Manhattan: Rodent Report 2025–2026
Manhattan ranked #2 among the five boroughs with 11,371 NYC 311 rodent complaints (27% of the citywide total).
Study period: 1 Jan 2025 – 25 Jun 2026. Source: NYC 311 Open Data + DOHMH Rodent Inspections. Pull date: 2026-06-25.
11,371
311 rodent complaints (2025–2026)
#2
citywide rank (most complaints)
16%
inspections failed for rat activity (all-time)
What drives rodent complaints in Manhattan?
Manhattan ranks second with 11,371 complaints. ZIP 10035 (East Harlem) is the single highest-complaint ZIP in the entire city with 1,463 complaints — driven by the density of Rat Mitigation Zones along the Harlem corridor and proximity to Central Park's green edges. The Upper West Side (10025, 10024) also appears in the top 20 city-wide.
NYC Rat Mitigation Zones in Manhattan
The NYC DOHMH has designated the following Manhattan neighborhoods as Rat Mitigation Zones: East Harlem, Central Harlem, Inwood. These designations concentrate city abatement resources and increase DOHMH inspection frequency for property owners.
Which Manhattan ZIP codes have the most rat complaints?
The following Manhattan ZIP codes appear in the top 20 citywide for rodent complaints during the study period.
| ZIP | Neighborhood | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 10035 | East Harlem | 1,463 |
| 10025 | Upper West Side | 798 |
| 10027 | Harlem | 685 |
| 10024 | Upper West Side | 641 |
| 10031 | Hamilton Heights | 546 |
Source: NYC 311 Open Data (erm2-nwe9). Only ZIPs in the citywide top 20 are shown here; full ZIP-level data available via NYC Open Data.
How do DOHMH rodent inspections break down in Manhattan?
Manhattan has by far the most inspections with 627,463 passing results all-time, reflecting the scale of DOHMH enforcement activity. Bait applications (138,140) and rat-activity failures (123,677 + 33,487 combined) are both the highest of any borough. Property owners in Manhattan are legally required under NYC Health Code to keep their properties rat-free. A failed Initial Inspection triggers a Compliance Inspection; documented abatement is the owner's burden.
| Result | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Passed | 627,463 | 64% |
| Bait applied | 138,140 | 14% |
| Failed for Rat Activity | 123,677 | 13% |
| Failed for Rat Activity and Other Reason | 33,487 | 3% |
| Failed for Other Reason | 33,295 | 3% |
| Monitoring visit | 15,806 | 2% |
| Stoppage done | 7,666 | 1% |
| Cleanup done | 206 | 0% |
Source: DOHMH Rodent Inspections (p937-wjvj). All-time records through 2026-06-25.
Looking for a licensed exterminator in Manhattan?
Big Apple Pest Solutions is a licensed NYC pest control operator serving Manhattan and all five boroughs. NYC property owners facing active rodent infestations have a legal obligation to remediate under NYC Health Code — professional exclusion and abatement is the documented-compliance path.