Retrieval and Impoundment of Shared Mobility Devices
San Diego Municipal Code § 83.0311
in effect§ 83.0311 Retrieval and Impoundment of Shared Mobility Devices
(a) Within one hour of notice from the City, a provider shall retrieve its shared mobility device that is in any of the following conditions:
(1) inoperable or not safe to operate and parked on a City street, sidewalk, or other City property;
(2) parked, displayed, offered, or made available for rent in violation of this Division or the Vehicle Code; or
(3) parked on a City street, sidewalk, or other City property in a manner that prevents a reasonable person from safely renting or operating the shared mobility device.
(b) Only the City and its authorized agents may impound a shared mobility device located on City right-of-way. In such circumstances, the City or its authorized agent may impound a shared mobility device that is:
(1) not retrieved within one hour of notice to the provider pursuant to section 83.0311(a); or
(2) in a condition or parked in manner that, in the City’s opinion, poses an imminent life safety hazard, meaning any condition which creates a present, extreme, and immediate danger to life, property, health or public safety, as defined in Chapter 1 of this Code. Shared mobility devices that are blocking an accessible path of travel or ramp, vehicular travel lane, or transit travel lane in the City right-of-way may be an imminent life safety hazard. Impound of a shared mobility device that poses an imminent life safety hazard may be immediate and notice shall not be required.
(3) non-operational and is left in the City right-of-way for more than 24 hours.
(c) Providers shall bear the cost of the City’s enforcement, investigation, storage, and impound through fees charged on any impounded shared mobility device, in accordance with a fee schedule established by resolution of the City Council and filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
(d) Providers are required to retrieve any shared mobility device impounded by the City or its authorized agent within 10 days of the impound. No provider may retrieve an impounded shared mobility device without first demonstrating proof of ownership and payment of the applicable impound fees. Acceptable forms of proof of ownership are:
(1) Written authorization on the provider’s letterhead signed by an authorized representative of the provider, which allows release of the shared mobility device to the named agent or employee bearing the authorization; or
(2) A bill of sale that includes the shared mobility device’s serial number or other information specific to that shared mobility device.
(Retrieval and Impoundment of Shared Mobility Devices” added 5-17-2019 by O-21070 N.S.; effective 6-16-2019.)
(Amended 6-27-2022 by O-21467 N.S.; effective 7-27-2022.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter08/Ch08Art03Division03.pdf#page=9Fetched: 10/28/2026