Unsafe Event Reporting (San Francisco)

Use this checklist to describe what you observed:

1. Money collected at the door for entry

2. Alcohol being sold or furnished without an ABC license

3. Underage individuals consuming alcohol (including visibly intoxicated minors)

4. Severe overcrowding; no posted occupant load

5. No visible fire suppression systems or fire alarm systems

6. Unmarked, blocked, or chained exits

7. No valid assembly permit / place of assembly approvals (where required)

8. No Place of Entertainment / entertainment permit (where required)

9. Warehouse/industrial space used as a nightclub-style venue without zoning approval

10. Recurring events despite prior complaints and agency notification

What to report (high-risk conditions)

Why this matters: the combination of minors + alcohol + egress/fire hazards can create an imminent life-safety risk.

Do this in order (fast decision tree)

#1 - Call 911 (active danger or life-safety risk)

Call 911 if any of the following are true:

1. People can’t move safely / crush risk

2. Exits appear blocked, locked, unlit, or hard to find

3. Fire hazards (overloaded power, generators indoors, pyrotechnics, open flame)

4. Minors intoxicated / medical distress / fights escalating

5. Unsafe structure (warehouse, basement, rooftop, unfinished construction)

#2 - If it’s active but not immediately life-threatening:

CALL SFPD Non-Emergency: 415-553-0123

Use this for: loud/illegal party, suspected unpermitted event, safety concerns that need response but not an immediate 911 emergency.

Say:

1. Location (exact address + cross streets) “This appears to be an unpermitted event”

2. Key hazards (overcrowding, blocked exits, minors, alcohol sales)

3. Estimated crowd size

4. Whether it’s ongoing right now

Tip: you can also use SF guidance on choosing the right service (911 vs non-emergency vs 311).

Share Location Info

#3 - Create the Enforcement “paper trail”

(follow-up that stops repeat offenders)

A) DBI (Building/Change of Use/Unsafe Structure)

DBI Code Enforcement investigates complaints about illegal change of use, assembly without approvals, and unpermitted work.

Use DBI when the venue is:

1. A warehouse/industrial space used for assembly/nightclub

2. A space with blocked exits, unsafe stairs, or obvious unpermitted build-out

3. Any suspected change-of-occupancy without approvals

B) SF Planning (Zoning / Use / Land-Use Enforcement)

1. Planning Enforcement handles building misuse and land use code violations.

2. If you need a PDF complaint form

3. Planning provides one as well.

C) Entertainment Commission (permits + enforcement pathway)

1. A Place of Entertainment (POE) permit is required for many venues that host entertainment on a regular basis.

2. Entertainment Commission contact info (phone/email) is listed here.

D) ABC (Alcohol)

ABC has a formal “File a Complaint” process for minors-alcohol-related issues.

E) SF Department of Public Health (food safety / retail food permits)

1. If food is being served, pop-up bars are pouring, or conditions look unsanitary:

2. Health permits for food facilities are required.

3. Food Safety resources are here.

4. If people became ill, report food-related illness here.

Key laws and codes (high-level, commonly citable)

Alcohol (California)

• CA Business & Professions Code §25658 — furnishing alcohol to minors

• CA Business & Professions Code §23300 — acting as a licensee / alcohol privileges without a license - Problem Location Form

• Complaint Desk (916) 419-2500 / abccomplaint@abc.ca.gov

Public nuisance (California)

• CA Penal Code §370 — definition of public nuisance

Entertainment permits (San Francisco)

• SF Police Code Article 15.1 governs entertainment permitting; “Permit Required” language is in the code.

• City guidance: Place of Entertainment permit (what it is, when required).

• City guidance: entertainment permits for indoor events often require a Fire Department Place of Assembly permit when capacity is 50+.

Fire/life safety (California Fire Code / SF Fire Code references)

• California Fire Code chapter on means of egress includes occupant load provisions (Section 1004).

• San Francisco Fire Code references for egress/exit-related requirements are published in the SF code library.

• Note: Fire code enforcement often turns on what is observed on scene (exits, crowding, alarms/suppression, obstructions). When in doubt, report the facts; the responding authority determines the exact code sections.

What to document (safe, simple, and effective)

Only do what is safe and legal:

1. Address / cross streets / business name on door (if any)

2. Time you observed it (start/end)

3. Estimated crowd size (e.g., “~200+ inside, line outside”)

4. Entry fee and how collected (cash/Venmo/QR)

5. Whether minors were present / intoxication

6. Fire/egress hazards: blocked exits, chained doors, no exit signage, no lighting, crowded stairwells

7. Any posted permits (or lack of visible permits)

8. Avoid confrontation. Don’t put yourself at risk to “get evidence.”

Sample reporting call guidance (copy/paste)

Template 1 — Short 911 script (imminent danger)

“I’m calling to report an active life-safety hazard at [ADDRESS / CROSS STREETS]. There appears to be severe overcrowding and exits may be blocked. I estimate [#] people. I also observe [MINORS / INTOXICATION / ALCOHOL SERVICE / FIRE HAZARD]. I’m outside at [YOUR SAFE LOCATION]. Please advise.”

Template 2 — SFPD Non-Emergency call notes (active, not immediately life-threatening)

1. Location: What’s happening now: “Large unpermitted event; money collected at door; alcohol service; crowding.”

2. Estimated crowd: Guess on number # of people adults and minors

3. Primary hazards: blocked exits / no occupant load posted / minors / fights / medical distress

4. Request: “Please generate a CAD record and dispatch for safety check / enforcement.”

5. (Non-Emergency line: 415-553-0123)

Sample reporting email templates (copy/paste)

Template 3 — Email/Memo to DBI (illegal use / assembly without approvals)

Subject: Urgent Code Enforcement Request — Suspected Illegal Assembly / Change of Use at [ADDRESS]

Hello DBI Code Enforcement,

I am reporting a suspected illegal change of use / assembly occupancy at [ADDRESS].

Date/time observed: [DATE + TIME]

Observed conditions (facts):

1. Entry fee collected at door: [YES/NO]

2. Approx. occupants observed: [#]

3. Exits: [blocked/unmarked/unclear]

4. Fire/life-safety concerns: [overcrowding, stairwell congestion, extension cords/generators, etc.]

5. Any posted permits visible: [none observed / unclear / details]

Why I’m concerned: The conditions described appear to present life-safety risks consistent with unsafe assembly use.

Requested action: Please open a case and coordinate as appropriate with Fire/Life Safety for an inspection.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME] - [PHONE]- [EMAIL]

(DBI Code Enforcement overview)

Template 4 — Planning Enforcement (zoning / warehouse used as nightclub)

Subject: Planning Code Enforcement Complaint — Suspected Unpermitted Nightclub-Style Use at [ADDRESS]

Hello SF Planning Enforcement,

I’m reporting a suspected land-use / zoning violation at [ADDRESS] where an industrial/commercial space appears to be operating recurring nightclub-style events.

Date/time observed: [DATE + TIME]

Observed conditions (facts):

Facts observed:

1. Event admission / ticketing: [cash/QR/Venmo]

2. Entertainment: [DJ/live music]

3. Crowd size estimate: [#]

4. Alcohol service: [yes/no/unclear]

5. Recurrence: [weekly/recurring; prior complaints noted if applicable]

Why I’m concerned: The conditions described appear to present life-safety risks consistent with unsafe assembly use.

Requested action: Please open an enforcement case to review unauthorized use/building misuse and coordinate with other agencies as needed.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME] - [PHONE]- [EMAIL]

(Planning Code complaints portal)

Template 5 — Entertainment Commission (unpermitted entertainment / repeat offender)

Subject: Unpermitted Entertainment Complaint — [ADDRESS] — Repeat/High-Risk Conditions

Hello Entertainment Commission,

I’m reporting suspected unpermitted entertainment operations at [ADDRESS].

Date/time observed: [DATE + TIME]

Observed conditions (facts):

Facts observed:

1. Indicators of entertainment operation: [DJ/live sound/door staff/promotion/ticketing]

2. Safety concerns: [overcrowding, blocked exits, minors, alcohol, etc.]

3. Repeat activity: [dates/times if known]

Requested action: Please evaluate for permit compliance (e.g., Place of Entertainment requirements where applicable) and coordinate enforcement follow-up to prevent continued illegal operation.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME] - [PHONE]- [EMAIL]

(Entertainment Commission contact info)

(POE permit overview)

Template 6 — ABC complaint (unlicensed alcohol / minors)

Subject: ABC Complaint — Suspected Unlicensed Alcohol Sales / Minors — [ADDRESS], San Francisco

To whom it may concern,

I am submitting a complaint regarding suspected alcohol law violations at [ADDRESS].

Date/time observed: [DATE + TIME]

Observed conditions (facts):

1. Alcohol sold or furnished: [details]

2. Evidence of no license / pop-up bar: [details]

3. Possible minors consuming / visibly intoxicated minors: [details]

4. Admission fee collected: [details]

Requested action: Please investigate and coordinate enforcement follow-up to prevent continued illegal operation.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME] - [PHONE]- [EMAIL]

(ABC “File a Complaint”)

(B&P §25658; §23300)

“Permits should be visible” (plain-language note for the public)

In legitimate operations, you will typically see some combination of:

1. Business/operating permits and health permits (for food/beverage service)

2. Entertainment permitting (where applicable)

3. Fire Department permitting for certain event types / special events

If a venue is taking money, serving alcohol, packing in a crowd, and nothing is posted or verifiable, that’s a strong signal to report.

Unpermitted underground events aren’t “edgy”—they’re liability bombs that put people at risk and undercut legitimate operators who pay for permits, safety staffing, insurance, ADA compliance, and fire/life-safety requirements. Reporting the right way is not anti-nightlife—it’s how nightlife survives without another preventable tragedy.