Every day, dozens of Providence residents contact our city government with requests for information and service covering everything from rat control to noise to speeding on our streets. Our biggest problem based on 311 calls? Getting rid of stuff – or the ways that other people get rid of their stuff.
The vast majority of these contacts are received through the Mayor’s Center for City Services, known as the 311 system for its speed dial number. Just dial 311 any Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30 to reach a real person who will listen to you and forward your request to the right city office or department. (If you just like more digits, dial (401) 421-2489.) Can’t wait until 8:30 Monday morning ? Make your request online – you will need to set up an account with your email and a password, but once you do, you can submit your complaint and also upload photos of the problem you want fixed. Or, you can always speak directly to your City Council member or the Mayor’s office – your request will also be recorded and tracked in the 311 system.
Here are few of the most frequent types of calls from the 104 categories used by the Mayor’s Center for City Services last year. For the complete tally of issues residents raised through the 311 system in 2023, scroll down.
18,722 Total number of contacts logged into the Providence 311 system in 2023, an average of 72 contacts per working day.
4,398 Calls received seeking information only, not requiring action.
14,324 Requests seeking action in response to a complaint or condition.
3,136 All requests related to trash and trash collection, 21% of all requests for action.
1,173 Residents complaining that their trash was not picked up.
1,003 Complaints about litter and waste on private property.
576 Complaints about litter and waste on public streets and public property.
132 Complaints about overflowing dumpsters.
503 Requests for repairs to existing sidewalks.
68 Requests for new sidewalk panels.
11 Complaints about sidewalks not shoveled after snow.
153 Requests for road repair or replacement.
499 Excessive noise complaints.
302 Complaints about graffiti on private property.
267 Contacts concerning street lights.
262 Reports of abandoned vehicles.
239 Complaints about speeding.
Source: The Mayor’s Center for City Services. We thank Norelys Consuegra at that office for her detailed reporting.
Jonathan Howard is Co-founder of Cause & Effect, Inc., a consulting company that provides strategic planning facilitation, fund development planning and board strengthening to mission-driven organizations. He is a long- time resident of Providence.
All 2023 calls to 311 by category – in order of frequency as provided by the Mayor’s Center for City Services.
2023Total cases reported: | Requests | Percent |
General information | 4398 | 23.5% |
Missed Trash/Recycling/Yard Waste pickup | 1173 | 6.3% |
Trash/debris on private property or sidewalk | 1003 | 5.4% |
Illegal Parking (on-street/overnight) | 989 | 5.3% |
Potholes | 838 | 4.5% |
Tree Related Issues | 837 | 4.5% |
Trash/litter on public street or property | 576 | 3.1% |
Substandard Housing Code Issues or Violations | 538 | 2.9% |
Sidewalk – Repair Existing | 503 | 2.7% |
Excessive Noise | 499 | 2.7% |
Street Sign Request | 498 | 2.7% |
I am unsure how to classify my issue. | 323 | 1.7% |
Graffiti – Private Property | 302 | 1.6% |
Overgrowth/High Grass on Private Property | 272 | 1.5% |
Street Light | 267 | 1.4% |
Abandoned Vehicles | 262 | 1.4% |
Maintenance at Parks and Recreational Facilities | 241 | 1.3% |
Speeding on Streets | 239 | 1.3% |
Traffic/Walk Signal Malfunction | 230 | 1.2% |
Public Safety Concern | 219 | 1.2% |
Bike & Scooter Issue | 217 | 1.2% |
Bins left out after trash day | 214 | 1.1% |
New Street Sign | 211 | 1.1% |
Housing Support Coordination | 198 | 1.1% |
Storm Drain/Catch Basin Blocked | 193 | 1.0% |
Other Animal Control Issue | 181 | 1.0% |
Trash/Recycling Bin Request Support | 162 | 0.9% |
Street Flooding | 153 | 0.8% |
Road Repair or Replacement | 153 | 0.8% |
Sinkhole | 150 | 0.8% |
Report Dead Domestic Animal | 136 | 0.7% |
Overflowing Dumpster | 132 | 0.7% |
Crosswalks and Road Striping | 129 | 0.7% |
Failed Utility Patch | 118 | 0.6% |
Sewage Backup | 115 | 0.6% |
Zoning Violations | 112 | 0.6% |
General Permit Issues | 103 | 0.6% |
Speed bumps/Traffic calming | 103 | 0.6% |
DAMAGED MANHOLE/UTILITY COVER | 99 | 0.5% |
Decorative Street Light | 97 | 0.5% |
Parking Meters/Kiosk Malfunction | 90 | 0.5% |
No Heat, Hot Water,Gas, or Electricity | 84 | 0.4% |
Downed wire or leaning utility pole | 83 | 0.4% |
Overgrowth/High Grass Public Property | 76 | 0.4% |
Rodent Baiting Support | 73 | 0.4% |
Illegal Housing | 73 | 0.4% |
General Comment or Concern | 73 | 0.4% |
Complaint about a Licensed Business | 70 | 0.4% |
Street Sweeping | 69 | 0.4% |
Sidewalk – Install New Panel | 68 | 0.4% |
City Council Intake | 66 | 0.4% |
Excessive Noise – Fireworks | 56 | 0.3% |
Bicycle Transportation and Infrastructure | 40 | 0.2% |
Handicap Parking Concerns | 39 | 0.2% |
Trash/recycling bin stolen/missing | 38 | 0.2% |
Abandoned Property | 38 | 0.2% |
Issues at a Construction Site | 34 | 0.2% |
Trash/Recycling Vendor Noise Complaint | 32 | 0.2% |
Broken Water Pipe | 29 | 0.2% |
Storm Drain/Catch Basin Damaged | 29 | 0.2% |
Mayor’s Office Intake (Internal) | 29 | 0.2% |
Fire Hydrant Issue | 27 | 0.1% |
Missing manhole/utility cover | 27 | 0.1% |
Snow Plowing, Salting or Sanding | 26 | 0.1% |
Report an Unlicensed Business or Illegal Vending | 26 | 0.1% |
Sidewalk -Tree Related | 22 | 0.1% |
Graffiti in a Park | 21 | 0.1% |
Curb Cutouts in Sidewalks | 20 | 0.1% |
Senior Services | 16 | 0.1% |
Report Discrimination | 15 | 0.1% |
North Burial Ground | 12 | 0.1% |
Snow – Un-shoveled Sidewalk | 11 | 0.1% |
Maintenance on Pedestrian Bridge | 10 | 0.1% |
Hate Crime | 9 | 0.0% |
Complaint about a City Employee | 8 | 0.0% |
Report Smell of Gas | 8 | 0.0% |
General Tax Assessor Questions | 7 | 0.0% |
Clean and Lien | 7 | 0.0% |
Abandoned Property Needs Reboarding | 7 | 0.0% |
Wheelchair Accessible Ramp – Private Property | 6 | 0.0% |
Request Birth/Death/Marriage Certificate | 6 | 0.0% |
Water Quality Concern | 5 | 0.0% |
Affordable Internet Program | 5 | 0.0% |
Guardrail – Repair Existing | 5 | 0.0% |
Wheelchair Accessible Ramp – City Property | 4 | 0.0% |
Graffiti – City Owned Property | 3 | 0.0% |
Faulty Plumbing, Raw Sewage | 3 | 0.0% |
Report Squatters in Abandoned Property | 3 | 0.0% |
Tax Collector (Problem Paying Taxes – Non Senior Constituents) | 3 | 0.0% |
School Facility Issues | 3 | 0.0% |
Plastic Bag Ban Complaint | 2 | 0.0% |
Tax Collector (Problem Paying Taxes – Senior Services) | 2 | 0.0% |
Student Transportation (First Student/RIPTA) (School) | 1 | 0.0% |
Public Property (Internal) | 1 | 0.0% |
ProvWater Engineering Issues | 1 | 0.0% |
Recreation Services | 1 | 0.0% |
Crossing Guards | 1 | 0.0% |
Tax Assessor (Senior Services) | 1 | 0.0% |
Problems with my Water Meter | 1 | 0.0% |
Tax Assessor (Non-Senior Constituents) | 1 | 0.0% |
Bike Path/Lanes | 1 | 0.0% |
Unspecified Type – Building | 1 | 0.0% |