Department of Sanitation calling for help spotting ‘Sidewalk Slobs’

NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York City’s Department of Sanitation is calling on residents who see something to say something about “Sidewalk Slobs.”

The department launched a new website that allows people to report property owners who don’t clean up their side of the pavement. Businesses are required to maintain the sidewalk and 18 inches of the street outside their properties, according to DSNY. Sanitation workers can issue summons and fines of up to $500 for those breaking the law.

Anyone who sees a “Sidewalk Slob” can upload photos of the mess and report the business on DSNY’s website.

The worst of the worst will find themselves in the Hall of Shame . Some slobs already inaugurated include a business at 130 First Ave. in Manhattan and a pharmacy at 1281 Fulton St. in Brooklyn.

Since the start of the year, the agency has issued over 123,000 summonses for cleanliness including for dirty sidewalks and failure to clean, according to DSNY. Compared to 2022, violations for cleanliness went up 60% in 2023.

A representative for DSNY told PIX11 News the organization has already received more than 100 reports since launching the website, all of which it’s currently investigating.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here .

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