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Residents Now Need Only Two Numbers: 311 for Service, 911 for Emergencies
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Janice Quintana, director of the Office of Unified Communications, launched the new 311 phone number for government services from the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center today. 311 will replace 727-1000 as the number to reach the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center. The change follows best practices of other major cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
911 will remain as the number to call for all situations that require response from MPD or Fire EMS. The 311 number was previously used for police non-emergencies. By creating 311 as the number to reach the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center and sending all calls requiring public safety personnel response to 911 residents no longer have to worry whether their calls constitute an emergency. Residents can now use the Mayors’ Citywide Call Center to reach any agency in the government, request services such as trash pickup or smoke detector installation and connect directly to agency call centers such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
“311 and 911 are now the only two phone numbers any resident needs to know to get in touch with their government,” said Fenty. “24 hours a day, 365 days a year, District government is accessible to every resident by dialing just three digits."
The purpose of the Citywide Call Center is to provide a "one stop" service experience for constituents, residents, and visitors in their search for DC government services, numbers, and information. The Call Center is designed to make the public's interaction with the city government less frustrating.
The designated telephone number for the District of Columbia's Citywide Call Center is 311. The Office of Unified Communications (OUC) oversees the designated call center for all 311 calls and for all District emergency 911 calls.
Dial 311, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to request scheduled services such as trash removal, potholes, bulk pickups, and recycling. Residents may also use this number to report a missed scheduled service, inquire about city agency phone numbers and hours of operation, and pursue other customer service-related items.
To submit a request or for more information about 311 services, visit the District's online Citizen Service Request Center.
For more information about 911 and 311 services, see the Metropolitan Police Department's Know the Different Numbers.
If you are calling from outside DC, please dial (202) 737-4404 to reach the Citywide Call Center.