How to Report a Problem to the City of Trenton

A pothole that swallows a tire, a missed trash pickup, a water main gushing into the street, an illegal dump on a vacant lot. When something in the city needs fixing, knowing exactly who to call gets it handled faster. Here is a practical guide to reporting problems to the City of Trenton and reaching the department that can actually solve them.

Start with the city’s Report an Issue page

The City of Trenton keeps a Report an Issue page on its website that routes common complaints to the right place. It is the simplest starting point, but for anything urgent, a direct phone call to the responsible department is usually faster.

Trash, recycling, streets, and dumping

Most of these fall under the Department of Public Works. Based on the city’s published contacts:

• Trash pickup questions or special pickups: 609-989-3175.
• Street and alley cleaning: 609-989-3200.
• Illegal dumping or poorly maintained vacant and rental properties: 609-989-3563.
• Boarding and cleaning of city-owned vacant buildings: 609-989-3163.

Numbers do change, so if one has moved, the Report an Issue page or the main city line will redirect you.

Water and sewer problems

Water service in the city is run by Trenton Water Works, a municipal utility. For a water main break, a leak, or a damaged hydrant, call the 24-hour emergency line at 609-989-3222. For billing and account questions, the customer service line is 609-989-3055, and the office is at 333 Cortland Street. Winter is the season when water and heat emergencies spike, which is why we cover winter storms and emergency alerts separately.

When a written record matters

For anything where you may need proof later, a recurring code violation, a safety hazard, a dispute, follow up your call with something in writing, and keep a copy. If the city has records you need to see, New Jersey’s open-records law gives you a right to request them; our guide on filing an OPRA request walks through how. And if a problem is really a policy question, that is decided at the council level, which we cover in following Trenton City Council.

Setting up a business and need a permit or a zoning answer rather than a repair? Start with our guide to starting a business in Trenton. More local coverage is in our Local News section.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a pothole or street problem in Trenton?

Contact the Department of Public Works, or use the city’s Report an Issue page online. For street and alley cleaning the city lists 609-989-3200; the Report an Issue page routes other street concerns.

Who do I call for a water emergency in Trenton?

Trenton Water Works runs a 24-hour emergency line at 609-989-3222 for water main breaks, leaks, and damaged hydrants. For billing, call customer service at 609-989-3055.

How do I report illegal dumping?

Call the city’s line for illegal dumping and neglected properties, listed as 609-989-3563, or report it through the city’s Report an Issue page.

Phone numbers and city services can change. Confirm current contacts on trentonnj.org.