Who you gonna call when you need City of Portland info? It’s simple: 3-1-1. And yes, there’s a reason we’re writing about this today: it’s March 11 — aka, 3/11. Aren’t we clever?

The 311 Customer Service Program is the gateway to all government information + services concerning the City of Portland and Multnomah County. It’s designed to be used by residents, business owners, and visitors for reporting issues, finding info, or requesting services.

So, what kind of information can you access by dialing 3-1-1? For starters, you can learn about job and volunteering opportunities, parking rules, land use notices, construction updates, garbage collection schedules, public events, and how to apply for a city board or commission.

You can get connected to other city agencies, like those in charge of health services, air quality, elections, and public transit. The system can also be used to register or apply for all kinds of permits, from building and development to planting trees and throwing block parties.

The list of services + directories you can access is extensive, to say the least.

The 311 Program serves a larger civic purpose, too. City employees can use the 311 Program as a tool to provide high-quality customer service that’s both accurate and speedy. Local leaders can leverage the program to better serve their communities by getting an idea of the issues + needs that are being sought.

You can dial those three numbers from anywhere within Multnomah County, or (503) 823-4000 if you’re not physically in the county. The same information can be accessed online or via email, and there’s an in-person option as well, though it’s currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can stop by the Portland Building’s Customer Service Desk (1120 SW Fifth Ave.) when it reopens sometime in mid-March.