Are you tracking your property's OATH statuses?

Understanding OATH Summons Statuses

When a city agency (like DOB, FDNY, or DSNY) issues a summons returnable to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), the ticket moves through a lifecycle of statuses.

Understanding exactly what these statuses mean is critical. Misinterpreting a status can lead to missed deadlines, massive default penalties, or the mistaken belief that a violation is closed when it is actually still open.

Why it matters for NYC property owners

A status of "In Violation" means a fine is due, while a status of "Default" means you missed your hearing and owe a maximum penalty. If a summons is left unaddressed, the debt will eventually be transferred to civil court and placed as a lien on your property, blocking sales and refinancing.

Common OATH Statuses Explained

Hearing Pending: The summons has been scheduled for an upcoming hearing. You must appear or admit/pay by the date listed.
In Violation: The hearing officer found you guilty, or you admitted the violation and paid. A fine is required. Crucially, this status only relates to the fine; you may still need to file a Certificate of Correction.
Default: You failed to appear for the hearing. A default penalty (usually the maximum fine allowed by law) has been assessed against the property.
Dismissed: The hearing officer ruled in your favor or the issuing agency withdrew the summons. No fine is due, and no Certificate of Correction is needed.
Appealed: You or the issuing agency is formally challenging the hearing officer's decision.

Never get caught off guard

D.O.B. Guard monitors OATH statuses automatically. We alert you instantly if a violation flips to "Default" or a new hearing is scheduled.

Start Monitoring

What owners or managers should check

Never assume a paid ticket is fully closed. Look for the "Compliance Recorded" flag. If it's missing, you still need to file a Certificate of Correction.
If a ticket is in "Default," act immediately. You only have a limited window (usually 60 days from the missed hearing) to request a new hearing.
Check the OATH portal or your D.O.B. Guard dashboard routinely to ensure no new summonses are sitting in "Hearing Pending" without your knowledge.

How D.O.B. Guard can help

Manually checking the OATH portal for every property is tedious and error-prone. D.O.B. Guard automates this. The moment a summons status changes—from pending to default, or from in violation to dismissed—we send you a real-time alert, ensuring you always know where your compliance stands.

Related Resources

Track Your OATH Summonses

Start monitoring your properties to track status changes automatically, or search your building right now for free.

Start Monitoring Search Your Property

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Compliance Recorded" mean?

It means the issuing agency (like the DOB) has accepted your Certificate of Correction and the physical hazard is considered resolved. You must achieve this status AND pay the fine for the violation to be fully closed.

Can I appeal a "Default" status?

You cannot "appeal" a default directly, but you can file a request to reopen the case (a Request for a New Hearing After a Failure to Appear). This must be done quickly, usually within 60 to 75 days of the missed hearing.