Its project notices cover routes such as I-5, I-8, I-15, I-805, SR-52, SR-94 and SR-163. Report non-emergency problems through the Customer Service Request portal, which Caltrans says is staffed Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Report highway emergencies to 911 or the California Highway Patrol.
A pothole damaged my car. Can I get paid?
You can file a claim with the agency that owns the road. Paying isn't automatic. Each agency investigates and can deny it. California Government Code 911.2 says claims for injury to people or personal property must be presented within six months of the incident. The State's Government Claims Program also charges a $25 filing fee unless a waiver is granted. This isn't legal advice; check with the agency or a lawyer about your deadline.
Where to file a pothole claim
| City of San Diego | County of San Diego | Caltrans (state highways) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to file | Online Public Liability Claims Portal, or form RM-9 by mail or in person | Form CD-1 by mail or in person; no fax | Form DOTLD-0274 mailed to District 11 Claims Office |
| Address | Risk Management, 1200 Third Ave., Suite 1000, San Diego 92101 | County Counsel Claims, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335, San Diego 92101 | 4050 Taylor Street, MS 130, San Diego 92110 |
| Phone | 619-236-7300 | (619) 531-4899 | 619-688-2531 |
| Notes | No email filing since Dec 11, 2023 | Allow about 45 days | $12,500 or less, no fee; above that, DGS Government Claims Program ($25 fee, 1-800-955-0045) |
City of San Diego
- How to file
- Online Public Liability Claims Portal, or form RM-9 by mail or in person
- Address
- Risk Management, 1200 Third Ave., Suite 1000, San Diego 92101
- Phone
- 619-236-7300
- Notes
- No email filing since Dec 11, 2023
County of San Diego
- How to file
- Form CD-1 by mail or in person; no fax
- Address
- County Counsel Claims, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335, San Diego 92101
- Phone
- (619) 531-4899
- Notes
- Allow about 45 days
Caltrans (state highways)
- How to file
- Form DOTLD-0274 mailed to District 11 Claims Office
- Address
- 4050 Taylor Street, MS 130, San Diego 92110
- Phone
- 619-688-2531
- Notes
- $12,500 or less, no fee; above that, DGS Government Claims Program ($25 fee, 1-800-955-0045)
Pothole claim, step by step
- 01
Make it safe, then take photos
Pull over safely. Photograph the pothole, the street sign or mile marker, and the damage. Note the date and time.
- 02
Figure out whose road it is
City street, County road or state highway. That decides where the claim goes (see the table above).
- 03
Report the pothole
Use Get It Done, Tell Us Now or the Caltrans portal so it gets fixed and there's a record.
- 04
Get a repair estimate
The City and County both ask for an estimate and photos for property damage.
- 05
File within 6 months
Use the agency's form or portal. Keep copies and proof you filed.
- 06
Wait for a decision
The County says to allow about 45 days. A denial letter explains your next options.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 29, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryStorm Preparedness
City of San Diego · checked 2026-10-29
Flooding 619-527-7500; Get It Done for drains and potholes; SDG&E 800-411-7343; claims link.
- PrimaryGet It Done
City of San Diego · checked 2026-10-29
Categories, San Diego 311 app listing, urgent street issues 619-527-7500, police non-emergency 619-531-2000.
- PrimaryPublic Liability Claims
City of San Diego Risk Management · checked 2026-10-29
Six-month deadline, portal, RM-9, address, 619-236-7300, no email since Dec 11, 2023.
- PrimaryClaims
County of San Diego, Office of County Counsel · checked 2026-10-29
Form CD-1, mail or in person, no fax, (619) 531-4899, about 45 days.
- PrimaryDPW Roads Contacts
County of San Diego Department of Public Works · checked 2026-10-29
(858) 694-3850, after-hours (858) 565-5262, storm drain/culvert (877) 684-8000, Road Service Request form.
County of San Diego News Center · 2025-03-14
What the app takes; from a previous season, still listed.
- PrimaryContact Us
Caltrans · checked 2026-10-29
CSR portal hours; emergencies to 911 or CHP; District 11 (619) 688-6699.
- PrimarySubmit a Damage Claim
Caltrans · checked 2026-10-29
$12,500 threshold, DOTLD-0274, no fee, District 11 Claims Office address and phone.
California Department of General Services, ORIM · checked 2026-10-29
$25 fee, online form, (800) 955-0045; points Caltrans highway claims to Caltrans.
- BackgroundGovernment Code § 911.2
California Legislature (via california.public.law) · checked 2026-10-29
Six months for injury to person or personal property; one year for other claims.
SDG&E (SDGE Today) · 2025-12-24
Assume energized; call 911 and 1-800-411-7343; stay in vehicle.
- BackgroundCaltrans District 11
Caltrans · checked 2026-10-29
Routes named in District 11 projects and news.