What Is 311 on nyc.gov and What Can You Report There?

311 is New York City's non-emergency service channel, accessible from the nyc.gov homepage. Use it to report non-emergency problems such as street and sanitation issues, and to check the status of requests you've already submitted. For emergencies, call 911 instead — 311 is not an emergency line.

How 311 Fits Into nyc.gov

The nyc.gov homepage is organized around what residents need on a given day. It shows today's statuses for alternate side parking, trash/recycling/compost collection, public schools, and transit alerts, then links to news, popular services, and 311.

The 311 block on the homepage describes the service directly: "Report problems that aren't emergencies, like street and sanitation issues. You can also check the status of your requests." Two actions are offered:

• Report problems — submit a new non-emergency issue.
• Check service requests — look up the status of something you already reported.

What You Can Report Through 311

The site's own example is street and sanitation issues. The homepage's popular services list shows the kinds of complaints and requests that sit alongside 311 in the city's service catalog, including:

These are listed as popular services rather than as 311 categories, so treat the table as a map of what the site covers — the 311 report and status-check tools are the entry point for non-emergency problems.

311 vs. 911: Where the Line Is

The distinction the site draws is simple: 311 is for problems that are not emergencies. Street and sanitation issues are the given example. Anything requiring immediate police, fire, or medical response is outside 311's scope and belongs with 911.

A practical test: if the problem can wait for a scheduled city response and you want a record and status update, 311 is the right channel. If people or property are in immediate danger, it isn't.

Checking the Status of a Request

After submitting a report, use the Check service requests link in the 311 section of the homepage. This is the same entry point as reporting — you don't need to navigate elsewhere on the site to follow up.

Before You Report: Check Today's Status First

Some problems resolve themselves once you see the day's service status. The homepage displays, for the selected date:

• Alternate side parking — in effect or suspended
• Trash, recycling, and compost collection — on schedule or delayed
• Public schools — open or closed
• Transit alerts — current disruptions

If, for example, trash wasn't picked up on a day collection was marked off-schedule, checking the status explains the delay before you file a complaint. The page lets you select a date, so you can confirm what was scheduled.

Common Pitfalls

• Using 311 for emergencies. The site is explicit that 311 is for non-emergencies only.
• Reporting a delay that's already announced. Check the day's trash, parking, and school statuses first.
• Losing track of a request. Use the status-check tool rather than filing a duplicate report.
• Assuming every listed service is a 311 report. Items like birth certificates and SNAP benefits are separate service pages; 311 covers problem reporting and request tracking.