You can request free graffiti removal from your property. If the graffiti is on the second story or above, it may not be able to be cleaned.

You cannot request the removal of graffiti inside buildings or on streets and sidewalks.

When to Respond to a Notice of Intent

Graffiti Removed by Owner

You have the option to remove the graffiti yourself and report that you did within 35 days of the date on the notice. You can also request an extra 15 days to make a decision. After 50 days of the date on the notice, the City will inspect the property and close the case if no graffiti is found. If graffiti is found, the City will remove it.

Graffiti Intentionally Left on Building

You can ask the City to leave the graffiti on the building for artistic or other reasons. You must respond within 35 days of the date on the notice. If you do not respond in 35 days, the City will remove the graffiti from your building.

15-Day Extension Request

You can request a 15-day extension to the 35-day timeframe within which you must notify the City that you either wish to keep the graffiti or that you have removed it yourself. If you request a 15-day extension and do not report either of these options by the end of the additional 15 days, the City will remove the graffiti from your property.

Graffiti Not on Property Reported

If someone incorrectly reported that there is graffiti on your building, you do not have to do anything.

After 35 days of the date on the notice, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will inspect the property and close the case if there is no graffiti. If there is graffiti, DSNY will remove it.

How to Respond to a Notice of Intent

Online

Respond to a Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti.

Fax

(212) 788-9336

 Mail

Department of Sanitation
Central Correspondence Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10038

If you choose to respond by fax or mail, you must include the following:

• The Service Request number, located on the Notice of Intent
• The building’s address
• A note stating that you are the owner or authorized representative of the building

You can inform the Department of Sanitation if you received a notice for a property that you do not own.

If you own a property, you can complete and submit a Forever Graffiti Free form to the City even if there is no graffiti on your property. The form is valid for as long as you own the property.

By submitting this form, you ensure that the City will always attempt to remove graffiti from your property free of charge in case it is ever reported. You will not receive a Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti each time graffiti is reported on your property.

You can submit the form online or download, print, and mail or fax the form.

Online

Submit the Forever Graffiti Free form.

By Mail

Get the Forever Graffiti Free form.

Mail the completed form to:

Department of Sanitation Customer Service Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10038

By Fax

Get the Forever Graffiti Free form.

Fax the completed form to (212) 291-1415.

If you have already reported graffiti on a residential or commercial building, you can check the status of the graffiti removal job.

You can report graffiti done within the past seven days or repeatedly at the same location. Officers from your local police precinct will respond when they are not handling emergency situations.  

You can also request that the responding officers issue a police report for insurance or other purposes. If you request a police report, you cannot remain anonymous and you must be available to meet the responding police officers.

This service does not result in removal of the graffiti.