If you live in or are visiting Atlanta, Georgia, you’ll see “311” mentioned on signs, city trucks, and sometimes on bills or notices. Atlanta 311 is the city’s non‑emergency customer service line—your main way to report issues, ask questions, and get information about city services without calling 911.
This guide explains what 311 Atlanta is, how it works, what you can report, and the best way to use it as an Atlanta resident, commuter, or visitor.
Atlanta 311 is the City of Atlanta’s centralized non‑emergency information and service request center.
It connects you with city departments such as:
Think of 311 as the front door for city services when there is no immediate danger to life or property.
Use 311 for:
Use 911 for:
If you’re unsure, many Atlantans call 911 for any immediate threat and 311 for everything else involving city services.
You can reach Atlanta 311 in several ways:
Typical business hours are daytime and early evening on weekdays, with some weekend coverage for certain services. Hours can change, so it’s wise to listen to the phone menu or recorded message for current information.
Atlanta offers online 311 request portals and forms you can access through the City of Atlanta’s official website. You can typically:
Online options are useful if:
You can often get help in person with city services at or through:
Front‑desk staff can usually direct you to the correct department and may guide you on how to file a 311‑type request.
Atlanta 311 covers a wide range of everyday issues. Below are the most common types of requests residents ask about.
You can use 311 to handle:
Helpful to have ready:
311 can route requests to ATLDOT and related departments for:
For streetlights or traffic signals, you’ll want:
Requests are usually routed to the Department of Watershed Management:
⚠️ If you suspect a dangerous water or sewer emergency (like significant flooding threatening safety), you may need to call both Watershed and 911 for immediate hazard response.
311 is commonly used for:
These are typically routed to the Office of Code Enforcement for investigation.
Some nuisance or animal‑related issues can begin with 311:
Aggressive animals or dangerous situations should be reported to 911.
311 can connect you to Parks and Recreation or related departments for:
If you notice something hazardous (like sharp metal on equipment), you can also call 911 if there is an immediate safety risk, especially where children are playing.
| Issue Type | Examples You Can Report via 311 |
|---|---|
| Trash & Recycling | Missed pickup, broken bin, bulk item pickup |
| Roads & Traffic | Potholes, streetlight out, broken traffic signal |
| Water & Sewer | Non‑emergency leaks, backups in public lines, drainage |
| Code Enforcement | Overgrown lots, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles |
| Parks & Recreation | Damaged equipment, maintenance issues |
| Nuisances & Animals | Noise complaints, stray non‑aggressive animals |
When you contact Atlanta 311—by phone or online—here’s what usually happens:
You describe the issue
Provide your address, cross street, and a clear description. Photos (online) can help.
311 creates a service request
You’ll usually receive a service request number or confirmation.
The request is routed to the correct department
For example:
City staff review and schedule the work
Response times vary depending on the problem’s urgency, location, and workload.
You can follow up
If the issue is outside of the city’s responsibility (for example, on a state highway managed by the Georgia Department of Transportation), the city may redirect you or give you contact information.
A few simple practices can make your request more likely to be handled smoothly.
Include:
This matters especially for issues along long streets like Peachtree St or major corridors like Ponce de Leon Ave.
Instead of “trash issue,” try:
Specific information helps the city send the right crew with the right tools.
Use 911, not 311, when:
If you call 311 by mistake for an emergency, you’ll likely be told to hang up and call 911 immediately.
No. Anyone inside the City of Atlanta can call 311 about issues within city limits, whether you:
Just remember: 311 only handles issues within the City of Atlanta’s jurisdiction, not neighboring cities like Decatur, Sandy Springs, or College Park.
No. 311 is free to call from most phones, though your phone carrier’s standard voice or data charges may still apply if you’re using mobile minutes or data.
For many types of issues—especially code enforcement or nuisance complaints—you can often choose not to give your name. However:
If anonymity is important to you, mention this at the start of the call or in your online submission.
There are some issues that 311 cannot resolve directly, including:
If you’re not sure who has jurisdiction, 311 can still be a useful first call—operators often provide general guidance or point you toward the correct agency.
For many Atlantans, 311 has become part of everyday city living:
If you notice something around the city that looks like it needs attention—but it’s not an emergency—311 Atlanta is usually the right place to start.
