Sidewalk Violation and Repair

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Property owners are responsible for maintaining, repairing, and installing sidewalks next to their property. Sidewalks are often composed of concrete squares, known as flags.

Holes as small as 1 inch in diameter or sidewalk squares or flags raised as little as ½ inch can cause injuries.

Property owners can get a sidewalk violation for:

  • An empty space such as a void or gap below the flags ("undermined" condition)
  • Loose, cracked, uneven, or missing sections
  • Improper slope causing drainage issues
  • Patchwork or hardware sticking out

Learn more about Department of Transportation (DOT) sidewalk standards.

City Tree Damage

The City will no longer issue violations or impose liens on 1-, 2-, and 3- family properties that have sidewalk damage caused only by City trees.

Sidewalk defects due to tree or tree roots next to 4+ properties, commercial buildings, or vacant lots are the responsibility of the property owner.

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.

Sidewalk Repaired by the City

When DOT completes the sidewalk repairs, the agency will notify the county clerk’s office to remove the records. 

If the violation has not been removed, you can submit a sidewalk violation removal request.

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.

What Happens Next

DOT will review your request and schedule a reinspection within 180 days after you make the request.

The new inspection will be conducted by a different inspector, who doesn't have access to the Preliminary Inspection Report that led to the violation. The results of the second inspection are considered final and will be mailed to you.

Violation Issued to the Wrong Owner

Sidewalk violations may be mistakenly issued to the wrong owner due to DOT relying on outdated property ownership records.

To update ownership records, mail a request to:

The Department of Finance
Correspondence Unit
66 John Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10038

You can request or follow up with DOT on an existing sidewalk violation or lien on file and get a copy of the violation.

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

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