CUPA Permitted Facility Records Search

Information about Unified Program Permitted Facilities is online. There are two data sources for Hazardous Materials Division (HMD) files:

1. There is an electronic database with information on chemical inventory, waste generation and basic facility permit information.
2. A second area contains scanned (formerly paper) inspection reports, permit applications, test results and other correspondence as scanned files in PDF format. You need ADOBE Acrobat READER to view these files. Download a free copy of Acrobat READER.

The HMD manages 1) an electronic database and 2) paper (scanned) documents from over 32,000 permitted establishments county-wide. 

Electronic Database includes basic business information (e.g. location, name, and last inspection date), types and quantities of hazardous materials stored on site, UST information, and amounts of hazardous or medical waste generated. The searchable database, Hazardous Materials Establishment Search, is updated quarterly. The database can be searched or downloaded in its entirety. It does not include any written (paper) documents such as correspondence, permit applications or compliance inspection reports.

Paper documents (HMD scanned files) include inspection reports, other required reports, photographs, correspondence, and permit applications. Paper documents are scanned and posted to improve access for the public and regulated community. There and over 130,000 PDF (formerly paper) files containing nearly 900,000 pages. Database and scanned files are available for both active (currently in business and require a CUPA Facility Permit) and inactive (no Facility Permit required) permits. There are at least 12,000 San Diego County establishments with active or open Facility Permits. 

Although it is not required for a search, a good idea is to first, find the 6 digit Facility Permit # issued to the business. You can find the information on the annual invoice, from the CUPA Permit (HK-_ _ - XXXXXX) or by using the Hazardous Materials Establishment Search. 

Using a wild card (*) you can search partial information for all of the Query Criteria except in PERMIT, YEAR, STREETNO, DIR, or ZIP fields.

Tip: If you want to search for your site by BUSINESS NAME, use a partial business name and an asterisk instead of entering your full business name (i.e. for Grant’s Auto Body Shop, search for *grant*). This will ensure that the system returns all the possible sites with that partial name. If you search for the full name and it’s not exactly what’s already in the system you may not find your site.

Step-by-step instructions for searching HMD files.
Skip instructions and Search Now
*IMPORTANT* A generic username and password is required for this search tool. username: PUBLIC password: PUBLIC

You may search partial information for an Business Name, Street Number, and/or Street Name. You may use an asterisk * at the beginning and/or the end as a wildcard. Street type (e.g. Street, Ave, Rd) is not required. You can search by just the street number alone (or range of street numbers such as 500-599 to incorporate the entire 500 block of any street).

There are several reasons: 1) The facility never had a CUPA Permit or 2) The file information was over 10 years old and the file has been eliminated in accordance with the file retention policy. 3) The information you have entered is in error. 4) The information in this system is incorrect (see disclaimer). Call (619) 338-2251 to inquire about a specific Facility Permit.

Documents were split to limit file size so the files can be saved and opened quickly.

Personal information (not directly related to the Facility Permit or the environment) is redacted for privacy.

Click on CUPA for more information.

Inspection processing time varies depending on staff levels and work load. After a paper inspection has been processed and data entered, the file is scanned and then uploaded to the system monthly. Expect your compliance inspection report to show up on this website within 90 days of the inspection.

There and over 130,000 electronic (formerly paper) files containing nearly 900,000 pages. There are at least 12,000 San Diego County establishments with active or open Unified Program Facility Permits.

Database and scanned files are available for both active (currently in business and require a Unified Program Facility Permit) and inactive (no Facility Permit required) permits. When a site no longer generates hazardous or medical wastes, has no tanks and/or no longer stores hazardous materials, that site’s Facility Permit is inactivated. Inactivation of a Unified Program Facility Permit takes place sometime during or after the last inspection.

Each file is named ("Reference Name") using its 6-digit Facility Permit # (preceded by HK_), the year and a 7 or 8 character code for document type (described below). An example of a "Reference Name" is: HK_123456_2007_INSP-RTC. 

Facilities may have one or more document types (see Q14 below). For example, a facility may have enforcement (ENFRCMNT) and routine inspections records (INSP-RTC) for the same year. These would be listed separately by "Reference Name". A facility file can have more than one "Reference Name" of the same document type for large files. A large INSP-RTC file may be split into smaller files to allow for e-mailing size restrictions and faster file opening. 

HINT: Sort your results by “Reference Name” to bring similar files together. The default search does not group similar files, so this step is important for large files.

The HMD DOCUMENT RETENTION POLICY (in brief):
Paper documents less than 10 years old are arranged in files by Facility Permit number, by year, by document type and are scanned. New information (generated daily) is scanned, data entered and posted on this website monthly. Most documents at least 10 years old are eliminated. About 4,000 files have been eliminated to date.

HMD scanned files are sorted into 8 Document Types:

INSP-RTC folders contain CUPA facility permit applications, compliance inspection reports (includes notices to comply, notices of violation & official notices), medical waste management plans (when applicable), carcinogen & reproductive toxin reports, UST files (e.g. monitoring system certifications, operating permits, and secondary containment test results), correspondence, sample results, photographs and return to compliance documentation. These documents are retained for 10 years. A business’ hazardous materials chemical inventory, hazardous waste or medical waste information is recorded in the electronic database and can be accessed through the Hazardous Materials Establishment Search.

TIERMEDW consists of hazardous waste tiered permitting information & medical waste treatment information and correspondence pertaining to these. These documents may be retained for more than 10 years, depending on treatment unit closure plan dates.

ENFRCMNT files contain permit-related enforcement cases including Administrative Enforcement Orders, Notices of Violation, photographs, etc. Enforcement files are retained for 10 years.

USTREMOV are plan check files for underground tank removal permit applications & related information including drawings and correspondence.

UST-NEW folders contain plan check files for underground tank installation permit applications & related information.

USTUPGRD consists of plan check files underground tank upgrade permit applications & related information. UST plan check files are retained for as long as 50 years.

USTEXEMP files contain exempt UST permits and documentation.

HISTORIC records consist of historically notable documents.

Please submit your questions to the Hazardous Materials Duty Specialist:  HMDUTYeh@sdcounty.ca.gov

Soil contamination and clean up files are managed under the Site Assessment and Mitigation (SAM) Program. These files may be older than the 10 years for HMD Permitted site files due to their historic significance.

Food & Housing records are available through this link or for Food Facility Grade Card Search click here.