For general non-emergency City of Detroit phone numbers, dial 311 from inside the city, or (313) 224-3111 if you’re calling from a cell phone or from outside city limits. For emergencies, call 911. Beyond those two anchors, nearly every department runs its own direct line, and reaching the right one the first time saves a lot of transfers. The directory below covers the numbers most residents actually need.
311 for Non-Emergency Service Requests
Dialing 311 connects you to the city’s non-emergency service request system. Use it for potholes, illegal dumping, damaged street signs, streetlight outages, running fire hydrants, blight, and overgrown lots. From outside the city or from a cell phone that doesn’t route 311 correctly, call (313) 224-3111.
You can also skip the call. The Improve Detroit app, available for Apple and Android, uses your location to pinpoint the issue and lets you upload a photo before dispatch. Status updates arrive as the request moves through the system, and the same submission form is on the city’s website for desktop users.1City of Detroit. Improve Detroit
Water and Sewerage
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) runs billing, shutoffs, water quality questions, main breaks, and sewer backups through a single number: (313) 267-8000. The line is staffed around the clock for emergencies.2City of Detroit. DWSD Customer Service
If you’re behind on your bill, DWSD assistance programs are reached at that same (313) 267-8000 number, including the Lifeline Plan for income-qualified households and the EasyPay Plan for past-due balances. Low-income residents needing plumbing repairs can call (313) 386-9728. The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) offers water assistance at 800-866-8429, and United Way’s 2-1-1 line connects you to other resources.3City of Detroit. DWSD is Here to Help – Water Assistance Programs
Taxes, Assessments, and Treasury
Property tax bills, special assessments, and payment questions go through the Office of the Treasury at (313) 224-3560. The Detroit Taxpayer Service Center also takes email at DTSC@detroitmi.gov.4City of Detroit. Office of the Treasury
Detroit’s city income tax has a separate line at (313) 224-3315 for filing questions, refund status, and withholding. Non-residents claiming an allocation under 100% should have their employer letter and work log ready before calling.5City of Detroit. Income Tax Information
Property assessment disputes and appointments with an appraiser go through the Office of the Assessor at (313) 224-3035, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.6City of Detroit. Office of the Assessor
Detroit Police Non-Emergency
Life-safety emergencies always go to 911. For everything else, the Detroit Police Department uses a layered system.
The Telephone Crime Reporting line at (313) 267-4600 takes reports for incidents already over, including break-ins, auto theft, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, noise complaints, and neighbor disputes. It also handles open fire hydrants and people in police custody.7City of Detroit. Report Crime
Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs) handle recurring quality-of-life issues like persistent noise, loitering, or traffic problems on a specific block. The Chief Neighborhood Police Liaison can be reached at (313) 596-2520, and the NPO finder on the department’s website matches officers to addresses.8City of Detroit. Precincts and Neighborhood Police Officers For direct precinct lines:
- Downtown Services: (313) 237-2850
- 2nd Precinct: (313) 596-5200
- 3rd Precinct: (313) 596-1909
- 5th Precinct: (313) 596-5500
- 8th Precinct: (313) 596-5800
- 9th Precinct: (313) 596-5900
- 12th Precinct: (313) 596-1200
All twelve precincts are listed on the department’s site.8City of Detroit. Precincts and Neighborhood Police Officers
Fire Department Non-Emergency
Fire emergencies go through 911. For administrative questions, fire inspections, and burn permits, the Detroit Fire Department’s main number is (313) 596-2900.9City of Detroit. Communications
Parking Tickets
To pay or dispute a parking ticket, call the Municipal Parking Department at (313) 221-2500, or reach the Parking Violations Bureau directly at (313) 963-9630. Online payment is also available through the city’s website.10City of Detroit. Pay Parking Ticket
Building Permits, Inspections, and Zoning
The Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) handles construction permits, building inspections, zoning compliance, and property maintenance enforcement at (313) 224-2733. Inspectors cover electrical, plumbing, mechanical, elevator, and boiler work along with general building inspections. The same number takes reports of building code violations.11City of Detroit. Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department
Public Works, Bulk Waste, and Dead Animal Pickup
The Department of Public Works main office is (313) 224-3901 for street sweeping, trash collection schedules, and road maintenance questions.12City of Detroit. Contacts for Detroit Department of Public Works
To schedule a paid bulk item pickup for furniture, construction debris, or large yard waste, call the DPW Solid Waste Division at (313) 876-0004.13City of Detroit. Paid Pick-Up Bulk Collection Service Dead animal removal from a property or street also goes through DPW at (313) 628-4268.
Animal Control and Cruelty Reporting
Detroit Animal Care and Control takes stray reports, missing dog calls, and other animal concerns at (313) 922-DOGS (3647). To report neglect or abuse, call the Michigan Humane Cruelty Hotline at (313) 872-3401. Animal situations where a person is in danger go to 911.14City of Detroit. Animal Control
Mayor’s Office and City Council
The Mayor’s Office, in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, is (313) 224-3400. Use it for constituent concerns that don’t fit one department or for citywide policy questions.15City of Detroit. Mayor’s Office
For neighborhood issues, zoning concerns, or legislative questions, contact your district’s City Council office. A few of the direct lines:
- District 1 (James Tate): (313) 224-1027
- District 2 (Angela Whitfield-Calloway): (313) 224-4535
- District 3 (Scott Benson): (313) 224-1198
- District 5 (Mary Sheffield, Council President): (313) 224-4505
The full council directory and staff contacts are available on the city’s website, which also has an address lookup for identifying your district.16Detroit Government. Staff Directory
City Clerk, Vital Records, and FOIA
The City Clerk’s Office handles vital records, public documents, and official city business at (313) 224-3270. The office is in Suite 200 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.17City of Detroit. City Clerk’s Office
Before filing a Freedom of Information Act request, the city suggests checking the open data portal at data.detroitmi.gov. Formal FOIA requests can be emailed to FOIA@detroitmi.gov or faxed to (313) 224-5505. Water department records go through a separate DWSD FOIA portal, and police records follow their own process.18City of Detroit. Submit A FOIA Request
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Staff can help you faster if you have a few things in front of you. For tax calls, pull your property parcel number from your annual assessment notice or the city’s online parcel viewer. For water issues, keep a recent utility statement handy for your account number. If you’re following up on an existing complaint, have the ticket number or reference ID ready. Non-residents calling about income tax should have their employer verification letter and work log before dialing, since the Income Tax Division needs both to process an allocation claim.5City of Detroit. Income Tax Information