About the Data

How does NYC 311 categorize pest complaints?

NYC 311 routes pest complaints to different agencies depending on the type of pest and property classification. Rodent complaints (complaint_type='Rodent') go to NYC DOHMH. Insect and vermin complaints in residential buildings (UNSANITARY CONDITION — PESTS) are routed primarily through NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Together, these two channels captured 135,766 pest-related complaints between January 2025 and June 2026 (2026-06-25).

What agency handles which pest type?

• Rodents (rats and mice):NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) — conducts inspections, applies bait, and issues violations. Dataset: DOHMH Rodent Inspections (p937-wjvj).
• Insects and other vermin (cockroaches, bedbugs, flies):NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) — enforces housing maintenance code; landlords are required to exterminate vermin under the NYC Housing Maintenance Code §27-2018.

Is the Infestation Index affiliated with the City of New York?

No. The Infestation Index is an independent data journalism project not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the City of New York, HPD, DOHMH, or any other NYC agency. All data sourced from NYC Open Data under the CC BY 4.0 license.

How often is the data updated?

NYC Open Data datasets are updated continuously. These figures were pulled on 2026-06-25. See the methodology page for exact queries.