City Council Member Susan Zhuang introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to inspect buildings within 10 days of a 311 complaint related to rats, mice or other pests.
The bill, Intro 1217, aims to improve transparency and accountability in the city’s response to pest-related complaints by ensuring timely inspections and making findings publicly accessible online.
Zhuang, who represents neighborhoods including Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst, said her office receives daily complaints about infestations.
“Our residents call 311 but never hear anything back,” Zhuang said during the March 12 City Council meeting. “People deserve to know what happens and what DOH has done within 10 days.”
If enacted, the legislation would mandate that DOHMH publish inspection records online, including details about building conditions and inspectors’ observations. The public would then be able to track pest issues in their neighborhoods in real-time.
“New Yorkers are tired of living alongside rats and other pests,” Zhuang said in a statement. “This bill not only speeds up inspections but also makes the process more transparent.”
She emphasized that pest infestations pose a public health risk and that greater visibility into the city’s response would allow residents and agencies to address problem areas more effectively.
“Pest infestations aren’t just a nuisance — they’re a public health risk,” she added. “This bill ensures we’re holding the city accountable, addressing complaints quickly, and providing communities with the information they need to stay informed.”
A DOHMH representative declined to comment on the pending legislation and emphasized the Adams administration’s ongoing efforts to combat rodent infestations through a comprehensive pest management strategy.
Key initiatives enacted by the administration so far include the appointment of a citywide director of rodent mitigation, known as the “rat czar,” who oversees a multi-agency task force focused on improving pest control, education, and enforcement. The administration has also introduced Rat Mitigation Zones, increased inspections, and expanded public engagement programs such as Rat Academy workshops and “Rat Walks” to educate residents on rodent behavior.
Additionally, the city’s push to containerize waste — requiring 70% of all trash to be stored in bins — has shown early success. Data from 311 reports indicate a downward trend in rat sightings, with complaints dropping 5% citywide and 15% in Rat Mitigation Zones from 2022 to 2024. In the first two months of the new trash bin regulations, rat sightings dropped over 20% year-over-year, per the DOHMH.
The city agency also noted that its latest performance report showed an increase in pest control inspections, a decline in rat activity, and faster response times to rodent complaints compared to the previous year.
However, despite the city-wide downturn in reports, 311 complaints in Brooklyn have remained at around the same level. In 2024, the city received over 15,099 rodent complaints in the borough, 15,762 in 2023, and 15,034 in 2022, according to public data.
In Zhuang’s district so far this year, 95 complaints have been lodged in the area covering Community Board 7, 69 in CB10, 55 in CB11, 49 in CB12, 37 in CB13, and 33 in CB15.
