Trash, Code Violations Top Austin 311 Complaints in 2025

In 2025, Austin residents filed 297,985 service requests through 311. Trash-related calls, particularly reporting missed garbage collection, topped the list citywide. Austin Resource Recovery spokesperson Paul Bestgen stated, "that can occur for a variety of reasons, including late or improper cart set-outs or operational issues like damaged trucks or weather." Similar issues drove complaints about compost and recycling pick-up.

Requests for code officers ranked second, typically involving land use violations, property maintenance, unsafe structures, and work done without permits, according to Austin 311 spokesperson Brynn McCurley.

Austin Resource Recovery, overseeing garbage, recycling, and bulk pickup, handled the largest share of routed requests. The Transportation and Public Works Department, managing parking enforcement, infrastructure issues, and transportation complaints, received the next highest number. Austin Animal Services followed, responding to lost or found pets and wildlife concerns.

About 10,340 complaints originated from areas outside city limits. Austin 311 spokesperson Michael Schoppe noted, "Not every department responds to calls outside Austin’s boundaries, and each follows its own process for handling them."

Downtown Austin generated the most 311 calls within city limits in 2025, with 12,391 complaints, compared to 9,418 from Bluff Springs, the second-highest neighborhood. The most common downtown complaint was parking violation enforcement. It also received the highest number of "outdoor commercial venue music" complaints—1,643 total, versus 411 in runner-up District 3. Issues with electric scooters and bikes drew 1,064 calls downtown, compared to 206 in District 3.

Austin City Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, whose district encompasses downtown, acknowledged the area historically generates the most 311 requests. He said, "It is a sign of the district’s busyness — and its population of savvy residents and business owners 'who know how to access city services and expect a response,' rather than an indicator that it has an outsized share of unhappy residents." In a written statement, Qadri added, "District 9’s higher share of 311 requests reflects, in large part, a dense, highly active part of the city where residents, workers, and visitors are consistently engaging with city services and importantly feel comfortable using 311 to do so." He noted 311 usage and awareness are not evenly distributed citywide.

In 2022, District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes sponsored a resolution directing the city manager to explore ways to expand 311 access and awareness. In January, the city launched a fully translated Spanish experience in the 311 app. Fuentes said, "I strongly believe in 311 as a tool for the community. It's how we ensure that Austin residents can have trust and faith in the city of Austin and the delivery of city services, especially since their taxpayer dollars are paying for service."

The three ways to submit a 311 complaint:

• Call 311
• Use Austin's 311 mobile app
• Visit austin311.org

About the data

The data used was from the Austin open data portal. This analysis only includes 311 service requests. Some 311 contacts resolved directly with ambassadors are not represented in public data and are excluded. One complaint may appear multiple times if residents contact 311 repeatedly about the same issue.