Queens: Rodent Report 2025–2026
Queens ranked #3 among the five boroughs with 7,630 NYC 311 rodent complaints (18% 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.
7,630
311 rodent complaints (2025–2026)
#3
citywide rank (most complaints)
14%
inspections failed for rat activity (all-time)
What drives rodent complaints in Queens?
Queens filed 7,630 complaints, placing it third. Ridgewood (11385, 780 complaints) is the borough's most-complained ZIP, followed by areas in Jackson Heights and Flushing. Queens' commercial corridors — Roosevelt Avenue, Main Street Flushing — concentrate food waste close to residential blocks.
NYC Rat Mitigation Zones in Queens
The NYC DOHMH has designated the following Queens neighborhoods as Rat Mitigation Zones: Jackson Heights. These designations concentrate city abatement resources and increase DOHMH inspection frequency for property owners.
Which Queens ZIP codes have the most rat complaints?
The following Queens ZIP codes appear in the top 20 citywide for rodent complaints during the study period.
| ZIP | Neighborhood | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 11385 | Ridgewood | 780 |
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 Queens?
Queens shows a distinctive inspection pattern: 'Failed for Other Reason' (55,104) substantially exceeds 'Failed for Rat Activity' (19,795), suggesting a higher proportion of harborage and sanitation violations relative to active rat signs. Property owners in Queens 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 | 124,884 | 50% |
| Failed for Other Reason | 55,104 | 22% |
| Bait applied | 32,490 | 13% |
| Failed for Rat Activity | 19,795 | 8% |
| Failed for Rat Activity and Other Reason | 14,018 | 6% |
| Monitoring visit | 2,660 | 1% |
| Cleanup done | 1,084 | 0% |
| Stoppage done | 44 | 0% |
Source: DOHMH Rodent Inspections (p937-wjvj). All-time records through 2026-06-25.