How Detroit Residents Can Report City Problems: Blight, Potholes, Water And Street Issues

Updated July 27, 2026. Detroit residents can report many city problems online or through official department channels. The important step is to document the issue clearly, keep the confirmation number, and follow up if the condition creates a safety risk or affects public health.

Use The City’s Report A Problem Page

The City of Detroit’s Report a Problem page points residents to the Improve Detroit web application and mobile reporting paths. It is the starting point for many resident complaints, including blight-related issues and service requests.

What Residents Commonly Report

• Blight, dumping, unsafe vacant property conditions, and neighborhood code concerns.
• Potholes, sinkholes, sidewalk issues, road hazards, snow or street maintenance concerns.
• Water, sewer, drainage, lead service line, or billing questions that need DWSD review.
• Streetlight outages, traffic-safety concerns, and public-space hazards.
• Tree trimming, downed limbs, park concerns, and other quality-of-life issues.

Make The Report Easier To Act On

• Use the closest address or intersection and include landmarks if the location is hard to identify.
• Add clear photos from more than one angle when possible.
• Include dates, times, repeated incidents, license plates only when relevant, and safety details.
• Save the confirmation number and screenshot the report before closing the app or browser.
• If the problem involves immediate danger, call emergency services instead of relying on a web report.

Residents searching for Detroit blight complaint, Detroit pothole report, Improve Detroit app, Detroit city service request, or how to report dumping in Detroit can use this guide as a plain-language checklist before filing the official request.

For related help with housing, food, tax, and city services, visit the Detroit Assistance Programs guide.