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SidewalkSnitch · Guide
How to report a dirty sidewalk in NYC
Last updated: 2026-10-22
SidewalkSnitch is an independent civic tool. Not affiliated with the City of New York and not a government 311 service.
The property owner must keep the sidewalk next to the property clean. A 311 Dirty Sidewalk report goes to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). This guide tells you who must clean, what the fines are and how to report it.
Who must clean the sidewalk
The property owner must clean and sweep the sidewalk, the tree beds and the gutter next to the property. The duty also covers 18 inches into the street from the curb. This rule applies even if someone else made the mess. (311 KA-01803; Admin Code §16-118(2)(a))
Fines: $50 to $500
A first ticket is $50. For a building that is only residential, a second or third ticket in 12 months is $100. For a commercial, manufacturing, industrial or mixed-use building, a second ticket in 12 months is $300, and a third is $500. (Admin Code §16-118(9)(a)(2)–(3))
| Building | 1st ticket | 2nd (12 months) | 3rd and more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential only | $50 | $100 | $100 |
| Commercial or mixed-use | $50 | $300 | $500 |
What you can report
You can report loose trash, stray garbage bags and broken glass on the sidewalk or in the tree beds. You cannot report a one-time occurrence of littering. You can report a place where people litter again and again. (311 KA-01803)
How to file a Dirty Sidewalk report on 311
- Photograph the trash and the front of the building. Show the house number.
- Go to the 311 web portal and open the Dirty Sidewalk report. Say if it is loose trash, garbage bags or broken glass.
- Give the address of the building next to the dirty sidewalk.
- Save your Service Request Number.
What happens next
DSNY inspects the location during the enforcement routing time for the address. If the condition is there at that time, DSNY may give the property owner a summons. DSNY does not clean it up. (311 KA-01803)
DSNY's Sidewalk Slobs campaign
In July 2024, DSNY started "Sidewalk Slobs". You can report a property owner who does not clean, and DSNY shows the worst ones in a "Hall of Shame". DSNY says fines for repeat offenders can be up to $500. (DSNY; ABC7, July 23, 2024)
Dirty sidewalk or something else?
- Trash that spills from a public litter basket: overflowing trash can
- A large pile dumped on public property: illegal dumping
- Dog waste: dog poop on the sidewalk
- Bags or bins that block the walk: blocked sidewalk
Report a dirty sidewalk
Photograph the condition and the building frontage it sits in front of.
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 must clean the sidewalk in NYC?
The owner of the property next to it. This includes the tree beds, the gutter and 18 inches into the street from the curb. (311 KA-01803)
What is the fine for a dirty sidewalk?
$50 for a first ticket. A second or third ticket in 12 months is $100 for a building that is only residential. For a commercial or mixed-use building, it is $300 for a second ticket and $500 for a third. (Admin Code §16-118(9))
Will DSNY clean the sidewalk?
No. DSNY may give the property owner a summons, but it does not clean the sidewalk. (311 KA-01803)
Can I report one person who drops litter?
No. 311 does not take a one-time occurrence of littering. You can report a place where people litter again and again. (311 KA-01803)
Related guides: How to report dog poop on the sidewalk in NYC · Report a dumpster blocking a sidewalk in NYC · Food cart rules in NYC: placement & clearance · How to report blocked sidewalk in NYC
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