Quick Answer
HPD violations in NYC are issued by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and classified as Class A (non-hazardous, 90 days to correct), Class B (hazardous, 30 days), or Class C (immediately hazardous, 24 hours). To remove a violation, you must correct the condition, file a Certification of Correction with HPD, and — for Class B and C violations with civil penalties — resolve any outstanding fines through OATH. Ignoring HPD violations leads to escalating daily fines, civil penalties, and in severe cases, placement in HPD’s Alternative Enforcement Program, which can cost landlords tens of thousands of dollars annually.
An HPD violation is not a warning — it’s a documented enforcement action that sits on your property record until you close it out. Property owners across New York City discover this the hard way: a violation issued six months ago and never addressed has now accrued daily fines, blocked a rent increase application, or flagged their building in a title search. The good news is that HPD violations are removable. The bad news is that most property owners handle the process incorrectly and end up paying more than they should.
This guide covers exactly what HPD violations are, how they’re classified, what the correction deadlines actually mean, and how to get them removed — without overpaying or missing a filing.
What Is an HPD Violation?
HPD — the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development — inspects residential buildings and issues violations when conditions fall below the standards set by the NYC Housing Maintenance Code and Multiple Dwelling Law. Violations are issued after an inspection triggered by a tenant complaint, a 311 call, or an HPD audit of high-violation buildings.
Unlike DOB violations, which focus on structural and code compliance, HPD violations focus on habitability — heat, hot water, mold, pests, lead paint, broken windows, fire safety, and similar conditions that directly affect tenants’ health and safety.
Every HPD violation is assigned a class that determines how fast you must act.
HPD is one of five NYC agencies that issue violations against property, and each one closes a violation differently. For the DOB, ECB, FDNY and DOT paths alongside this one, see the complete guide to NYC violation removal.
HPD Violation Classes — What the Deadlines Actually Mean
Class A — Non-Hazardous (90 Days to Correct)
Class A violations are conditions that don’t pose an immediate risk — a missing handrail, peeling paint in a common area, inadequate lighting in a hallway. You have 90 days to correct the condition and file a Certification of Correction with HPD. Miss that deadline and the violation becomes a civil penalty.
Class B — Hazardous (30 Days to Correct)
Class B violations represent conditions that could cause harm over time — inadequate heating, water leaks, mold, pests, defective smoke detectors. You have 30 days to correct and certify. Uncorrected Class B violations become civil penalties, and HPD can charge $25–$50 per day per violation after the deadline passes.
Class C — Immediately Hazardous (24 Hours to Correct)
Class C is the most serious category — lead paint hazards, no heat in winter (below 55°F), no hot water, vermin infestation, gas leaks, fire hazards. You have 24 hours to correct. If you don’t, HPD can make the repair through the Emergency Repair Program (ERP) and bill you for the full cost — often at rates far above market. Civil penalties for Class C violations start immediately upon issuance and can reach $50 per day.
For lead paint violations specifically — a Class C item — HPD’s correction deadline is 24 hours, and the certification requirements are strict. A licensed contractor must complete the work using lead-safe work practices under Local Law 1.
How HPD Violation Removal Actually Works
Getting an HPD violation removed is a two-part process. Most property owners focus on Step 1 and forget Step 2 — and that’s where violations stay open indefinitely.
Step 1 — Correct the Condition
Fix the underlying problem. This sounds obvious, but the correction must be genuine — HPD inspectors can and do re-inspect, and a false certification is a separate violation with its own penalties. For lead paint, a licensed contractor is required. For heating violations, documentation of the repair is essential.
Step 2 — File a Certification of Correction
After correcting the condition, you must file a Certification of Correction (eCOC) through HPD’s online portal. This filing is how HPD officially marks the violation as corrected. Without it, the violation stays open on your record — even if the physical problem is fixed.
The Certification must include documentation of the repair — invoices, photos, contractor certifications — depending on the violation type. HPD may still send an inspector to verify.
Step 3 — Resolve Civil Penalties (Where Applicable)
For Class B and C violations where the deadline has passed, civil penalties may have been entered through OATH — the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Correcting and certifying the physical violation does not automatically clear the penalty. You must separately address the OATH matter — either by paying the penalty or appearing at a hearing to contest or negotiate it.
This is the step most property owners miss. The condition is fixed, the eCOC is filed — but a default judgment from a missed OATH hearing is still sitting there, accruing interest at 9% annually, and showing up on title searches. See our guide to ECB violations and OATH hearings for how that process works.
What Happens If You Ignore HPD Violations
HPD violations don’t just sit there passively. Here’s the escalation path:
After the correction deadline passes, civil penalties begin accruing — $25 to $50 per day for Class B and C violations. HPD can refer buildings with chronic violations to the Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP), which places a building under intensive HPD oversight, subjects the owner to mandatory repairs ordered by HPD, and charges an annual fee of $3,000 per unit in the building.
Landlords with rent-stabilized buildings face an additional consequence: open HPD violations can block Major Capital Improvement (MCI) and Individual Apartment Improvement (IAI) rent increase applications. You cannot raise rents through HPD’s process if your building has outstanding Class B or C violations.
And when you go to sell — open HPD violations surface in every title search and must be disclosed. Buyers and their attorneys will either demand clearance or discount the sale price to account for the liability.
Common Mistakes Property Owners Make
After years of handling HPD violation removal across all five boroughs, the same mistakes come up repeatedly:
Fixing the condition but not filing the eCOC. The violation stays open. The record doesn’t clear itself — you have to tell HPD you fixed it.
Filing the eCOC without supporting documentation. HPD rejects certifications that don’t include the required backup — especially for lead paint and pest violations. The rejection starts the clock again.
Ignoring the OATH notice. Many property owners receive an HPD violation notice but don’t realize a separate OATH summons may follow. Missing the OATH hearing results in a default judgment that cannot be easily reversed and accumulates interest over time.
Thinking the violation is gone because HPD hasn’t called. HPD doesn’t follow up to remind you. The violation stays on your record until you close it out.
When to Use an Expediter for HPD Violations
Not every HPD violation needs professional help. A single Class A violation with a clear correction path can often be handled by a property owner directly. But there are situations where the cost of getting it wrong is higher than the cost of professional help:
Multiple violations across one or more buildings. Class C violations with tight deadlines. Situations where OATH penalties have already entered default. Buildings at risk of AEP placement. Pre-closing violations that need rapid resolution. These are the situations where an experienced expediter pays for itself many times over — navigating HPD’s online portal, coordinating the correct documentation, and managing OATH proceedings where penalties can be reduced through proper representation.
Valerie Samuel has been handling HPD violation removal across all five boroughs for years. If you have open violations and aren’t sure where to stand, a quick consultation is the fastest way to get a clear picture of what it will take to close them out. Reach out here.
How to Check Your HPD Violations
You can look up open HPD violations on your property at any time through HPD Online (hpdonline.nyc.gov). Search by address. The result shows every open violation, its class, the issue date, the correction deadline, and the current status. Cross-check with DOB NOW for any related DOB violations — a single event at a property can trigger violations from multiple agencies.
If you have open violations and need them removed before a closing, start at least 60–90 days out. Class C violations can move faster, but HPD’s processing time for Certifications of Correction adds days to even the cleanest cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does HPD violation removal take in NYC?
It depends on the violation class. Class A violations — 90-day window — can be corrected and certified in a few weeks if you act promptly. Class C violations require immediate correction (24 hours) but the Certification of Correction and HPD’s verification process typically take 2–4 weeks. OATH penalty resolution — where applicable — adds additional time. For pre-closing situations, allow 60–90 days minimum.
Does paying an HPD fine remove the violation from my record?
No. Paying the civil penalty (through OATH) addresses the financial penalty — but the underlying HPD violation stays open until you file a Certification of Correction documenting that the condition was corrected. These are two separate processes and both must be completed.
Can I certify an HPD violation myself, or do I need a contractor?
For most violations, the property owner can certify the correction. For certain violations — lead paint (Local Law 1), pest extermination (must be licensed exterminator), and some structural or electrical items — the correction must be performed by a licensed contractor and the certification must include documentation of that contractor’s license and the work performed.
What happens if HPD rejects my Certification of Correction?
HPD will issue a notice of rejection explaining the reason. You’ll need to re-submit with the correct documentation. The correction deadline continues to run — a rejected eCOC does not reset the clock or pause civil penalties. This is one of the most common reasons violations drag on longer than necessary.
Can open HPD violations block my closing?
Yes — and they frequently do. Open Class B and C violations appear in title searches and are treated as liens on the property. Buyers, their lenders, and title companies will require clearance before closing. Some violations — particularly Class C — may be negotiated as a price adjustment or held in escrow, but this depends on the buyer and the title company. The cleanest path is to resolve violations before listing.
What is HPD’s Emergency Repair Program and how much does it cost?
If you fail to correct a Class C violation — especially lack of heat or hot water — HPD can arrange the repair directly through the Emergency Repair Program (ERP) and bill you for the cost, plus an administrative surcharge. ERP charges are typically two to three times what the repair would cost through a private contractor, and the bill is placed as a lien on the property. ERP liens must be paid to sell or refinance.
What is HPD’s Alternative Enforcement Program?
The Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) targets buildings with chronic high-violation records. Once a building is placed in AEP, HPD orders repairs, charges a per-unit annual fee (currently $3,000/unit), and the building is subject to increased inspection frequency. Avoiding AEP means addressing violations promptly and systematically — not letting Class B and C violations age past their correction deadlines.
Do HPD violations affect my ability to raise rents?
Yes. For rent-stabilized buildings, outstanding Class B and C HPD violations can block rent increase applications — including Major Capital Improvement (MCI) increases and Individual Apartment Improvement (IAI) increases. DHCR (the Division of Housing and Community Renewal) requires a clean HPD record before approving these applications.
For more on related violation types, see our guides to HPD violations in NYC, how to clear HPD violations, and ECB violations and OATH penalties.
