Describe the problem and find the right report, request, or phone number without sorting through City departments.
Official instructions checked · September 10, 2026
Call 911 for a crime in progress, fire, medical emergency, immediate threat, or serious crash with injuries.
For a police matter that is not an immediate threat, call Milwaukee Police’s non-emergency line.
Click4Action is the City of Milwaukee’s online service-request system. It routes routine reports to the appropriate department and provides a tracking number for follow-up.
Use everyday words. You do not need to know which department handles it.
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Report a pothole, pavement failure, crack, or other street damage.
Open Click4Action and search for “Pothole” or the closest street-maintenance request.
Have ready: The nearest address or intersection and a description of the location.
Official source: City street-maintenance reporting guidanceReport a light that is dark, always on, flickering, or otherwise malfunctioning.
Use Click4Action and choose “Street Light Out” or “Alley Light Out.”
For exposed or downed wires, keep away and call 414-286-CITY immediately.
Have ready: The pole location, nearest address, and pole number when visible.
Official source: City street-lighting reporting guidanceReport a signal outage or a missing, damaged, or obscured traffic sign.
Call 414-286-CITY for a signal outage or critical STOP, YIELD, ONE-WAY, or DO NOT ENTER sign.
Call rather than filing online when the condition creates an immediate traffic hazard.
Have ready: The intersection, direction of travel, and type of signal or sign.
Official source: City sign and signal instructionsReport damaged public pavement, an uneven sidewalk, or standing water in a street or alley.
Use Click4Action and search for the surface and problem you see.
Have ready: The exact location, the affected surface, and a photo if it helps show the problem.
Official source: City infrastructure report directoryRequest help with a City tree that is damaged, diseased, blocking a sign, or dropping a hazardous branch.
Call 414-286-CITY so Forestry can identify the tree and urgency.
For a branch blocking traffic, a fallen tree, or wires involved, describe that clearly when you call.
Have ready: The nearest address and whether the tree is in the terrace or on private property.
Official source: City Forestry service guidanceReport a cart that was set out correctly but was not emptied.
Confirm the scheduled date, then leave the cart at the collection point and submit a service request.
Have ready: Your address, which cart was missed, and where and when it was set out.
Official source: City collection schedules and service requestsRequest an instructed repair or replacement for a City-issued cart.
Use Click4Action or call 414-286-CITY. A serviceable cart may be repaired instead of replaced.
Have ready: Your address, cart type, damage, and any instruction tag left by a crew.
Official source: City cart care and replacement policyCheck whether a bulky load can go with regular pickup or needs a paid special pickup.
Review the size and material rules before placing items at the collection point.
Have ready: The approximate pile size and a list of the materials included.
Official source: City bulky-item pickup guidanceReport dumped material or accumulated garbage on a street, alley, vacant lot, or private property.
Use Click4Action and describe whether the material is in the public way or on private property.
Have ready: The exact location, type and approximate amount of material, and a photo when safe.
Official source: City service-request guidanceReport graffiti on public or private property and identify the affected surface.
Submit the location and property details through Click4Action.
Have ready: The address, surface or structure affected, and a photo when safe.
Official source: City residential code-enforcement guidanceReport overgrown vegetation, debris, or an apparently unsecured or neglected building.
Use Click4Action and choose the closest private-property complaint.
Have ready: The property address and a specific description visible from public space.
Official source: City Neighborhood Services complaint processReport water collecting in a street or a catch basin that appears blocked.
Submit a street-flooding or sewer-service request through Click4Action.
Do not walk or drive into floodwater. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Have ready: The nearest address or intersection, depth or extent of water, and whether traffic is affected.
Official source: City sewer and stormwater reporting guidanceReport sewage or wastewater backing up through a basement drain, toilet, or other fixture.
Call 414-286-CITY to report the backup and request an investigation.
Avoid contact with sewage. If contact is unavoidable, use protective gloves and boots.
Have ready: Your address, contact number, where water entered, and when the backup began.
Official source: City Sewer Operations guidanceReport flowing or pooling water that may come from a broken water main.
Call the Milwaukee Water Works 24-hour Control Center.
Have ready: The nearest address or intersection and where the water appears to be coming from.
Official source: Milwaukee Water Works main-break instructionsGet help identifying a drinking-water appearance, taste, or odor issue.
Review Water Works guidance, then contact Water Quality if the concern affects all faucets or remains unexplained.
Have ready: Whether it affects hot water, cold water, one faucet, or every faucet, and when it began.
Official source: Milwaukee Water Works water-quality informationReport a landlord’s failure to restore required heat after you have notified the owner or manager.
Contact the landlord first. If there is no response or repair update after 24 hours, contact Neighborhood Services.
If the cold creates an immediate medical or life-safety emergency, call 911.
Have ready: Your contact information, property address, landlord or manager, when you reported it, and the indoor temperature.
Official source: City no-heat guidanceReport building disrepair, missing essential services, unsafe conditions, or another property-code concern.
Notify the landlord or property manager first, then contact Neighborhood Services if the problem is not addressed.
Have ready: Your daytime phone number, property and manager details, dates you requested repairs, and a full description.
Official source: City Neighborhood Services complaint processReport a vehicle violating parking rules or apparently abandoned on a public street.
File a parking complaint online or call 414-286-CITY.
Have ready: Where it is parked, the reason for the complaint, and a description of the vehicle.
Official source: City parking service requestsReport a meter with a dead display, jammed coins, damage, or another malfunction.
Use the City’s defective-meter report and identify the meter and location.
Have ready: The meter number, street location, and what went wrong.
Official source: City defective-meter reportUse the non-emergency line for police matters that do not involve an immediate threat, injury, fire, or crime in progress.
Call the Milwaukee police non-emergency number.
Call 911 for an immediate threat, crime in progress, fire, medical emergency, or serious crash with injuries.
Have ready: The location, what happened, when it happened, and any available description.
Official source: City 911 and non-emergency guidanceA few details make the problem easier to route and follow.
It is the City of Milwaukee Unified Call Center at 414-286-2489. Call when you need help choosing or following up on a City service request.
Yes. Keep the tracking number provided after an online or mobile request. Click4Action can show publicly visible requests, and the Unified Call Center can help with a request number.
No. Most entries are for addresses inside the City of Milwaukee. Other municipalities and Milwaukee County operate separate services, roads, and facilities.
This independent guide covers common issues inside the City of Milwaukee. The linked agency decides how a request is classified and handled. For a problem on a County road, park, or facility, use the Milwaukee County reporting directory ↗.