Repairs by Property Owners

If you agree with the Notice of Violation, you should hire a contractor licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). The contractor will obtain a sidewalk construction permit to perform the work.

Any contractor performing sidewalk repair costing more than $200 must have a Home Improvement Contractor License from DCWP to operate legally in New York City.

You can use DCWP’s website to check if a contractor is licensed.  

Check a license.

You can get more information about sidewalk repair and maintenance, including tips for hiring a contractor, on DOT's website.

Learn about sidewalk repair.

Repairs by the City

The City does not accept requests to repair your sidewalk.

If sidewalk defects are not repaired within 75 days after a Sidewalk Violation Notice was issued, DOT may perform the work and bill you for the repair.

An installment payment plan is available to eligible owners of certain residential properties who have been billed by DOT for sidewalk repair charges. To learn more, go to the Sidewalk Repair Payment Plan page.

Winter Weather and Repair Work

If a violation is received during the winter, cold weather will most likely prevent work from being done. DOT contractors will not do the work until weather permits.

Sidewalk Repaired by Property Owner

If the repairs were completed by a licensed contractor with a valid sidewalk construction permit, you must submit a sidewalk violation dismissal inspection. 

The violation will be removed once a DOT inspector confirms the work was done correctly.

When submitting a sidewalk violation removal request, you should provide your sidewalk violation number and sidewalk construction permit number:

• Sidewalk Violation numbers are 4 to 6 digits (for example: 1432 or 31221).
• Sidewalk Construction Permit numbers begin with a letter referencing your borough followed by 12 or more characters (for example: B012020269C23).

If the defects marked on the Preliminary Inspection Report (PIR) do not exist on your sidewalk, you can appeal the violation. 

The appeal must be submitted within 75 days from the date you received the Sidewalk Violation Notice.

As required by law, the Notice can be sent by certified mail or, if it cannot be delivered by mail, it can be posted on the property. The posting date is the date indicated on the certified mail receipt or the date posted on the property.

You should provide your sidewalk violation number when submitting your appeal. Sidewalk violation numbers are 4 to 6 digits long (for example: 1432 or 31221).

Violation Inquiry or Copy

You can request or follow up with DOT on an existing sidewalk violation or lien on file.

You can also request a copy of the violation.

An existing violation or lien may prevent the sale or refinancing of the property.

You should provide your sidewalk violation number when submitting a violation inquiry or copy request. Sidewalk violation numbers are 4 to 6 digits long (for example: 1432 or 31221).