What is open data?
Open data is publicly available data provided for free and without any restrictions on usage or redistribution. This portal contains data produced by the City of San Diego that isn’t restricted under federal, state, or local law.
What is a dataset?
A dataset is a collection of statistical or factual information in digital form. You can access datasets through the catalog, which links to dataset pages containing downloadable files in various formats.
What is the purpose of open data?
The City established an Open Data Policy with multiple objectives:
- Advancing transparent and accessible government
- Fostering civic technology development to enhance service delivery
- Supporting economic development
- Reducing California Public Records Act requests
How do you download open data?
Navigate to a dataset from the catalog, then select a file from the downloads section to begin the download. Datasets are available in formats like CSV, JSON, and GeoJSON depending on the data type.
Are there limitations on how to use open data?
There are no limitations on usage or redistribution of the data available here. However, please review the portal’s Terms of Use for complete details.
How frequently is data updated?
Each dataset maintains its own update schedule. The dataset page displays the update frequency in the metadata section, and both the catalog listing and dataset pages indicate when the data was last updated.
I believe I found an error in a dataset. Where should I report this?
Data quality is a priority. If you discover errors or have questions about a specific dataset, please contact us at data@sandiego.gov with the dataset name and a description of the issue.
How do I request unpublished City data?
The California Public Records Act permits such requests. The City offers an online request system where you can submit requests and search records of previously released documents.
What if I have a simple question and don’t want to download large files?
Several of our large datasets have views available to download. A view is a filtered version of the full data.