Chicago residents can report a pothole in three main ways: calling 311, filing online through the city's 311 website, or using the official CHI311 mobile app. Whichever channel you choose, the request is routed to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), whose crews patch streets across all 50 wards. The most effective reports share one thing: a precise location. Here is how to pick the right method, what details to include, and what to expect after you hit submit.
How to Report a Pothole in Chicago: Your Step-by-Step Guide
The city's pothole service request is designed for street surface potholes — typically irregularly shaped pavement holes. Chicago's official guidance asks residents to include the location of the pothole when making the request. Potholes form when street surfaces freeze and thaw and crack, allowing water to seep under the pavement, so the problem is worst in late winter and early spring.
The basic process is the same regardless of channel: identify the pothole, note its exact location, file the report, and then track the resulting service request. A guide published by Chicago Works, which files through the city's official Open311 system, emphasizes that unreported holes simply aren't in the repair queue at all — reporting is what puts a pothole on CDOT's map.
Compare Pothole Reporting Methods
The right channel depends on where you are when you notice the damage and how you prefer to communicate. The comparison below draws on the city's official service pages and the Chicago Works app guide.
| Method | Best for... | Information Required | Tracking Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calling 311 | Residents who prefer speaking to a representative or lack internet access; also the channel the city directs you to for utility cuts and sinkholes | A location description and address | Not described as offering request tracking in the supplied guidance |
| 311 website (online service request) | Filing from home after you've passed the pothole | The pothole's location | Not described as offering request tracking in the supplied guidance |
| CHI311 mobile app (Chicago Works) | Reporting from the curb, right where the pothole is | Photo, GPS-pinned location with a draggable pin for the exact lane, auto-detected ward | Built-in Service Tracker shows live status from the city's system |
The clearest pattern in this comparison: if you're standing at the pothole with a smartphone, the app captures details — photo, GPS coordinates, exact lane — that other channels require you to describe in words. If you're reporting later from home or prefer a person, the phone or the website works, provided you can describe the location precisely.
