Rat or Mouse Complaint

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You can report rats and mice, as well as conditions that might attract rodents, in locations including but not limited to:

  • Restaurants and other food establishments
  • Food markets, warehouses, or processors
  • Bus, subway and train stations
  • Residential rental buildings
  • NYCHA public housing
  • Parks
  • Schools
  • Vacant lots
  • Other places such as sidewalks, sewers, and streets

How the complaint is handled depends on where the problem is.

You can report rats or mice in a restaurant, cafe, bar, deli, bakery, cafeteria, lunchroom, soup kitchen, bakery or any other place where food is served. You can also report conditions in these locations that might attract rats.

To report rats, mice, or droppings in food, go to the Food Safety Complaint page.

You can report rats or mice or their droppings in a grocery, supermarket, farmers market, fish market, beverage store, food warehouse, or food processing location.

Online

Report rats or mice in a food market, warehouse, or processing location.

By Phone

  • Agency: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
  • Phone Number: (718) 722-2876
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Report rats or mice in bus, subway, and train stations to whichever agency manages the property:

Mice

You can report mice or conditions that might attract them inside or outside a residential building.

Inside

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) accepts complaints for inside an apartment or residential building.

Report mice or conditions that might attract them:

Outside

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) accepts complaints for outside the building.

Rats

You can report rats or conditions that might attract them on a residential property to DOHMH.

NYCHA Public Housing

To report rats, mice, or conditions that might attract them in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing, go to the  NYCHA Public Housing Maintenance Complaint page.

A vacant lot is a plot of land without any building or a building foundation, such as a concrete floor.

Dirty Lots

Owners of vacant lots are required to keep them clean and free of trash and debris.

You can report excessive trash and debris in a vacant lot that is attracting or may attract rats or mice to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

What You Need

Your report should describe:

  • The contents of the lot
  • If the lot is fenced or not

What Happens Next

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will inspect the lot. If the lot needs cleaning, DSNY will research the ownership of the property.

Then the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will give the owner a deadline to clean it. If the owner fails to meet the deadline, DSNY may clean the lot and charge the owner.

Empty Lots

You can report rats or mice in vacant lots that don’t contain trash or debris to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

You can report rats, mice, or conditions that might attract them:

  • On commercial property with a structure or building on it
  • On sidewalks
  • In sewers
  • On streets

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