NYC 311 complaints: what New Yorkers report most and how to file one that gets handled
New Yorkers filed nearly 311,000 requests with 311 in 30 days, led by illegal parking and noise. Here is what people report and how to file a complaint the city can act on.
New Yorkers filed 310,978 requests with 311 in the 30 days starting Aug. 20, according to the city’s 311 Service Requests data on NYC Open Data. Illegal parking and noise lead the list, followed by housing problems, dirty streets and abandoned cars. This guide covers what people report most, which agencies handle it and how to file a complaint the right agency can act on.
What 311 is for, and when to call 911 instead
311 is the city’s line for non-emergency requests. You can file by phone, through the app or on the web. The request goes to the city agency responsible for that kind of problem.
911 is for emergencies. If someone is hurt, in danger or a crime is in progress, call 911. A loud party, a car blocking your driveway or a broken streetlight goes to 311.
The most common NYC 311 complaints right now
These were the top complaint types in the 30 days starting Aug. 20:
- Illegal parking: 49,946
- Residential noise: 30,378
- Street and sidewalk noise: 22,607
- Blocked driveway: 14,967
- Unsanitary condition: 13,225
- Street condition: 8,290
- Dirty condition: 7,089
- Abandoned vehicle: 6,548
The rest of the top 15 were paint and plaster (6,064), plumbing (5,898), water maintenance (5,703), commercial noise (5,486), encampments (5,262), vehicle noise (5,186) and general noise (5,172).
Noise complaints in NYC: apartments, streets and businesses
Noise shows up five times in the top 15. Together those categories add up to 68,829 requests. Most involve neighbors: residential noise alone accounts for 30,378. Street and sidewalk noise adds 22,607, and loud businesses, vehicles and general noise make up the rest.
Choose the category that matches the source. A neighbor’s apartment, a crowd outside, a bar and a car stereo are separate complaint types. The right type sends your request to the right place.
Illegal parking and blocked driveway complaints
Illegal parking is the single most common 311 complaint, with 49,946 requests. Blocked driveways add another 14,967, and abandoned vehicles 6,548. The NYPD handles these, which helps explain why it gets far more 311 requests than any other agency.
When you report a car, include the exact address, the side of the street and a description of the vehicle. For a blocked driveway, say that the car blocks your driveway and that you need to get in or out.
Apartment problems: paint, plumbing and unsanitary conditions
Tenants use 311 to report conditions inside their buildings. Unsanitary conditions drew 13,225 requests, paint and plaster 6,064 and plumbing 5,898. These go to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which received 47,918 requests during the period, the second-highest total after the NYPD.
Give the apartment number, the room and a clear description of the problem. If it affects the whole building, such as a leak in a shared hallway, say so.
Which city agencies handle 311 complaints
The agency that gets your request depends on the problem. These were the busiest in the 30 days starting Aug. 20:
- New York City Police Department: 143,401
- Department of Housing Preservation and Development: 47,918
- Department of Sanitation: 27,331
- Department of Transportation: 20,339
- Department of Environmental Protection: 18,287
- Department of Parks and Recreation: 14,958
- Department of Buildings: 9,543
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: 7,722
The NYPD alone handled about 46% of all requests, driven by parking and noise.
NYC 311 complaints by borough
Brooklyn filed the most requests with 101,653, followed by Queens with 78,169, Manhattan with 60,755 and the Bronx with 57,854. Staten Island filed 12,199. Another 348 requests had no borough listed, usually because the location was missing or unclear. To see which part of the city a street falls in, the How2NewYork neighborhood guides break the city down by area.
How to file a 311 complaint that gets answered
A request the agency can act on starts with details it can use. Follow these steps:
- Pick the most specific category. Residential noise, street noise and commercial noise go to different queues. General categories are easier to misroute.
- Give an exact location. Use a street address or two cross streets. Add the apartment number, the side of the street or a landmark.
- Describe what is happening now. Say what you see or hear, when it started and whether it keeps happening.
- File one problem per request. A leak and a broken lock are two complaints. Each one gets its own request and its own tracking.
- Keep your request number. Every request gets its own ID, which you can use to check the status or follow up.
- File again if it happens again. A repeat problem is a new request, and the record shows the pattern.
Use the phone, app or web, whichever is easiest in the moment. For anything dangerous, call 911 first.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these official sources, checked on the day this was written.
Quick answers
What is the most common 311 complaint in NYC?
Illegal parking, with 49,946 requests in the 30 days starting Aug. 20, followed by residential noise with 30,378.
Should I call 311 or 911?
311 is for non-emergency requests such as noise, parking and building conditions. Call 911 for emergencies, when someone is in danger or a crime is in progress.
How can I file a 311 complaint?
By phone, through the 311 app or on the web. Pick the most specific category, give an exact address or cross streets and describe what is happening.
Which agency handles 311 noise and parking complaints?
The New York City Police Department, which received 143,401 311 requests in the 30-day period, more than any other agency.
Who handles apartment complaints filed through 311?
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development handles housing conditions such as paint and plaster, plumbing and unsanitary conditions. It received 47,918 requests in the period.
