Report a problem

Where to start

911, Find It Fix It, or the Customer Service Bureau

Seattle does not operate a 311 line. The Customer Service Bureau is the central catch-all; Find It, Fix It is the most common channel for visible city problems; 911 is for active emergencies. Most reports route fastest through one of these three channels, with a handful of direct department lines for time-sensitive or category-specific issues.

Honest take: Find It, Fix It removes most “who do I call?” uncertainty. The app's graffiti category asks WHAT the graffiti is on (parking meter, utility pole, building) and routes automatically to the right department. Same for most categories. When in doubt, file via the app — the city's internal routing handles the agency-by-agency split for you.

Find your channel

What you saw, who to tell

Use the table to find the recommended channel for each category. Most reports go through Find It, Fix It; some need a direct department line for time-sensitive or specialized issues.

Honest take: Seattle Police's own page admits their noise-complaint response on busy weekends prioritizes violent calls. Loud parties may end before officers arrive. The (206) 625-5011 non-emergency line is still the right channel — just don't expect a 30-minute response, especially after dark on weekends.

What reporting can and can't do

Honest expectations for each channel

Honest take: SDCI is honest about something most reporting systems aren't. Their own page says: “your complaint does not always lead to enforcement action. Sometimes the owner has already fixed the problem or the activity is not a violation under our authority. Sometimes we may not be able to see the violation.” File anyway — it adds to the city's picture — but set realistic expectations.

Direct lines

The numbers and portals worth saving