NYC DOB Violation

In our NYC Violation Codes HUB, violation is the base concept that connects many specific types of building and housing violations listed below. For your understanding: a violation is an official notice issued by a New York City agency (such as DOB*, HPD*, or other authorities) for not following building, housing, safety, or environmental rules.

It is usually created after someone makes a complaint and an inspector confirms that the rules were not followed. This can lead to fines, hearings, and, in some cases, daily penalties until the condition is corrected. ​

Important information

The violation “attaches” to the property, not the person. The current owner is responsible even if work was done by a previous owner 20 years ago.​ Old illegal work does not automatically expire – DOB can still issue violations or penalties when it finds the problem, even many years later.

Common types of violations include boiler, electrical, HPD, landmark, plumbing, sidewalk, and structural issues.

These basic ideas about violations are important for understanding many other entries in our NYC Violation Codes HUB.

Before you plead guilty

Many violations can be challenged or corrected before you say you are guilty.
Try to talk to a qualified professional (expeditor, architect, engineer, or attorney) before you make a decision.
Some violations create daily penalties, so do not wait too long to act.

If you are not sure what to do, you can start by reading a simple step-by-step guide and then decide if you need professional help.

How to check violations on a property yourself

You can check open Department of Buildings (DOB) violations on a property you own or plan to buy.

• On your computer, go to the Buildings Information System (BIS) website.
• Search for the property and open the Property Profile Overview.
• Look at the violations section to see how many open violations exist and view available details.

If detailed information is not available online, you can ask DOB for copies. (At this time, DOB charges a processing fee for each copy of a violation and additional copies. Fees can change, so check DOB’s current schedule before submitting your request). You can also send a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request through NYC OpenRecords to get more records.

Time to correct a violation (HPD classes)

HPD violations often come from problems with heat, hot water, pests, leaks, or lead-based paint in apartments. Depending on the class of violation, the owner has a limited time to correct it.

• 90 days for Class A (Non-hazardous)
• 30 days for Class B (Hazardous)
• 21 days for Class C – Window guards or lead-based paint
• Immediately for Class C – Heat and hot water
• Within 24 hours for Class C – all other emergencies

Note: These timeframes apply to HPD violations. DOB violations may have different correction deadlines.

If you do not feel comfortable resolving a violation on your own, you can hire an expeditor or another experienced professional to help.

Link to our advisory – ” How to handle NYC DOB violations”

Types of violations in NYC

The list below shows common types of violations and related topics that you can explore in more detail.

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Related Entries

• Violation Codes*
• Alteration*
• Class of Violation*
• Contractor*
• Unsafe building*