Beijing’s rules on the menqian sanbao system, “three guarantees in front of the door,” took effect on April 1, 1999. Shops and work units are responsible for an assigned zone outside their premises: its cleanliness, its greenery and its order. For cleanliness, the unit must “keep the assigned area clean, sweep the ground, and remove spit, dirt, waste, standing water and snow.”
A 2026 Guangzhou rule sets three duties of its own for each frontage: a clean environment, a tidy appearance and good order.