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    What Is an HPD Violation?

    A plain-English guide to NYC HPD violations — the three severity classes (A, B, C), how they're triggered by tenant complaints, what landlords owe under the Housing Maintenance Code, and what happens if a Class C violation isn't corrected in 24 hours.

    HPD Violation: The Definition

    An HPD violation is issued by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development when a residential property fails to meet the standards of the NYC Housing Maintenance Code or the NYS Multiple Dwelling Law. HPD enforces habitability requirements designed to protect tenants' health and safety.

    Unlike DOB violations, HPD violations focus specifically on residential living conditions and landlord maintenance obligations — heat, hot water, plumbing, pests, lead paint, window guards, and more. They're almost always complaint-driven: tenants file 311 complaints and HPD dispatches an inspector.

    If you have active HPD violations, see our HPD Violation Removal service. For deeper reading on how residential compliance works, see How the Multiple Dwelling Law and Housing Maintenance Code Shape COs.

    How HPD Violations Are Issued

    HPD violations follow a familiar pattern — most start with a tenant complaint:

    • Tenant files a 311 complaint — About lack of heat, hot water, pests, mold, lead paint, broken windows, or another habitability issue.
    • HPD dispatches an inspector — Typically within a few days, sooner for immediately hazardous conditions like no heat during heating season.
    • Inspector documents conditions — The inspector notes any violations in each apartment and common area, assigns them a class (A, B, or C), and enters them into HPD's database.
    • Notice of Violation issued — The landlord receives notice and has a specific cure period based on the violation class (24 hours for Class C, 30 days for Class B, 90 days for Class A).
    • Certification of Correction required — After curing the condition, the landlord must file a Certificate of Correction with HPD, sometimes followed by a re-inspection.

    The Three Classes of HPD Violations

    HPD uses three severity classes — labeled backwards from DOB's system, where C is the most serious. Each class carries different correction timeframes and consequences.

    Class C — Immediately Hazardous

    The most serious HPD violations. Property owners must correct Class C conditions within 24 hours. These represent immediate dangers to tenant health and safety.

    Common examples:

    • No heat during heating season (October 1 – May 31)
    • No hot water
    • Lead-based paint hazards in units with children under 6
    • Pest infestations (roaches, mice, rats, bed bugs)
    • No electricity or gas service
    • Broken or missing window guards in units with children under 11

    Class B — Hazardous

    Class B violations are hazardous conditions that must be corrected within 30 days. They represent significant maintenance failures that affect habitability.

    Common examples:

    • Defective plumbing (leaking pipes, non-functional toilets)
    • Cracked or broken windows
    • Inadequate lighting in hallways and stairwells
    • Missing or defective smoke/CO detectors
    • Damaged flooring creating trip hazards
    • Mold growth due to water infiltration

    Class A — Non-Hazardous

    Class A violations are minor maintenance issues that must be corrected within 90 days. While not immediately dangerous, accumulating Class A violations signals poor property management.

    Common examples:

    • Peeling paint (non-lead) or chipped plaster
    • Minor cracks in walls or ceilings
    • Missing or damaged door hardware
    • Defective or missing mailbox locks
    • Minor plumbing drips

    Common Causes of HPD Violations

    Certain conditions come up repeatedly on residential buildings. The most common triggers include:

    Insufficient heat (below 68°F day / 62°F night during heating season)

    Interruption of hot water service

    Roach, mouse, rat, or bed bug infestations

    Lead-based paint peeling in apartments with young children

    Missing or broken window guards in units with children under 11

    Non-functional smoke detectors or carbon monoxide alarms

    Chronic leaks and resulting mold

    Broken locks on unit or building entrance doors

    Non-functional intercom systems

    Failure to maintain hallway lighting

    What Happens If You Ignore an HPD Violation?

    Ignoring an HPD violation is especially costly for landlords because HPD has enforcement tools that other agencies don't. If you leave a Class C condition unresolved, the city can literally hire a contractor and bill you:

    • Emergency Repair Program (ERP) — HPD hires contractors and bills you 2–3x normal cost plus admin fees
    • Property liens for unpaid ERP charges and civil penalties
    • ECB penalties adjudicated at OATH ($250–$1,000+ per violation, daily for Class C)
    • Tenant HP proceedings in Housing Court that compel repairs and impose civil penalties
    • Placement on HPD's Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) for chronically distressed buildings
    • Delayed or blocked property sales, refinancing, and title transfers

    HPD vs. DOB: Different Jobs

    HPD and DOB are often confused. DOB regulates construction and structural safety — how a building is built. HPD regulates habitability — how a building is maintained for tenants. A building can have DOB violations and no HPD violations, or vice versa.

    Tenant complaints about heat, hot water, or pests go to HPD. Complaints about illegal construction or unsafe scaffolding go to DOB. Sometimes the same underlying condition triggers both.

    Have open HPD violations on your property?

    Learn more about our HPD violation removal service or contact BVS for a free compliance review. We'll audit every open violation and outline the fastest path to close them across your entire portfolio.