SidewalkSnitch / Guides / Broken curb
SidewalkSnitch · Guide
How to report a broken curb in NYC
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Damaged, missing, or hazardous curbs go to NYC DOT through a 311 Curb or Driveway Complaint. You need an exact street address. The City may repair the curb; the sidewalk next to it is often a separate owner duty. Use this page to draft paste-ready text — we prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
SidewalkSnitch is an independent civic tool. Not affiliated with the City of New York and not a government 311 service.
How to file from this page
- Take a photo that shows the broken or missing curb with a house number or corner in frame.
- Tap Add photo of broken curb. We draft paste-ready text.
- Tap Copy, then Open 311. Paste. Submit on the city's site.
- Keep your Service Request Number.
See it. Snap it. Fix it.
We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
More detail — curb vs sidewalk, channels, photo tips
Curb vs sidewalk vs driveway cut
A curb channels water, protects the sidewalk edge, and marks where the roadway ends. Report cracks, crumbled sections, missing curb, or metal support bars sticking out of a damaged curb. DOT’s 311 curb article covers residential, commercial, City-owned frontage, and some median / overpass locations — always with an exact address for property-front curbs.
- Broken sidewalk: Trip hazards on the walking surface — see report a broken sidewalk.
- Driveway / curb cut permits: Building or altering a curb or driveway needs a permit. Illegal cuts and defaced painted curbs have their own 311 paths.
- Catch-basin hardware: Metal pieces next to a catch basin may belong on the Catch Basin Complaint page instead of a generic curb report.
What happens after you file
DOT inspects the curb (and often the sidewalk) at the address. If the sidewalk is defective, the property owner may get notice. If the curb is missing or damaged, the City may schedule repair or replacement at no cost to the owner. Timing depends on contracts and priority — re-file if the hazard remains and keep your SR number.
DOT also encourages owners who are already repairing a sidewalk to fix a bad curb in the same job so the edge and the flags match.
How to photograph a curb defect
- Show the edge clearly. Stand so the break between sidewalk and street is obvious.
- Prove the address. House number or cross streets are required for routing.
- Flag sharp metal or collapse. Close-ups of protruding bars or undermined sections help inspectors prioritize safety.
Related street defects
- Potholes in the roadway — separate Street Condition / pothole report (pothole guide).
- Blocked path by objects — blocked sidewalk guide.
See a crumbling curb?
Photograph the break with the house number visible so DOT can find the spot.
See it. Snap it. Fix it. We prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
Join the friends & family waitlistPhone number required. F&F access only — not a public neighborhood launch.
Friends & family waitlist — phone number required. Public neighborhood launch is not open yet.
Frequently asked questions
Who repairs a broken curb in NYC?
NYC DOT inspects curb complaints filed through 311. The City maintains curbs and may repair or replace a missing or damaged curb at no cost to the property owner. Sidewalk flags next to the curb are usually the adjacent property owner’s responsibility — a different track from the curb itself.
How do I report a damaged curb?
File a Curb or Driveway Complaint on 311 (portal, app, or phone). You must give the exact street address. Photograph the break, missing section, or metal bar sticking out, then draft paste-ready text here if you want help — we prepare the text. You file it on 311. Nothing goes to 311 unless you send it.
Is a broken curb the same as a broken sidewalk?
No. A curb is the concrete edge between sidewalk and roadway. A broken sidewalk is the walking surface. Report sidewalk trip hazards as Broken Sidewalk; report the curb edge as a damaged curb. If both are bad, you can file both with clear photos of each.
What about a painted or defaced curb?
Illegally painted or defaced curbs are also reportable through 311 curb / defacement paths. DOT can inspect and notify the property owner to restore the curb. Describe the paint or marking and the exact address.
Related guides: How to report dog poop on the sidewalk in NYC · Food cart rules in NYC: placement & clearance · How to report blocked sidewalk in NYC · Report a broken sidewalk in NYC
SidewalkSnitch is an independent civic tool. Not affiliated with the City of New York and not a government 311 service.