Notice of Violation (NOV). What You Need to Know
A Notice of Violation (NOV) is an official document issued by a New York City agency — usually the Department of Buildings (DOB) — to inform a property owner that a condition on the property may not comply with local building or safety codes. In other words – it is a written opinion by a DOB* enforcement inspector that a condition does not conform to the applicable rules and regulations at the time of inspection.
Receiving a Notice of Violation does not automatically mean that your building is unsafe. It does mean, however, that the City expects you to take action. The violation remains “open” in the City’s records until DOB accepts a Certificate of Correction* confirming that the issue has been resolved.
Many NOVs also trigger a hearing at a city tribunal OATH* (formerly ECB) and may carry civil penalties (fines). For immediately hazardous conditions — (see: Violation Class*) — penalties can grow quickly if the notice is ignored, sometimes reaching tens of thousands of dollars, with additional daily fines until the unsafe condition is corrected.
What to do next
Do not ignore the NOV. As soon as you receive it, read it carefully and note the violation class, the hearing date (if any), and the deadline to correct the condition. Keep all pages in a safe place and take clear photos or scans for your records.
For most homeowners, the steps are straightforward:
- Hire a licensed professional — an architect, engineer, or contractor — to inspect the condition and determine the code-compliant solution.
- Apply for any required permits before starting the work.
- Complete the correction and gather supporting documents (photos, invoices, permits, inspection reports).
- Submit the Certificate of Correction and all supporting documents through the DOB system to officially close the violation.
- Attend the OATH hearing, if one is scheduled. You or your representative can present proof of correction and request a reduction or cancellation of civil penalties.
Remember!
A violation does not disappear on its own. You must correct the condition, prove the correction to the City, and pay any required penalties before the violation is closed in DOB records.
For a complete step-by-step guide to correcting a DOB violation, visit our blog: Violation Correction for Homeowners.
NOVs are time-sensitive. If you are not sure how to proceed, you do not have to handle it alone. Contact us through our contact page and we will help you understand your options.
Related terms
Some glossary entries use an asterisk * at the end of the term (for example, violation* or permit*). This mark is only a technical tool on this website. It does not change the meaning of the word.
- NYC DOB*
- violation*
- violation class*
- NOV*
- Certificate of Correction*
- code-compliant
- OATH*
- expeditor*
- enforcement inspector*
The official meaning of Notice of Violation
If you see any capital letter abbreviations on this page or in an official letter you received from the city and you do not understand them, you can try to look them up on our Violation Codes page with the search tool.
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