Department of Building Inspection Customer Communication

Dear Customers,

The National Weather Service is warning San Franciscans to prepare for 25-35 mph winds this evening, with gusts of up to 60 mph later tonight and into the morning. Winds are expected to be especially strong on the west side of the City near the ocean.

A wind advisory is in effect until 10pm on Friday when it will be upgraded to a High Wind Warning. Up to 2 inches of rain is expected over the weekend, and a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect through Monday afternoon.

Given this serious forecast, DBI encourages you to take some basic precautions to keep your building, your neighbors and the people on the sidewalks below, safe in high winds and stormy weather.

Before a storm

• Close and latch any operable windows, and remind your tenants to take this simple but important step.
• Remove all loose or unsecured objects from balconies, roofs, or other outside areas. Outdoor furniture may be especially vulnerable to the high winds.
• If you see any cracks or signs of distress around a window, contact building management to help secure the opening.
• If construction work is happening at a building, ensure that scaffolding, construction equipment, and materials are secured on roofs and outside areas.

During a storm

• DBI has a team of 24/7 on-call inspectors prepared to immediately respond to building-related incidents during storm events.
• If you see something of concern about a building, call 911 if it’s an emergency or if there’s an injury.
• Otherwise, file a report at 311, and DBI will send an inspector to investigate.

Thank you for your support and partnership. And let’s be safe out there.