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.

When removing mold, building owners must use safe cleanup practices and trained workers. If done unsafely, mold cleanup work can release chemical vapors and dust into the air. This can cause allergies or respiratory problems if breathed in.

If your landlord was ordered by the City to clean up mold in your building and the work is being done unsafely or causing an unsafe condition, you can report it to the NYC Health Department.

The work must be:

• In progress
• Inside a private, multiple-dwelling residential building
• Ordered by the City in response to a mold complaint (Housing Preservation and Development or Health Departments)

Your report should include your:

• Complete address, including apartment number
• Contact phone number and email address
• Your landlord or management company’s name and address

For complaints inside your apartment, the Health Department must have your apartment number and phone number. Your name and contact information will not be shared with your landlord or management company.

Anonymous complaints are accepted only for conditions in common areas.

You can report inadequate indoor air ventilation to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). 

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

You can report other problems with indoor air quality including but not limited to:

• Sewage odor
• Human feces

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

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Learn more about air quality after a fire.

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