How to Report Graffiti in Victorville

To report graffiti in Victorville, you can:

• Contact the 24-hour anti-graffiti hotline here: (760) 261-2222 
• Email: graffiti@victorvilleca.gov (remember to add address, cross streets, and exact location) 
• Report online: the city has a useful “Report Graffiti Online” option
  The City of Victorville estimates that workers will remove graffiti within 24–48 hours, as well as in such locations as public ways and private property, at no additional cost to the property owner. 

Table of contents

Quick contacts

Graffiti removal through Victorville Public Works:

• 24-hour Graffiti Hotline: (760) 261-2222 
• Email: graffiti@victorvilleca.gov 
• Online reporting: “Report Graffiti Online” on the City’s graffiti removal page 

After-hours reference: Victorville’s “Report…” page also lists Graffiti: (760) 261-2222 for nights/weekends/holidays. 

Best ways to report graffiti

Victorville names three official ways to contact them for a report: online, phone, and email. 

Depending on what you’re reporting, where it is, and what it is, different methods may work better:

Option 1: Call the 24-hour hotline

Call: (760) 261-2222 

Normally, this method has the fastest turn around, and is best when:

• You see something that needs to be immediately reported
• The location is obvious and easily described (address/cross streets)
• Uploading photos would be inconvenient or impossible

Example of a 30-second phone script:
“Hi, I’d like to report graffiti at [address or cross streets]. It’s on [wall/fence/curb/sign/etc.] at [exact spot]. Look for [landmark/side of building/alley entrance].”

Option 2: Email

Email: graffiti@victorvilleca.gov 

Victorville recommends that you make sure to have an address, cross streets, and a description of where it is.
Email is most ideal when the graffiti is in an out of the way place, such as an alley, behind a gate, or somewhere where complicated directions are needed.

Example email template:
Subject: Graffiti Report, [Address or Cross Streets]
Hello, I saw some  graffiti in Victorville at [address/cross streets].

• Exact location: [north wall/behind building/alley side/on utility box near something]
• Description: [color/size/brief description]
• Access notes: [enter alley from <street>/behind gate/closest landmark]
  Thank you.

Option 3: Report online

The City’s online page has a “report graffiti online” option.
This will put you through a clean and simple submission process, and will make a record you can review later.

Process to get graffiti removed faster

One of the primary reasons that removal might be delayed is a lack of information. Make sure to provide:

• Address
• Cross streets
• Exact location of the graffiti 

Specifically, each of these should have:

Location details

• Exact street address, or nearest cross streets
• north/south/east/west side of the street or building
• The surface the graffiti is on, such as wall, fence, sidewalk, curb, sign, utility box, bus stop, etc.
• A clear landmark, like “next to the blue mailbox,” “behind the gas station,” “by the alley entrance,” etc.

Descriptive details to narrow the location down farther

• Rough size of the graffiti, from tag to large mural
• Color(s)
• Number of tags
• Any easily recognizable features that would ease location

Photos

If you’re using an app or an online form, photos can be included for additional clarity. They can be used to better pinpoint the graffiti in question.

Safety note: be very aware of traffic, and avoid putting yourself in situations that may be dangerous.

Public right-of-way vs private property

Graffiti removal services are provided for both public right of way and private property. There is no charge for removal services. 

If the graffiti is on private property:

The City states that Public Works will locate the graffiti and assess it, before contacting the property owner to get permission to remove it. 

While reporting of graffiti on private property is encouraged, the City may need to get permission from the owner or manager of the property before it can be removed.

After a report:

Typically, reported graffiti will be removed within 24-48 hours of the report being made. 

The typical procession of events:

1. Your report is logged.
2. Public Works schedules a crew to follow the report. 
3. If the graffiti is on private property, crews will contact the owner to acquire permission. 
4. Crews either remove or paint over the graffiti.

If the report was made online or on the app, then you may get updates as the graffiti is assessed and removed.

Victorville NOW app

The city has released the Victorville NOW customer service app, whose primary function is to allow residents to report non-emergency issues like graffiti, potholes, and streetlight outages. 

The process is:

• Take a picture
• Describe the graffiti
• The app can automatically locate you, or you can provide a service address
• reports are routed to the correct City department
• you can track progress and get confirmation when resolved 

If you’re reporting graffiti in a tricky spot (behind a building, alley wall, etc.), include a quick note like:
“Closest access is from the alley off ___ Ave. Graffiti is on the right-side wall about 30 feet in.”

Important: The City explicitly notes Victorville NOW is for non-emergency issues; actual emergencies and dangerous situations should be immediately reported by a call to 911. 

In cases were the same graffiti keeps appearing

Repeat tagging is a very common occurrence, and may require some additional steps for reports made of it.

Do

• Always report the graffiti, don’t assume that it’s already covered by older reports.
• Make sure to include “repeat tagging” in the report, as well as the date it was noticed
• If the location is one where the same graffiti shows up often, make a note of that in the report

Don’t

• Give general directions without specifics, such as a lack of cross streets
• Write that the location is ‘the same as last time’, as they might not have the previous report to work off of.

If the service you’re using to report the graffiti has attached records, a prior request number may be a useful thing to include.

When 911 is the better option

The various methods of graffiti report are for cleanup. However, if:

• vandalism is happening right now
• you feel threatened or unsafe
• there’s an immediate danger situation

Call 911 first! The function of the app is for non-emergency reporting only, and actual emergencies need more rapid responses, which it cannot provide. 

FAQ