How to Report Broken Streetlights, Potholes, and Park Problems to Chicago 311

Chicago residents can report non-emergency infrastructure issues like broken streetlights, potholes, and park problems through the city's 311 system. The article outlines the three reporting channels—phone, website, and app—and stresses the importance of providing precise location and problem details for effective service.

Caitlin O'Malley

October 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Chicago residents have three ways to report a non-emergency infrastructure problem: call 311, submit a request through the city's official 311 website, or use the CHI311 app on a phone. The City of Chicago lists all three channels for filing complaints, and once a request is submitted it is logged and assigned to the appropriate department, according to a neighborhood guide from the 28th Ward office. The most effective reports share one thing: precise location details, which the ward office says help crews find the problem faster.

Introduction to Chicago 311 for Infrastructure Issues

311 is the city's front door for service requests that are urgent enough to matter but not emergencies. The 28th Ward office, whose alderman represents part of Chicago's West Side, describes the system as the standard route for reporting issues like streetlight outages: residents submit a request through official city channels, the request is logged and assigned to the correct department, and the repair process begins from there.

The ward office frames reporting as a partnership. Residents who submit reports, it explains, help city departments allocate resources effectively, improve response times and service quality, and reduce the likelihood that problems linger unnoticed — a streetlight outage, for instance, might otherwise go unreported for a long stretch. Repairs for a reported streetlight "may take a few days depending on the severity of the issue and availability of parts," the office notes, but reporting is what starts the clock.

Two boundaries are worth keeping in mind. This process covers non-emergency service requests within Chicago's city limits; a situation involving immediate danger is a 911 matter, not a 311 ticket. And the guide below covers infrastructure and maintenance issues, not police reports, which follow their own process.

Chicago 311 Reporting Channels at a Glance

The City of Chicago's own complaint guidance is brief but complete on the channel question: residents can file a complaint by calling 311, by going online, or by using the CHI311 app on a phone. The table below organizes those three official channels side by side. Note that the city itself does not spell out an ideal use case for each channel; the "best for" column reflects the practical character of each method rather than official city instructions.

Chicago 311 Reporting Channels
Reporting Channel	How to Access	Best For…
Phone	Dial 311 from your phone	Direct communication with a person, or situations without easy digital access
Online Portal	Visit the city's official 311 website from any browser	Typing a detailed written description from a computer
Mobile App (CHI311)	Install the CHI311 app on your phone	Submitting a report on the spot, including photo evidence from the scene

All three routes reach the same underlying system, so the choice is mostly about convenience and comfort. A resident who wants to describe a problem in their own words to another person can call; a resident standing next to a flickering streetlight can open the app and file immediately; a resident at a desktop can use the web portal. The ward office confirms that online portals, phone numbers, and mobile apps are the channels cities, including Chicago, provide specifically for reporting infrastructure issues.

Essential Information for Effective Reporting

What separates a fast-moving request from a stalled one is the detail attached to it. The 28th Ward office is direct on this point: "When submitting a report provide as much detail as possible." Its guidance, written for streetlight outages, lays out a checklist that works as a template for most infrastructure reports.

Location first. Include the nearest address, intersection, or identifying landmarks. For a streetlight, the nearest address or intersection is the baseline.

The pole number, if there is one. The ward office advises: "If the pole has a number, include it in your request." A pole number removes all guesswork about which fixture is out.

The exact nature of the problem. For a streetlight, describe whether the light is completely out, flickering, or physically damaged. The office explains that "clear descriptions help technicians diagnose the issue before arriving on site."

Anything that helps a crew find the spot. The ward office's general principle — accurate location details help crews find the problem faster — applies equally to a pothole, an overflowing bin, or a park maintenance need.

One honest caveat: the specific, issue-by-issue requirements are documented only for streetlight outages, where the ward office spells out the address, pole number, and light-status details. The same evidence mentions potholes, garbage, and trees as reportable neighborhood problems, but does not itemize their reporting requirements. The streetlight checklist — exact location, any identifying number, and a clear description of the condition — is the best-supported template to carry over to those other requests.

Once you submit, the request is logged and assigned to the appropriate department, per the ward office. Save whatever confirmation number or service request ID the system gives you, because that identifier is what allows you to check the request's status afterward. Repair timelines vary with severity and parts availability, so the request number — not the calendar — is the reliable way to follow up.

Empowering Your Community: Making an Impact with 311

Chicago residents reporting non-emergency infrastructure issues should use whichever 311 channel fits the moment — a call to 311 for direct conversation, the online portal for a typed description, or the CHI311 app from the scene — and include precise details: exact address or intersection, a pole or fixture number where one exists, and a clear description of the condition. That is the difference between a crew that arrives knowing what to bring and one that has to hunt.

The measurable proof your report is working is the confirmation number or service request ID you receive after submission. Hold onto it, use it to track the request's status, and treat that ID as your follow-up tool — the concrete indicator that your streetlight, pothole, or park issue is logged and moving toward a repair.