What Pest Types Drive NYC's 311 Complaints?
A breakdown of the two primary pest complaint categories in NYC's 311 system — rodent complaints (rats and mice, routed to NYC DOHMH) and insect/vermin complaints (routed through NYC HPD).
Study period: January 2025 – June 2026 (18 months). Pull date: 2026-06-25.
135,766
Total pest complaints
92,958
Insect/vermin complaints (PESTS)
42,808
Rodent complaints
What kinds of rodent complaints does NYC receive?
NYC 311 records rodent complaints with sub-type descriptors. "Rat Sighting" — a resident seeing a live rat — is by far the most common sub-type, representing 64% of all rodent complaints filed between January 2025 – June 2026 (18 months). The descriptor breakdown reveals that most complaints involve direct rat observation rather than secondary evidence.
| Complaint Sub-Type (Descriptor) | Count | % of Rodent Total |
|---|---|---|
| Rat Sighting | 27,559 | 64% |
| Condition Attracting Rodents | 8,859 | 21% |
| Signs of Rodents | 4,694 | 11% |
| Mouse Sighting | 1,696 | 4% |
Source: NYC 311 Open Data (erm2-nwe9), complaint_type='Rodent'. Pull date: 2026-06-25.
Do insects/vermin complaints and rodent complaints hit the same boroughs?
The geographic distribution differs significantly between the two pest categories. Rodent complaints are led by Brooklyn (36% of the citywide total), while insect/vermin (PESTS) complaints are concentrated in The Bronx (33% of total) — reflecting the Bronx's large pre-war multi-family housing stock, which is particularly prone to roach and vermin harborage conditions per NYC HPD enforcement records.
Rodent Complaints by Borough
| Borough | Complaints | % |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 15,266 | 36% |
| Manhattan | 11,371 | 27% |
| Queens | 7,630 | 18% |
| The Bronx | 6,951 | 16% |
| Staten Island | 1,590 | 4% |
Source: erm2-nwe9, complaint_type='Rodent'. Pull date: 2026-06-25.
Insect/Vermin (PESTS) Complaints by Borough
| Borough | Complaints | % |
|---|---|---|
| The Bronx | 30,566 | 33% |
| Brooklyn | 27,533 | 30% |
| Manhattan | 19,566 | 21% |
| Queens | 13,207 | 14% |
| Staten Island | 2,086 | 2% |
Source: erm2-nwe9, descriptor='PESTS'. Pull date: 2026-06-25.
Do different pest types peak at different times of year?
Yes — and the gap is striking. Rodent complaints peaked in June 2025 at their summer high, while insect/vermin complaints peaked in October 2025 — a 4-month offset. Insect/vermin peak month (October 2025): 6,386 complaints. Insect/vermin winter low (February 2025): 3,784 complaints.
This offset reflects distinct pest behavior: rats forage outdoors in summer heat and become more visible; cockroaches and other indoor insects migrate into heated buildings as temperatures drop in fall — making them more likely to be noticed and reported to NYC 311. Full methodology →
| Month | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 5,041 |
| Feb 2025 | 3,784 |
| Mar 2025 | 4,258 |
| Apr 2025 | 4,263 |
| May 2025 | 4,623 |
| Jun 2025 | 4,991 |
| Jul 2025 | 6,177 |
| Aug 2025 | 5,802 |
| Sep 2025 | 6,186 |
| Oct 2025 | 6,386 |
| Nov 2025 | 5,219 |
| Dec 2025 | 5,033 |
| Jan 2026 | 5,711 |
| Feb 2026 | 4,569 |
| Mar 2026 | 5,090 |
| Apr 2026 | 5,216 |
| May 2026 | 6,021 |
| Jun 2026 (partial) | 4,588 |
Source: erm2-nwe9, complaint_type='UNSANITARY CONDITION', descriptor='PESTS'. Pull date: 2026-06-25.