HPD Violation Classes Explained: Class A, B & C in NYC (2026 Guide)

When the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) issues a violation against a residential building, it assigns one of three severity classes: Class A (non-hazardous), Class B (hazardous), or Class C (immediately hazardous). The class determines how quickly the landlord must correct the condition, the fines for failing to do so, and whether emergency repairs can be performed at the owner's expense.

This guide explains each violation class in detail, provides examples, and covers the correction timelines, fines, and resolution process.

HPD Violation Classes Overview

HPD enforces the NYC Housing Maintenance Code (HMC), which sets minimum standards for the condition of residential buildings. When an HPD inspector finds a condition that violates the HMC, they issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) classified as A, B, or C based on the severity of the hazard to occupants.

Class A — Non-Hazardous Violations

Class A violations are the least severe. They cover conditions that are code violations but do not pose an immediate health or safety risk to occupants.

Correction Deadline

90 days from the date of the violation.

Common Class A Examples

• Missing or illegible apartment number on the door
• Minor peeling paint (non-lead, in buildings built after 1960 or with no children under 6)
• Missing or broken doorbell
• Cracked or missing floor tiles (not a tripping hazard)
• Missing window screens (during non-required months)
• Minor plaster cracks that don't affect structural integrity
• Failure to post required notices in common areas

Class B — Hazardous Violations

Class B violations cover conditions that are hazardous to the health and safety of occupants but are not immediately life-threatening.

Correction Deadline

30 days from the date of the violation.

Common Class B Examples

• Defective smoke or carbon monoxide detector
• Leaking pipes or faucets (not a flood situation)
• Broken or missing window guards (in buildings with children under 10)
• Infestation — roaches, mice, or other vermin
• Defective door lock on apartment entrance
• Mold growth (not extensive)
• Missing or broken handrails on stairs
• Insufficient hot water (below 120°F at the tap)
• Peeling lead paint in buildings built before 1960 (or with children under 6 in pre-1978 buildings)
• Broken or defective radiator or heating unit

Class C — Immediately Hazardous Violations

Class C violations are the most severe. They represent conditions that pose an immediate risk to life, health, or safety and require urgent correction.

Correction Deadline

24 hours from the date of the violation.

Common Class C Examples

• No heat during heat season (Oct 1 – May 31)
• No hot water
• No electricity / exposed or dangerous wiring
• Gas leak or defective gas connection
• Lead paint hazard — peeling/flaking lead paint with child under 6 in residence
• Structural damage — holes in floor, collapsed ceiling, broken stairs
• No running water
• Sewage overflow or backed-up plumbing
• Fire escape blocked or defective
• No working smoke detector (some jurisdictions escalate to Class C)
• Extensive mold / water damage affecting habitability

Side-by-Side Comparison

How HPD Violations Are Issued

HPD violations are typically issued through this process:

1. Complaint filed — a tenant, neighbor, or elected official files a complaint via 311 or HPD Online
2. Inspection scheduled — HPD schedules an inspection (typically within 1–10 days depending on severity)
3. Inspector visits — an HPD inspector visits the building to verify the complaint conditions
4. Violation issued — if the inspector confirms the condition, they issue a Notice of Violation with the appropriate class (A, B, or C)
5. Owner notified — the building owner receives a copy of the violation by mail
6. Correction window begins — the clock starts on the correction deadline

How to Check HPD Violations

DOBGuard (Recommended)

DOBGuard's free lookup tool searches both DOB and HPD violations simultaneously, showing all open and historical violations with their class designations.

HPD Online

1. Go to hpdonline.hpdnyc.org
2. Search by address
3. Click on "Open Violations" to see all current violations by class

311

Call 311 or visit 311 online to check the status of a specific complaint or violation.

How to Resolve HPD Violations

The resolution process for building owners:

1. Correct the condition within the required timeframe (90/30/24 hours depending on class)
2. Certify the correction — file a Certificate of Correction with HPD, including a description of the work performed and the date completed
3. HPD may re-inspect — particularly for Class B and C violations, HPD may send an inspector to verify the correction
4. Violation is closed — once HPD accepts the certification (and re-inspection passes, if applicable), the violation status changes to "Closed"

Fines and Penalties by Class

Penalties for uncorrected HPD violations escalate over time:

Buildings with a high volume of unresolved violations — particularly Class B and C — may be placed on HPD's Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP), which imposes additional oversight and penalties.

HPD vs. DOB Violations

Property owners in NYC deal with two different violation systems. Understanding the difference helps you respond correctly:

A building can have both HPD and DOB violations simultaneously. Use DOBGuard's lookup tool to search both systems at once.

Tenant Rights

As a tenant in NYC, you have legal protections related to HPD violations:

• Right to file complaints — you can report housing conditions to HPD via 311 at any time, and landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who file complaints
• Right to repairs — landlords are legally required to maintain habitable conditions as defined by the Housing Maintenance Code
• Warranty of habitability — under NY Real Property Law §235-b, tenants can withhold rent or seek rent abatement in housing court for unresolved hazardous conditions
• HP (Housing Part) actions — tenants can bring a case in Housing Court to compel the landlord to make repairs
• Rent reduction — if conditions persist, tenants can apply to the DHCR (for rent-stabilized apartments) or seek rent abatement in court

Monitor HPD Violations with DOBGuard

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Class B violation in NYC?

A Class B violation is an HPD housing violation classified as hazardous. It covers conditions that endanger the health or safety of occupants but are not immediately life-threatening — such as vermin infestation, leaking pipes, broken locks, or defective smoke detectors. The landlord has 30 days to correct a Class B violation.

What is a Class C violation?

A Class C violation is classified as immediately hazardous — the most severe category. It covers conditions like no heat, no water, gas leaks, exposed wiring, or structural collapse risk. The landlord must correct Class C violations within 24 hours. If they don't, HPD can perform emergency repairs at the owner's expense.

What is a Class A violation?

A Class A violation is non-hazardous — the least severe category. It covers minor maintenance issues like a missing apartment number, minor paint peeling (non-lead), or a broken doorbell. The landlord has 90 days to correct a Class A violation.

How do I check if my building has HPD violations?

Search your address on DOBGuard's free lookup tool or on HPD Online. DOBGuard shows both HPD and DOB violations in a single search.

Can a landlord be fined for not fixing violations?

Yes. Uncorrected violations accrue daily penalties: $10–$50/day for Class A, $25–$100/day for Class B, and $50–$250/day for Class C. HPD can also pursue litigation, place liens on the property, and — in extreme cases — seek appointment of a court-ordered administrator (7A receiver).

Do HPD violations affect property value?

Yes, significantly. Open HPD violations — especially Class B and C — appear in title searches and buyer due diligence. Properties with high violation counts often sell at a discount, and some lenders will not finance purchases of buildings with unresolved immediately hazardous violations.