Indoor Air Quality

  Related links
NYC311 Home Report Problems Look Up Service Requests Browse Topics
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

The Health Department is currently reviewing all complaints and responding primarily to those that pose an imminent threat to public health or safety.

Non-emergency complaints will be logged and responded to when regular operations resume.

You can get information about air quality alerts, air quality after a fire, neighborhood air quality survey devices, or submit an indoor air quality complaint. 

Learn how to improve the air quality in your home.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) accepts reports from tenants about dust from construction or renovation work being performed in residential buildings as well in commercial and other non-residential buildings. You can report construction dust anywhere inside the building, including inside an apartment, the lobby, and other common areas. The City will review your report and may inspect the property.

The dust must be from new or ongoing construction or renovation which is taking place inside the building.

Your report should provide the following:

  • Your complete address, including apartment number, and a contact phone number or e-mail address.
  • Your landlord or management company's name and address. 

Anonymous complaints are accepted unless you are reporting construction dust inside of your apartment. DOHMH needs your contact information to inspect your apartment. If you provide your name and contact information, it will not be shared with your landlord or management company.

You can report construction dust in a:

You can report bad air quality inside a building due to chemical odors, vapors, or soot. These conditions must originate within the building.

Your report should include the following:

  • Your complete address, including apartment number, and a contact phone number or e-mail address.
  • Your landlord or management company's name and address.

Anonymous complaints are accepted. If you provide your name and contact information, it will not be shared with your landlord or management company.

You can report odors or vapors coming into a residence or business from a nearby dry cleaning business or a smell directly outside a dry cleaning business.

You should provide the exact street address and name of the dry cleaner causing the odors.

What You Need

To report a smell directly outside a dry cleaning business, you must provide your contact information so the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) can contact you, if necessary. DEP cannot action the Service Request without it.

Report dry cleaning odor:

You can find out how to protect yourself from smoke, dust and other debris resulting from a neighborhood fire.

Online

Learn more about air quality after a fire.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

Air Quality Action Days are days when air quality may be unhealthy for people who are sensitive to air pollution. This includes people with heart and lung problems, the elderly, and children.

Get the air quality forecast.

    Air Quality Alerts

    You can sign up to receive daily ozone alerts so you know when air quality may be unhealthy.

    Online

    Sign up for Air Quality Action Day Alerts.

    By Phone

    • Agency: Ozone New York
    • Phone Number: (866) 696-6369
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

    Tips

    On Air Quality Action Days, it is recommended that you:

    • Stay indoors and do not exert yourself unnecessarily
    • Limit driving: share a ride, use public transit, or work from home
    • Refuel your car after dark: during the day, pollutants from gas react with sunlight and heat to create ground-level ozone
    • Air condition less: set home air conditioner at a slightly higher temperature than normal to save energy and decrease pollution
    • Don't mow lawns
    • Delay home improvement: painting and spraying aerosol products add harmful vapors to indoor and outdoor air

    You can learn more about air quality, pollution, and how to stay healthy on Air Quality Action Days online or by phone.

    Online

    Learn more about Air Quality Action Days.

    By Phone

    • Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
    • Division: Air Quality Hotline
    • Phone Number: (800) 535-1345
    • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

    The City and staff from Queens College are installing air quality monitors on light and utility poles to study neighborhood air pollution. 

    The devices:

    • Are located 10 to 12 feet off the ground on streetlight, signal, and other utility poles.
    • Are shaped like a box and measure 2 ft by 1 ft.
    • Have tubes sticking out.
    • Have an NYC Health sticker attached.

    You can report damage to a monitoring device or you can get more information about the NYC Community Air Survey by phone.

    Complaints about air quality and requests for air testing are not accepted.

    Call 311 for assistance.

     Was this information helpful?   Yes    No

    Follow NYC311

    Download the NYC311 Mobile App

    About NYC311 Send Feedback NYC311 Privacy Policy