City Attorney's new UP2CODE smartphone app eases reporting of code violations

City Attorney's Code Enforcement Team developed innovative app to empower neighborhood groups, individuals and merchants

SAN FRANCISCO (April 1, 2013) -- City Attorney Dennis Herrera today launched a new smartphone app that offers San Francisco residents an easy way to report and track non-emergency code enforcement and nuisance issues.  Herrera's Code Enforcement Team has long maintained a code enforcement telephone hotline to enable neighborhood residents to report violations of housing, building, police and other local and state health and safety codes, but with the popularity of smartphones, the new mobile app leverages the latest in communication technology to improve government responsiveness and transparency.   

Over a year ago, Herrera initiated a move to explore more innovative, user-friendly ways for the community to report and track municipal code and state law violations utilizing smartphone technology.  The result is theUP2CODE smartphone app and web widget (web page) that is now available to residents via iPhone, Android and any browser with an internet connection. 

"UP2CODE is an easy way for San Franciscans to report and track code enforcement issues to my office," said Herrera.  "It encourages residents to be proactive by using the on-the-go smartphone app to combine efforts to improve neighborhoods and protect health and safety.  Thank you to the community groups who helped test the app last year and provided feedback which refined the app.  It's one tool we can all use to make San Francisco a safer and beautiful place to call home." 

The UP2CODE app was developed to interact with SF311, San Francisco's citywide call and information center.  The app utilizes mobile phone camera and global positioning system, or GPS, technology to streamline and coordinate code violation reporting with corresponding city departments.  SeeClickFix, the New Haven, Conn.-based mobile application developer, worked in partnership with City Attorney staff to customize the app for San Francisco's codes and neighborhoods. 

Data collected is used to better build code violation lawsuits, collect evidence and speed up remedies of nuisance code violations.  It will help other city leaders, department heads and agencies better identify and prioritize code enforcement issues.  In an effort to strive for transparency in City government, much of the data collected is accessible to app users in near-real-time.  Reported violations are viewable on interactive maps, as is the status of each individual report.  Users can even use advance features to set up "watch areas" -- from a single block to an entire neighborhood -- to monitor all reports within a specific geographic area.   

For more information (including important safety tips), social media plug-ins, and to use the web widget, visit: http://www.UP2CODE.org. 

To download the UP2CODE app on your mobile device visit: 

• The App Store for iPhones, or 
• Google Play for Android 

The Office of the City Attorney's Code Enforcement Team coordinates the efforts of the Building, Health, Planning, Public Works, Fire and Police Departments to identify and respond effectively to health and safety and other public nuisance issues in San Francisco's neighborhoods.  When a code violation is reported, the Code Enforcement Team responds by coordinating the investigation and abatement process by the relevant city agencies and, when necessary, pursuing additional remedies against violators through civil court action. 

The City Attorney's Community Relations Division is available to make UP2CODE presentations and conduct group trainings on how to use the app and its numerous functions. Contact Jen Drake, Deputy Director, Community Relations at jen.drake@sfgov.org or (415) 554-4695.