How to Report a Pothole to Your City

Most U.S. cities with more than ~50,000 people run a 311 service for non-emergency reports. You can call 311 from any phone inside city limits, or use the web form or app — search '[your city] 311' to find it. This is the right starting point 90% of the time.

311 routes your report to the public works / streets department and opens a case number. Keep the number. If nothing happens, that number is what unlocks escalation. Without a case number the city has no record that you reported anything.

Three pieces of information get potholes fixed fast: precise location, size estimate, and a photo if you can take one. 'Pothole on 23rd Street' is too vague for dispatch. '23rd Street between Valencia and Mission, northbound lane, about 2 feet wide and 4 inches deep' gets a truck scheduled.

Phone reports are good for precision (you can describe it to a human). App reports are good for photos (they attach automatically and usually have GPS). Pick the mode that gets the best information in. Don't overthink it.

If you've reported a pothole via 311 and nothing has happened in 3 weeks, escalate to your city council member for that district. Cities have SLAs on pothole repair (usually 30-60 days depending on severity) and council staff can ping the department to check on specific cases.

In the message to council, include: your 311 case number, the date you first reported, the location, and that you're asking them to check the status with public works. You're not asking them to fix it — you're asking them to unstick the existing process.