Department of Transportation
NYC DOT sidewalk violations search. No fine, but it follows the deed.
A DOT sidewalk notice doesn't cost anything until you ignore it. Then the city fixes the sidewalk at its price and the record sits with the County Clerk. Run the building search below, then check the sidewalk record on ViolationWatch.
- DOB
- ECB
- HPD
- + 7 more agencies in the full search
How NYC DOT sidewalk violations work
In New York, the property owner is responsible for the sidewalk in front of the building. DOT inspectors look for trip hazards, broken flags, raised edges and missing sections. When they find one, DOT mails a Notice of Violation by certified mail with a diagram of the defective squares. The city's database has over 312,000 of these.
- No fine. The notice itself carries no penalty. That's the opposite of an ECB violation, where the penalty is the point.
- 75 days. The clock starts when you receive the notice (the certified mail receipt date), or on the posting date if it was posted on the property.
- County Clerk record. A copy is filed against the property and stays until the city confirms the repair. Buyers' title reports pick it up, along with anything else open on the property. Run the address through our free building violations lookup for DOB, ECB and HPD records, and use the five-step lookup guide for the systems that search doesn't cover.
- If you don't fix it, DOT can send its own contractor and bill you. An unpaid bill can become a lien.
Fixing it yourself
- Hire a contractor who can pull a DOT sidewalk permit (or pull it yourself if you qualify). DOT's listed permit fee is $70 per 300 linear feet.
- Repair the squares marked on the notice to DOT spec. Repairing only part of them won't close it.
- Request a Sidewalk Violation Dismissal Inspection through 311. DOT sends an inspector, so keep the whole sidewalk visible.
- Keep the permit, photos and invoice until the dismissal is recorded.
Read the full city guide: NYC Sidewalks: A Property Owner's Guide.
Last checked against nyc.gov/dot sidewalks: October 23, 2026.
Common questions
DOT sidewalk violations: common questions
Short answers first. Still stuck? Call (347) 201-2336 and a person picks up.
What is a DOT sidewalk violation?
A DOT sidewalk violation is an official notice from the NYC Department of Transportation telling a property owner that the sidewalk next to their property is defective, because owners must install, repair and maintain those sidewalks under Administrative Code §19-152. There's no fine. A copy is filed with the County Clerk and stays there until the city confirms the repair, which can complicate a sale or refinance.
How do I look up a DOT sidewalk violation?
Request the status or a copy through 311, or search DOT's Sidewalk Management Database – Violations on NYC Open Data, which the city updates regularly. The full ViolationWatch search matches those records to an address for you. The in-page search on this site covers DOB, ECB and HPD only, so it won't show a sidewalk notice.
How do I check the status of a DOT sidewalk violation?
Ask 311, by phone or on 311 Online, for the status or a copy of the sidewalk violation; that's the route DOT points owners to. After a repair, the violation clears only when DOT's dismissal inspection passes, and the Sidewalk Dismissal Inspection Tracking dataset on NYC Open Data shows where those inspections stand.
Is there a fine for a DOT sidewalk violation?
No. There's no fine attached to a Notice of Sidewalk Violation, but the notice is filed with the County Clerk and stays there until the city confirms the repair, which shows up in a title search when you sell or refinance. If DOT does the repair itself, you get the bill.
How long do I have to fix a sidewalk violation?
You have 75 days from the day you receive the Notice of Sidewalk Violation, as shown on the certified mail receipt, or from the posting date if the notice was posted on the property instead. A sidewalk permit doesn't extend the 75 days. After that DOT can have a contractor do the repair and the Department of Finance bills you. Unpaid bills accrue interest after 90 days and become a lien.
Do I get a violation if a tree root broke the sidewalk?
Not if you own a one-, two- or three-family property and the damage was caused solely by a City street tree: the city no longer issues sidewalk violations to those owners for tree damage and doesn't charge them for the repair. NYC Parks' Trees and Sidewalks Program repairs eligible tree-damaged sidewalks, and Parks offers owners free consultations before work near tree roots.
How do I get a DOT sidewalk violation removed?
Repair every flag numbered on the Preliminary Inspection Report to DOT specifications under a DOT sidewalk permit ($70 per 300 linear feet), then request a Sidewalk Violation Dismissal Inspection through 311. DOT sends an inspector, so keep the whole sidewalk visible. Once the repair passes, the County Clerk record can be cleared. If the notice doesn't match the actual condition, ask for a re-inspection within 75 days of receiving it.