You nominate a Pokéstop through the Pokémon GO app, not by contacting Niantic directly

A Pokéstop nomination is a request you submit inside Pokémon GO asking Niantic (the company that makes the game) to turn a real-world location into a Pokéstop. The location has to be a real place — a park, library, mural, public art, or landmark — not a private home or business. Niantic reviews thousands of nominations monthly, and approval takes weeks to months. Many nominations are rejected because they don't meet Pokémon GO's rules, so understanding what Niantic accepts before you nominate saves time.

You can only nominate a Pokéstop if you are level 40 or higher in Pokémon GO. If you are a lower level, you cannot start the process yet. Once you reach level 40, the nomination feature appears in the main menu of the app.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be level 40 or higher in Pokémon GO to nominate a Pokéstop, and the location must be a real public place, not a home or private business.
  • Niantic accepts nominations for parks, libraries, public art, historical markers, and community gathering spaces, but rejects nominations for parking lots, chain restaurants, and residential addresses.
  • Your nomination needs a photo taken from the location, a title, a description, and a reason explaining why this place should be a Pokéstop.
  • Niantic reviews nominations in batches and may take four to twelve weeks to decide, and you can check the status of your submission inside the app.
  • If your nomination is rejected, you can resubmit the same location with a stronger description or wait several months before trying again.

What locations Niantic will and will not accept

Niantic has a public list of what qualifies as a Pokéstop. The strongest nominations are for public art (murals, sculptures, installations), parks and recreation areas, libraries, historical markers and monuments, and community gathering spaces (town squares, plazas, community centers). These categories have high approval rates because they are clearly public and accessible to everyone.

Niantic rejects nominations for private homes, apartment buildings, parking lots, chain restaurants and fast food, gas stations, banks, and generic storefronts. They also reject nominations for locations that are dangerous or difficult to reach — like the middle of a highway, a private driveway, or a location inside a gated community. If the place requires a paid ticket or membership to enter, it is usually rejected unless it is a major public landmark.

A location that is already a Pokéstop or gym cannot be nominated again. Before you nominate, open the map in Pokémon GO and check whether the place already exists in the game.

How to submit a nomination step by step

Open Pokémon GO and tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Pokéstop Nominations" (this option only appears if you are level 40 or higher). Tap the plus sign to start a new nomination.

Take a photo of the location from where you are standing. This photo should show the actual place clearly — not a blurry distance shot or a photo of something else nearby. Niantic reviewers use this photo to confirm the location exists and looks like what you described. If you are nominating a mural, photograph the mural itself. If you are nominating a park entrance, photograph the sign or gate.

Write a title for the location. Use the actual name if it has one (like "Lincoln Park" or "Main Street Mural"). If it does not have an official name, write a short descriptive title like "Community Garden on Oak Street" or "Historic Train Station." Keep the title under 30 characters if possible.

Write a description of the location in 250 to 500 words. Explain what the place is, why it matters to the community, and what makes it special. If it is a mural, describe the artist or the subject. If it is a park, mention what amenities it has. If it is a historical site, explain the history. Niantic reviewers read this description to decide whether the location meets their standards.

Write a reason explaining why this location should be a Pokéstop. This is different from the description — the reason is your argument for why Pokémon GO players should be able to visit this place. For example: "This mural is a landmark in our neighborhood and draws visitors from across the city" or "This park is where our community gathers for events and recreation." Keep this section to one or two sentences.

Select the category that best fits the location. Niantic provides options like "Park," "Art," "Historical," or "Community Center." Choose the one that matches most closely.

Review your submission for spelling and accuracy, then tap submit. You will see a confirmation that your nomination has been received.

What happens after you submit

Niantic does not send you an email or notification when your nomination is submitted. Instead, you track the status inside the Pokémon GO app. Go back to "Pokéstop Nominations" and you will see your submission listed with a status: "In Review," "Accepted," "Rejected," or "Duplicate."

The review process typically takes four to twelve weeks, though some nominations take longer during busy periods. Niantic reviews nominations in batches, not one at a time, so there is no way to speed up the process. You cannot contact Niantic to ask about a specific nomination — the app status is the only way to track it.

If your nomination is accepted, the location becomes a Pokéstop within a few days. You will see it appear on the map in Pokémon GO. If it is rejected, the app will show "Rejected" but usually will not explain why. Common reasons for rejection include: the photo is unclear, the description does not explain why the location matters, the location does not meet Pokémon GO's standards, or the location is too close to another Pokéstop.

What to do if your nomination is rejected

A rejection does not mean you can never nominate that location again. You can resubmit the same place with a stronger description, a clearer photo, or a better reason. Wait at least one to three months before resubmitting — Niantic's system may not review the same location twice in quick succession.

When you resubmit, take a new photo if possible, and rewrite the description with more detail about why the location matters. If the first rejection was because the photo was unclear, make sure the new photo is sharp and shows the location from a good angle. If the description was too short, expand it with more information about the community value of the place.

If you have submitted the same location three or more times and it keeps getting rejected, the location may not meet Niantic's standards. In that case, consider nominating a different location instead.

Privacy and location data when you nominate

When you submit a Pokéstop nomination, you are sharing your location with Niantic. The photo you take is attached to your submission, and Niantic stores both the photo and the GPS coordinates of where you stood when you took it. This information is used only to review your nomination and to prevent duplicate submissions.

Your name does not appear on the nomination — Niantic sees only your Pokémon GO account ID. Other players cannot see who nominated a Pokéstop. However, the photo you submit is stored on Niantic's servers, so if you are concerned about privacy, avoid including yourself or other people in the photo. Photograph the location itself, not the surroundings.

If you have location services turned off on your phone, you cannot submit a nomination because Niantic needs to know where you are standing to verify the location is real. You will need to turn location services on temporarily to complete the submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I nominate a location I do not live near?

Yes. You can nominate any public location anywhere in the world, as long as you are physically present at that location when you take the photo. Niantic requires the photo to be taken from the actual spot to prevent false nominations. You cannot nominate a place from a photo you found online or from memory.

How many Pokéstops can I nominate in one month?

Niantic limits nominations to a certain number per month, but the exact limit changes. As of now, most players can nominate one location every three days. If you try to nominate more than the limit allows, the app will tell you to wait before submitting another one.

What if the location I want to nominate is on private property?

Niantic will reject it. Even if the owner has given you permission to be there, Pokéstops must be on public land or in public spaces that anyone can visit without permission. If the location is a private business, it will be rejected unless it is a major landmark like a famous restaurant or hotel.

Can I nominate my own business or home?

No. Niantic does not accept nominations for private homes, apartments, or private businesses. If you own a business and want it to be a Pokéstop, the business would need to be a well-known public landmark or community gathering space, which is rare for small private businesses.

What if someone else nominated the same location before me?

If the location is already a Pokéstop, you cannot nominate it again. If it is still in review, your nomination will be marked as a "Duplicate" and rejected. Niantic's system detects when multiple people nominate the same place and only reviews one submission.