Violation Codes Can Be Hard to Understand

Violation codes from the NYC Department of Buildings are short letter‑and‑number labels that describe a specific problem, fine, or safety risk on your property. They appear on official notices and online records and can be confusing for NYC homeowners.

New York City has many different types of building violations. Each type uses its own codes, abbreviations, and short labels, so the same letters can mean very different things in different places.

Most owners first see these codes on a notice on their door, in a letter from the city, or in an online DOB record. The code often decides how serious the problem is, whether fines repeat every day, and how quickly you must respond.

If you do not understand a code on your notice or online record, you can look it up on our main page: Violation Codes for NYC Homeowners.

Start with the NYC DOB violation codes page to find the exact code, abbreviation, and next steps.

What to do next when you see a violation code

• Find the code on your notice or online record (letters and numbers, for example “AEUHAZ” or “VCAT/12345”).
• Go to our NYC Violation Codes HUB and type the code in the search box.
• Read the short definition to see what the code usually means for owners.
• Open any linked guides to learn what actions owners typically take next.
• Check whether you need a licensed professional or legal help before responding.
• Keep copies of all notices, screenshots, and emails related to this code.

In some cases, you can dispute a violation or fix the problem before you accept blame or pay a fine. It is usually a good idea to speak to a qualified professional first. Remember that some violations create a new fine every day, so do not wait too long before taking action.

Below you will find examples of common violation codes and abbreviations used by NYC city agencies, each with a short explanation of what each one usually means. For a more complete description of each code, with more examples and background information, use the guide linked on this page.

Types of Violations in NYC

AEUHAZ – Example of a Complex Violation Code

One of the best examples of this complexity is the code AEUHAZ.

For example, a 1–4 family owner may get an AEUHAZ notice months after the original Class 1 violation, even if the work is already done, because the Certificate of Correction was never accepted by DOB.

On the paper notice, AEUHAZ may look like just another short code. In practice, it means that DOB plans to add a separate civil penalty on top of any fines from the original Class 1 immediately hazardous summons. This penalty is usually issued when an acceptable Certificate of Correction was not filed and approved on time, so the code is really a shortcut for “you did not fully close the original hazard and paperwork.”

For owners, this one label brings together several layers at the same time: the underlying Class 1 violation, the strict rules for correcting immediately hazardous conditions, the DOB NOW steps for filing and paying, and the 30-day window for asking DOB to cancel the penalty if the summons was dismissed, downgraded, or already corrected.

This is why our Violation Codes Hub always reminds you to look past the 5–6 letter code and read the full DOB notice and Certificate of Correction rules. The short label “AEUHAZ” will never explain by itself how much money is at stake, which deadlines apply, or that some 1–4 family homes are treated differently under current DOB policy.

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