NYC Building Violations Report 2026

Four NYC agencies generate the bulk of building-related violations: the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Fire Department (FDNY), and the Environmental Control Board (ECB) for OATH-adjudicated penalties.

• DOB issues construction-related violations: failure to obtain permits, illegal conversions, unsafe conditions, and Local Law compliance failures (LL11/FISP, LL97, LL84/87/88).
• HPD handles housing maintenance code violations on residential rentals — heat/hot water complaints, lead paint, mold, vermin, and lease compliance.
• FDNY issues fire safety violations on assembly spaces, sprinkler/standpipe deficiencies, and fire alarm issues.
• ECB/OATH adjudicates the penalties for the violations the agencies above issue.

The shape of violation activity is consistent year-over-year: a handful of categories drive the majority of issuances.

1. Heat & hot water (HPD) — by far the largest single category, peaking each winter (Oct 1 – May 31).
2. Failure to file required reports (DOB) — LL11 facade reports, parking-structure inspections, and elevator filings.
3. Work without a permit (DOB) — illegal renovations and conversions, often surfaced via 311 complaints.
4. Lead-based paint hazards (HPD) — Local Law 1 of 2004 enforcement, especially in pre-1960 buildings with children under 6.
5. Egress, sprinkler & standpipe (FDNY) — inspections triggered after structural changes or complaints.

HPD violations are tiered by severity. Class C (immediately hazardous) carry the highest fines, fastest cure deadlines, and the strongest leverage in housing court.

• Class A — non-hazardous (peeling paint outside high-risk zones, missing window guards). Cure: 90 days.
• Class B — hazardous (broken locks, vermin, mold <10 sq ft). Cure: 30 days.
• Class C — immediately hazardous (no heat, lead paint with children under 6, severe mold, gas leaks). Cure: 24 hours to 21 days depending on subclass.

Violation density varies dramatically by borough. Brooklyn and the Bronx generate the highest absolute counts, but Manhattan over-indexes on DOB construction-related issuances and Local Law non-compliance because of its denser large-building stock subject to LL97 and LL11.

LL97 enforcement enters its first true penalty year in 2026 for buildings over 25,000 sq ft that exceeded their 2024 emissions limits, with audit and reporting deadlines tightening. HPD's lead paint sweeps continue to expand. DOB has accelerated re-inspection cycles for FISP facade reports as Cycle 10 (which began February 2025) ramps up.