SidewalkSnitch · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Last updated: 2026-05-20
Common questions about how SidewalkSnitch works, who it is for, and what happens after you file a complaint. For the full privacy and terms details, see Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
What is SidewalkSnitch?
SidewalkSnitch is a free Progressive Web App for NYC residents. You photograph a potential city-code violation — a car blocking a fire hydrant, trash set out too early, a sidewalk café operating outside its permit — and the app uses an AI vision model to classify the violation, drafts a complaint description, and helps you route it to the right city agency. SidewalkSnitch is an independent civic-tech tool, not affiliated with the City of New York.
Is SidewalkSnitch free?
Yes. The app is free to use. There is no subscription, no in-app purchase, no advertising, and no data sale. SidewalkSnitch earns nothing from your filings.
Do I need to create an account?
You need to verify a mobile phone number to file a complaint. NYC requires a real name, verified phone number, and contact address for complaints to be actionable. Without those, the city cannot follow up. You can browse and draft a complaint before verifying — phone verification is only required at the moment of submission.
Can I file a complaint anonymously?
No. NYC requires identifying information for 311 complaints. The city needs a contactable submitter to follow up, close the complaint, or issue a citation. If you call 311 directly, you can choose not to give your name — but anonymous complaints have lower follow-up rates. SidewalkSnitch does not support anonymous filing because it would route complaints that the city would not act on.
Will the person I report find out it was me?
NYC does not routinely share the reporter's identity with the subject of a complaint. Under normal circumstances, the person you report will not know who filed. That said, like any government complaint system, records can be subpoenaed in civil or criminal proceedings. This is true whether you file through SidewalkSnitch, the 311 app, or by phone.
How does the AI classification work?
The app sends your photo to xAI's Grok-4 vision model along with a domain-specific prompt that includes NYC's rules registry for the violation category you selected. The model identifies what rule, if any, is violated, extracts relevant details (license plate, business name, address), and drafts a plain-English complaint description. You review that draft, edit anything that's wrong, and check a box attesting that the description matches what you personally observed. The AI does not auto-file anything.
What violation types does SidewalkSnitch cover?
Currently: parking violations (hydrant blocker, crosswalk blocker, bus-stop blocker, bike-lane blocker, double-parking, handicap zone without permit), outdoor dining violations (sidewalk café operating outside permit boundaries or hours, unsafe barriers), sanitation violations (early trash setout, illegal dumping, recycling non-compliance), and street vending violations (unlicensed vending, restricted-zone vending, blocking a hydrant or crosswalk with a cart). There is also a separate Lost & Found flow, under the "More" menu, for reporting an item you found on the street — it does not go through 311. Additional categories are planned.
What happens after I file a complaint?
Right now, SidewalkSnitch saves your complaint to your Filings and prepares it for the agency that handles that violation type — NYPD, NYC DOT, NYC DSNY, or NYC DCWP. Direct submission to the city is not yet live: SidewalkSnitch does not currently transmit your complaint to 311 or generate a city Service Request Number, so there's no agency response to track yet. You can see your saved filing any time in your Filings view, and we'll update it automatically once agency submission goes live. If you want the city to act on this right now, you can file the same details directly at 311.nyc.gov or by calling 311 — SidewalkSnitch doesn't stand in the way of that.
Still have a question?
Email us at hello@sidewalksnitch.com. For technical issues, include the complaint ID from your Filings view if you have it.
Ready to file? Open SidewalkSnitch and tap the yellow card on the home screen.