Everything to Know About Bed Bugs in New York City

aerial view of new york city with bed bug image over it

New York City is one of the greatest places on earth, a metropolis known for its world-leading arts, culture, entertainment, and finance. The downside? With a densely packed population of 8 million and millions more visitors streaming in from all over the world each year, it’s also the bed bug capital of the U.S. No wonder it’s The City That Never Sleeps.

But forewarned is forearmed, as they say, so this article covers everything you need to know about bed bugs in New York City, from identifying and eliminating them to preventing future infestations. 

Key Takeaways

New York is among the worst cities for bed bugs: Dense population and major travel in the city create an ideal environment for them. 

Tenants have the right to a bed bug-free home: The landlord has to treat bed bugs within 30 days. If not, they have to pay hefty fines. 

Eliminate bed bugs quickly: Heat treatment with a steamer and bed bug sprays are highly effective DIY treatments. Pros use heat treatment or fumigation to get rid of bed bugs. 

Preventing bed bugs is key: Regularly inspect your home, seal entry points, reduce clutter, use bed bug traps, travel cautiously, and use bed bug covers. 

Bed bug treatment in NYC is expensive: The cost of treating bed bugs in New York City ranges between $338 and $1,038.

Are There Bed Bugs in New York City?

Yes. New York City routinely appears on Orkin’s annual list of Worst Cities in the United States for Bed Bugs. Not surprising, considering it’s the most populous city in the nation and is a major hub for national and international travel. Bed bugs can easily hitch a ride on traveler’s clothing, suitcase, and shoes and spread within the city. 

Bed bugs can infest any place, regardless of its cleanliness. From dirty dorms to the cleanest five-star hotel rooms, they are everywhere. Homeowners in New York City should be proactive and inspect their property regularly to prevent bed bug infestation. If you spot bed bugs, eliminate them immediately to prevent the infestation from spreading. 

Types of Bed Bugs in New York City

There are 90 species of bed bugs. Fortunately, only two types among them are in the United States: Cimex lectularius (common bed bugs) and Cimex hemipterus (tropical bed bugs). The bed bugs you spot in your New York City home are usually Cimex lectularius.

Cimex lectularius is found throughout the U.S., while you can spot Cimex hemipterus in tropical and sub-tropical regions like Florida. However, Cimex hemipterus is primarily active in Southeast Asia and Africa and is found in much smaller numbers in the U.S.

These bloodsuckers look similar with flat, oval-shaped bodies in light brown to reddish-brown hues. They both measure the size of an apple seed and prefer to live in hidden and undisturbed spots. 

New York City Laws on Bed Bugs

Here are New York City ordinances on bed bugs: 

Tenant

According to Subchapter 2, Article 4 of NYC’s housing and maintenance code, tenants in New York City have the right to a bed bug-free home. 

The tenant should inform the landlord about a bed bug infestation, cooperate with the landlord, and give access to the space to exterminate bed bugs. If the landlord doesn’t inspect and fix the issue within 30 days, the tenant can file a complaint online or call 311. 

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will inspect the house to confirm the presence of bed bugs and issue an HPD Notice of Violation (NOV) to the landlord. 

Note: The tenant shouldn’t break the lease to avoid the risk of the landlord suing them for the remaining rent due. 

Landlord

The landlord should hire a licensed pest control professional to treat bed bugs within 30 days. If not, they incur hefty fines because New York City lists bed bugs as a Class B violation, meaning they are hazardous. 

According to Local Law 69 of 2017, the landlord should file an annual bed bug report, which should include:

  • The number of dwelling units.
  • The number of units with bed bug activity in the previous year.
  • The number of units treated for bed bugs.
  • The number of units that still had bed bug issues after treatment.

The landlord should send the report to the tenant through email or post. They should also give suggestions to tenants on preventing bed bugs. 

After a tenant vacates, the landlord should thoroughly inspect the house for bed bugs and clean it before a new tenant comes in. 

New York City Hotels With Bed Bugs

Hotels in New York City have a legal responsibility to provide a safe stay for their guests. They should inspect the room for bed bugs every six months and treat them if necessary. There are a couple of resources that allow you to look up reports of bed bugs, so we recommend checking them out before you book a stay somewhere. 

Signs of Bed Bugs in New York City

bed bug nymph, eggs and feces on floor
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Recognizing the signs of bed bugs is crucial to protect your home from infestations. They include: 

  • Live bed bugs: Bed bugs are reddish-brown and have flat, oval bodies. They are nocturnal, which means they hide during the day and feed on blood at night. 
  • Blood stains: Crushed bed bugs leave reddish blood spots on your mattress. 
  • Bite marks: Raised, red welts appear in a line or clusters on the neck, shoulders, legs, and other parts in direct contact with your bed. Bite marks appear red on light skin and faint pink or purplish on dark skin. 
  • Molted skins: Bed bugs shed their skin five times as they grow from nymphs to adults. Molted skins indicate their population is growing. 
  • Fecal spots: Dark stains on the mattress or couch indicate bed bugs have been actively feeding and excreting.
  • Eggs: Bed bug eggs are oval-shaped and have a white, translucent appearance. The eggs measure about a millimeter in diameter, making them difficult to see with the naked eye. 
  • Unpleasant odor: Bed bug infestation smells unpleasant and rusty, like mold or maple syrup. The rusty smell indicates a severe infestation.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs 

Bed bugs multiply quicker than you imagine. A female bed bug can lay between one and seven eggs each day and 500 eggs in her 10-month lifetime. If you spot these bloodsuckers, eliminate them immediately to prevent the infestation from growing. 

1. Inspect and Identify Bed Bugs

bed bug infestation and service
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Bed bugs prefer hidden spots, such as:

  • Mattress seams and joints
  • Box springs
  • Headboard
  • Cracks and crevices in furniture
  • Drawers
  • Nightstands
  • Couches
  • Below carpets
  • Inside electrical outlets
  • Curtain folds

Use a torch and magnifying glass to inspect because spotting nymphs and bed bug eggs with the naked eye can be difficult. 

2. Vacuum the Surface

person vacuuming mattress
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Vacuuming is a simple and efficient way to get rid of bed bugs. It doesn’t remove the eggs but can eliminate most of the bugs. Here’s how to vacuum: 

  • Bed bugs cling tightly to fabric, so use a stiff brush to dislodge them. 
  • Vacuum the surface at least two times to remove as many bed bugs as possible. 
  • Empty the vacuum container in a plastic bag. 
  • Dispose of the bag immediately to prevent future infestations. 

3. Launder Your Mattress

Bed bugs cling tightly to your mattress and other fabrics. Even after thorough vacuuming, some bugs may still remain on the surface. Deep clean your mattress to get rid of any remaining bed bugs and eggs. We recommend deep cleaning your mattress every six months to prevent bed bugs from returning. 

Wash and dry mattress covers and duvets at the highest heat setting. Washing at high heat eliminates bed bugs and their eggs because they can’t resist temperatures above 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you can’t wash an item like a heavy duvet or curtain, dry clean them at the highest temperature. 

Avoid moving an infested item into a clean room to prevent the infestation from spreading. 

4. Discard Clutter 

Bed bugs live in hidden and undisturbed spots. Remove these items because they create a safe zone for bed bugs to hide:

  • Stacks of old newspapers and magazines
  • Items under your bed
  • Unused cardboard boxes
  • Unused furniture
  • Unwanted carpets and rugs
  • Old mattress

Cover electrical outlets before treatment to prevent bed bugs from hiding inside. 

Note: If you’re discarding an infested mattress or furniture, seal it in plastic and clearly label it as bedbug-infested so others won’t take it to their home. 

5. Treat Bed Bugs

person cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, hot steam cleaning
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Heat treatment with a steamer is the most effective DIY bed bug treatment. You can also use chemical pesticides like MGK Bedlam Plus, but they only eliminate bed bugs and eggs that come in direct contact with the spray. 

Other treatments like vinegar, alcohol, and diatomaceous earth can eliminate bed bugs but not their eggs. 

Steamer

Steamers easily reach over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, eliminating bed bugs and their eggs. Here’s how to use a steamer:

  • Move the steamer over areas where bed bugs hide, such as mattress seams, drawers, cracks in furniture, and beneath carpets.
  • Move it slowly at a speed of about 13 inches every 30 seconds because bed bugs need continuous exposure to heat to die. 
  • Repeat the process at least twice to ensure no bed bugs escape the heat. 

Chemical Pesticide

Spray thoroughly over all areas where bed bugs hide to eliminate the bugs and eggs. We recommend combining steamer and chemical pesticides for the best results. 

Bed bug spray emits an unpleasant odor and can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves and a respirator. Also, ventilate the room properly after treatment. 

6. Cover Your Mattress

covering mattress with a mattress protector
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Bed bugs are elusive, and some may have escaped the treatment, especially if they were hiding inside the mattress. Use a mattress cover to trap the bugs inside. The cover also protects you from red, itchy bites. 

7. Monitor

Place bed bug interceptors under each leg of your mattress and furniture to trap bed bugs as they try to climb. 

8. Call the Pros (If Necessary)

If bed bugs keep returning, the infestation is severe, and you should hire a pro to get rid of them. Pros use heat treatment and fumigation to treat bed bugs. 

Heat Treatment

In this treatment, pros use industrial heaters to raise the temperature throughout your home to levels lethal to bed bugs (120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and maintain it for six to nine hours, eliminating bed bugs in all life stages. 

Heat treatment requires you to vacate your home. Take these items with you as they can’t resist the heat: 

  • Potted plants
  • Food products 
  • Medicines
  • Plastic products
  • Electronic devices 
  • Flammable items like perfumes

Heat treatment doesn’t involve chemicals, so it can’t prevent future bed bug infestation. It costs $1 to $3 per square foot. 

Fumigation

Fumigation involves sealing your home in a large tent and filling the space with fumigant gas. The gas penetrates every crack and crevice to eliminate bed bugs in all life stages. It can also eradicate other pests like termites, cockroaches, and rodents. 

You should vacate your home during treatment because fumigant gas is toxic to humans and pets. Do these prep work before leaving: 

  • Cover plants
  • Take food and medicines with you
  • Turn off gas appliances 
  • Keep utensils inside cabinets
  • Unplug and cover electronic devices

Fumigation can prevent re-infestation to some extent. However, taking preventive measures is crucial to keep bed bugs at bay. 

Fumigation costs $4 to $8 per square foot. Pros suggest this treatment only if no other treatments work because it’s complex and expensive. 

If you want to know the cost of professional bed bug treatment, read this guide

How to Prevent Bed Bugs 

bed bug inspections in a room
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Bed bugs are persistent and can return even if they get the slightest chance. Here’s how you can prevent them from returning: 

Seal Entry Points

Bed bugs can enter your home even through the tiniest gap. Seal the cracks in walls, windows, baseboards, and furniture to limit entry points for bed bugs. 

Regular Inspection

Regularly check mattress seams, box springs, cracks in furniture, and electrical outlets for any signs of bed bugs. If you spot them, take action immediately to prevent the infestation from spreading. 

Reduce Clutter

Cluttered spots are dwelling areas for bed bugs. Remove items where bed bugs can hide, such as unused cardboard boxes, stacks of old newspapers, and unused furniture. 

Use Bed Bug Traps

Place bed bug interceptors under each leg of your bed and couch to prevent bed bugs from climbing. 

Be Cautious With Used Furniture

Inspect the seams and joints in second-hand furniture thoroughly before bringing it home. 

Inspect Wallpapers Regularly

Peeling edges or torn wallpaper are perfect hiding spots for bed bugs. Fix those spots so bed bugs don’t turn your beautiful wallpaper into their house. 

Inspect and Organize Shoes

Bed bugs can hitch a ride on your shoes and infest your home. So, thoroughly check your shoes before entering your home and keep them organized. 

Travel Cautiously 

Before settling into a hotel room, inspect it thoroughly for bed bugs, especially the mattress. Keep your luggage on a solid, elevated surface like a table, and ensure the surface isn’t close to the wall.

After returning, thoroughly check your luggage, clothes, and shoes for bed bugs. Wash and dry them on high heat to get rid of any bugs hiding inside.  

Use Bed Bug Covers

Use bed bug-proof encasements to cover your mattress and pillows to prevent bed bug infestation. 

Cost of Bed Bug Treatment in New York City

The national average cost of treating bed bugs ranges between $917 and $1,917, with most homeowners paying $308. Bed bug treatment in New York City costs $338 to $1,038, depending on the type of treatment and severity of infestation.

FAQs

How can I avoid bed bugs in subways? 

Packed subways are a perfect environment for bed bugs. Avoid them by standing whenever possible, keeping your bags with you rather than placing them on a seat, and washing and drying your clothes on high heat at home. 

What bugs look similar to bed bugs?

Here are the bugs that resemble bed bugs:

  • Baby cockroaches
  • Ticks 
  • Fleas
  • Mites
  • Booklice
  • Head lice
  • Spider beetles 
  • Carpet beetles
  • Bat bugs

Do bed bugs carry diseases?

No, bed bugs don’t carry or spread diseases. Their bites itch and cause mild discomfort. In hypersensitive people, the bites can lead to allergic reactions. 

When to Hire a Professional 

Bed bugs are a nuisance to homeowners. If you need help with them, get in touch with Pest Gnome. We connect you with the best pest control pros in your area who can help you with everything related to bed bugs, from identifying and treating them to preventing future infestations. 

Pest Gnome participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other retailer affiliate programs. Pest Gnome may earn revenue from products promoted in this article.

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Bed Bug: Mainely Photos / Canva Pro / License

Abdul Wadood

Abdul Wadood has a lot of experience battling creepy crawlies in his house, from termites to cockroaches and mosquitoes. He wants to share his valuable insights with homeowners to help them keep unwanted guests at bay.