Frequently asked questions
What is Know Your Block?
Know Your Block is a free Columbus, Ohio code-violation lookup and complaint
map. It shows what has been reported at any address in the city and on the block
around it, from rats, mold, no heat, and landlord complaints to trash, junk cars,
and noise, and who to call to get a problem fixed. Residents use it for problems
on their block, and renters and buyers use it to check a place before they move in.
Where does the data come from?
Every complaint comes from official City of Columbus code-enforcement records,
published through the city’s Accela permitting portal and ArcGIS mapping service.
We geocode and categorize the records but do not add, edit, or invent complaints.
How do I check if a Columbus apartment or address has complaints?
Search the street address in the box at the top of the page. You’ll see every
code-enforcement report filed at that address and on the surrounding block,
grouped by issue type and severity.
How do I get a problem fixed?
Most housing and property problems are reported to Columbus 311, online at
311.columbus.gov
or by phone at (614) 645-3111. The city’s code
enforcement office handles them, from no heat in an apartment to a junk car in a
yard. The Report a problem pages explain who handles each
problem and what to tell them.
What kinds of problems does it track?
Pest and rodent infestations (rats, mice, cockroaches, bed bugs), mold and
water damage, sewage and plumbing failures, no heat or broken HVAC, fire and
safety hazards, trash and illegal dumping, tall grass, abandoned and junk cars,
noise, vacant buildings, illegal occupancy and squatting, and landlord and management
patterns where landlords ignore or cover up repairs.
Is Know Your Block free?
Yes. It is completely free to use, with no account required. It’s built as a
public-interest tool for Columbus residents, renters, and buyers.
How far back does the data go and how current is it?
The dataset covers January 2025 to the present and is refreshed as the City of
Columbus publishes new code-enforcement data, typically monthly. Older records back
to 2019 exist in the city’s systems and may be added in the future.
If an address has no complaints, is it safe?
Not necessarily. No complaints means nothing has been formally reported to the
City of Columbus — problems can still exist if no one filed a code-enforcement
complaint. Use Know Your Block as one signal alongside your own inspection.
How is this different from Zillow or Apartments.com reviews?
Listing sites show what landlords and property managers want you to see.
Know Your Block shows official government code-enforcement complaints — the
reported problems, infestations, and landlord complaints that listings and tours hide.
Know Your Block is an independent public-information
tool operated by Canary Civic LLC and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Columbus. It surfaces
public code-enforcement records and is not legal advice.