How Detroit Residents Can Report Potholes, Blight, Illegal Dumping And City Problems

Last checked July 21, 2026. Detroit residents searching for how to report potholes, blight, illegal dumping, running water, damaged signs, abandoned vehicles, rental problems, or other neighborhood issues should start with the City’s official reporting routes and keep a record of every request.

Fastest Starting Points

• Improve Detroit: use the city’s service request system for many neighborhood and quality-of-life problems.
• City Report Problem page: use this page when you need the city to route a complaint category, such as blight, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, homelessness, crime reporting, or dead animals.
• Emergency: call or text 911 if there is immediate danger.
• Need food, housing, utility, or financial assistance too: use Just Say OK’s Detroit Assistance Programs hub.

What To Save Before You Submit

• Address, cross street, or nearest landmark.
• Clear photos or video when it is safe to take them.
• Date and time you noticed the problem.
• Any prior complaint or service request number.
• Names, badge numbers, department names, or phone numbers if you already spoke with someone.

When A City Complaint Is Not Enough

Some Detroit problems are connected. A blight complaint may also be a renter safety issue. A water complaint may also mean a household needs water affordability help. A property-tax problem may connect to housing instability. Use these Just Say OK guides when the issue is bigger than one service request:

• Detroit Renter Help And How To Report City Problems
• Detroit Food, Housing, Water And Utility Help
• Wayne County Property Tax Help For Detroit Residents

Just Say OK will keep tracking Detroit city-service access, resident complaint routes, public meetings, and accountability follow-up so residents can find the right public path without starting from scratch.