Question 1

How do I look up HPD violations on a NYC building?

Accepted Answer

Use the free HPD Lookup tool to search by ZIP code, BIN, HPD Registration Number, or Borough/Block/Lot. Results pull live from the NYC Open Data HPD violations feed (the same source as HPDOnline) and show every Class A, B, and C violation with inspection date, status, and the full NOV description.

Question 2

What is an HPD violation?

Accepted Answer

An HPD (Department of Housing Preservation & Development) violation is a Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by a city inspector when a residential building fails NYC's Housing Maintenance Code — peeling lead paint, no heat, mold, broken plumbing, vermin, etc. Violations become public record and trigger fines until corrected and certified.

Question 3

What's the difference between Class A, B, and C HPD violations?

Accepted Answer

Class A is non-hazardous (correct within 90 days). Class B is hazardous (30 days). Class C is immediately hazardous: lead-based paint, mold, pests and window guards 21 days, self-closing doors 14 days, heat and hot water immediately, all other Class C 24 hours. Source: HPD Penalties and Fees.

Question 4

How much do HPD lead violation fines cost?

Accepted Answer

Penalties are set by law and were raised by Local Law 71, effective December 8, 2023. They depend on the class, building size and violation date, and many include daily amounts. Housing Court imposes them when an owner fails to correct and certify on time, or certifies falsely. See HPD's Penalties and Fees page for the current table.

Question 5

How long do I have to fix an HPD violation?

Accepted Answer

Class A: 90 days. Class B: 30 days. Class C: 21 days for lead paint, mold, pests and window guards; 14 days for self-closing doors; no time for heat and hot water; 24 hours for other Class C. Owners must both correct the condition and file a Certificate of Correction with HPD — the violation does not close automatically when the work is done.

Question 6

What happens if I ignore an HPD violation?

Accepted Answer

Daily fines accrue, the city can place a lien on the property, refinancing is blocked, and HPD's Emergency Repair Program can do the work themselves and bill the owner 1.5–2x cost. For Class C lead violations with a child under 6, the city can also refer the case to Corporation Counsel for litigation.

Question 7

How do I clear an HPD lead paint violation?

Accepted Answer

Three steps: (1) hire an EPA RRP-certified abatement contractor, (2) pass XRF clearance dust-wipe testing by a third-party lab, (3) file the HPD Certificate of Correction with the dust-wipe results attached. The violation closes 7–14 days after HPD reviews the filing.

Question 8

Can I see all HPD violations for free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both the city's HPDOnline portal and our HPD Lookup tool are free and require no signup. Our tool adds plain-English descriptions, instant abatement pricing, and ZIP/BBL search modes the city portal doesn't offer.

Question 9

How long do HPD violations stay on a building's record?

Accepted Answer

Open violations stay visible until cleared with a Certificate of Correction. Closed violations remain in the public record permanently — they don't disappear, but they're marked 'Closed' which is what buyers, lenders, and insurers want to see before a transaction.

Question 10

Do HPD violations transfer when a building is sold?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HPD violations attach to the building, not the owner. New owners inherit every open NOV at closing — which is why a pre-purchase HPD Lookup is the cheapest due diligence in NYC real estate. Always pull the report before signing.

Question 11

What is HPDOnline vs HPD Lookup?

Accepted Answer

HPDOnline (hpdonline.nyc.gov) is the city's official portal. HPD Lookup is our free tool built on the same NYC Open Data feed (dataset wvxf-dwi5). We add automatic borough detection, ZIP-code search, plain-English NOV summaries, and one-tap abatement estimates.

Question 12

Who can issue an HPD violation?

Accepted Answer

Only credentialed HPD inspectors. They're dispatched after a tenant 311 complaint, a routine annual inspection of registered buildings, a referral from another agency (FDNY, DOB, DOHMH), or after a child blood-lead test triggers a mandatory inspection under Local Law 31.

HPD Violations FAQ: Fines, Classes and Removal

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