Open Data Insight of the Day

Illegal graffiti refers to the unauthorized marking of public or private property and is commonly treated as vandalism, often subject to fines or other penalties. Graffiti becomes illegal when it is created without the owner’s permission, whereas works produced with consent—such as approved murals or street art—are considered legal. The key distinction therefore lies in the authorization of the property owner. Unsightly or unwanted graffiti should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent further damage or copycat defacement. At the same time, the canton of Basel-Stadt actively supports the creation of street-art murals by providing designated walls and encouraging artistic expression in appropriate locations.

In December 2025, a total of 158 graffiti removals were recorded in the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Of these, 56 were on public facilities (SprayEx) and 102 were on private buildings (SprayOut). Compared to the average monthly graffiti removals of 144.3 recorded since November 2023, this number is considered to be very high.

The top five communities with the highest number of graffiti removals were Matthäus with 20 removals, St. Johann with 19, Vorstädte with 18, Am Ring with 17, and Altstadt Grossbasel with 12. Conversely, the communities with the least removals were Kleinhüningen with 1, Breite with 2, Klybeck and Clara each with 3, and Hirzbrunnen with 4.

Analyzing the monthly time series of graffiti removals, there is a notable increase in removals after October 2023, which can be attributed to the initiation of reporting graffiti removals on private buildings (SprayOut). This change in reporting likely contributed to the observed rise in the total number of removals in subsequent months.

The Canton of Basel-Stadt is committed to maintaining cleanliness in public spaces. Illegal graffiti on public infrastructure is typically removed within 48 hours of being reported, which helps prevent further vandalism. Residents can report graffiti through the cleanliness hotline or by completing the online form. Additionally, the canton financially supports private property owners in removing graffiti, covering a substantial portion of cleaning costs. Basel also actively promotes legal street art by providing advisory services, supporting property owners who wish to commission murals, designating walls for legal painting, and encouraging high-quality street art as a way to beautify the city and reduce vandalism.