NYC Bed Bug Data by Borough
In the most recent 12-month window of HPD's Bed Bug Annual Report filings, Manhattan buildings reported an infestation in roughly 4.0% of filings — more than double Brooklyn's 1.8% — even though Brooklyn files far more reports overall (59,331 vs. 27,433). Here's what the city's own filing data shows, borough by borough.
Source: NYC Open Data, "Bedbug Reporting" dataset. Pulled 2026-07-04. Not medical or legal advice.
What this data is
Since Local Law 69 of 2017 took effect, every owner of a "multiple dwelling" in New York City — generally a building with three or more residential units, under New York's Multiple Dwelling Law — must file a Bed Bug Annual Report with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) disclosing the building's bed bug infestation history for the prior year. HPD publishes every filing as a public record through HPDONLINE and as the "Bedbug Reporting" dataset on NYC Open Data. As of our 2026-07-04 pull, the dataset holds 712,596 filings dating back to 17 December 2018.
This is a landlord self-report, not an independent inspection. Owners or managing agents attempt to obtain infestation history from tenants and file it; HPD does not re-inspect every unit before publishing the record. A confirmed infestation found during an HPD inspection — triggered separately by a tenant's NYC 311 complaint — is a different record entirely. Treat this data as a compliance-filing signal, not a confirmed-infestation count.
Bed bug filings by borough — most recent 12 months
Filing window: 1 July 2025 – 14 June 2026 (the most recent full 12 months in the dataset at pull time). "Filings with a reported infestation" counts buildings whose Bed Bug Annual Report showed infested_dwelling_unit_count > 0. The rate is that count divided by total filings received from that borough in the same window.
| Borough | Filings reporting infestation | Total filings | Infestation-filing rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 1,092 | 27,433 | 4.0% |
| Bronx | 511 | 18,048 | 2.8% |
| Queens | 593 | 28,227 | 2.1% |
| Staten Island | 36 | 1,695 | 2.1% |
| Brooklyn | 1,082 | 59,331 | 1.8% |
| NYC total | 3,314 | 134,734 | 2.5% |
Source: NYC Open Data, "Bedbug Reporting" (Socrata id wz6d-d3jb), queried 2026-07-04. Figures are filing counts, not summed unit counts — the dataset's unit-count fields contain occasional data-entry errors (e.g. a duplicated building/registration ID typed into the unit-count field) that would distort a units-based total.
Reading the data honestly
Filing volume tracks building stock, not infestation severity
Brooklyn files more than double Manhattan's total reports (59,331 vs. 27,433) because it has more multiple-dwelling buildings subject to the law, not because it has a worse bed bug problem. The infestation-filing rate — Manhattan's 4.0% vs. Brooklyn's 1.8% — is the fairer cross-borough comparison.
This is a disclosure filing, not a health inspection
HPD's own guidance is clear that the Bed Bug Annual Report is a self-reported compliance filing, separate from a confirmed HPD violation, which requires an inspector to visually confirm live bed bugs after a tenant complaint. For what to expect from an actual inspection, see the HPD bed bugs page.
If you're navigating a filing as a tenant or owner
The mechanics of the annual filing and disclosure requirement are detailed in Expert Exterminating's NYC bed bug registry and reporting guide, written from the perspective of a licensed NYC pest control operator who deals with these filings directly. Mike Jacoby, a licensed NYC exterminator, notes that documented, professional treatment is what actually protects both a landlord's compliance record and a tenant's right to a bed bug–free unit — the filing itself doesn't resolve an infestation.
Frequently asked questions
Where does NYC bed bug data come from?
NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) publishes an open dataset called "Bedbug Reporting" on NYC Open Data. It contains the annual Bed Bug Report every owner of a multiple dwelling (a building with three or more residential units under New York's Multiple Dwelling Law) must file under Local Law 69 of 2017.
Which NYC borough has the highest bed bug filing rate?
In the most recent 12-month filing window in the dataset (1 July 2025–14 June 2026), Manhattan buildings reported an infestation in about 4.0% of filings — the highest rate of the five boroughs — followed by the Bronx (2.8%), Queens and Staten Island (2.1% each), and Brooklyn (1.8%).
Does a high filing count mean more bed bugs?
Not necessarily. Brooklyn files far more Bed Bug Annual Reports than any other borough (59,331 in the most recent 12-month window) simply because it has the most multiple-dwelling buildings, not because it has the worst infestation problem. The infestation-filing rate — infestations reported as a share of total filings — is the more meaningful borough comparison.
Is the NYC Bed Bug Annual Report data independently verified?
No. It is landlord self-reported. Property owners or managing agents attempt to obtain infestation history from tenants and file it with HPD; HPD does not independently inspect every unit before publishing the filing. Confirmed infestations found during an HPD inspection (triggered by a 311 complaint) are a separate record.
What should I do if I suspect bed bugs in my NYC apartment?
Report it to your property owner first. If it isn't addressed, NYC tenants can file a complaint with NYC 311 to request an HPD inspection. For identification and health information, see our Identification and Health Info pages; for professional treatment, a New York State DEC-licensed pest control operator can inspect and treat a confirmed infestation.
Not medical or legal advice.
This page summarizes a public HPD dataset for informational purposes. It is not legal advice on landlord or tenant obligations, and not medical advice on bed bug health effects — see our Health Info page for CDC/EPA-sourced health information.