Settle Violations

What is a Summons/Notice of Hearing?

A Summons/Notice of Hearing is an order for you to appear at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). It is usually issued by a DCWP—formerly DCA—inspector during an on-site business inspection or by DCWP because your business could not resolve a consumer complaint through mediation. See a sample Summons/Notice of Hearing.

What should I do?

In most cases, you can settle a case without a hearing by meeting with a DCWP Settlement Officer or accepting the conditions of an Offer of Settlement letter. Some Offers of Settlement will include information about curable violations (i.e., certain first-time violations that you can settle without penalty if you correct the violation within 30 days of the inspection and plead guilty). Read Curable Violations FAQs.

Do you want to settle your Consumer and Worker Protection summons? You can request an Offer of Settlement using your cell phone! Download flyer to view instructions.

If you are settling a violation for selling tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or smoking paraphernalia to a minor and want to submit a certificate of completion from a tobacco sales training program certified by the NYS Department of Health, you must also submit the Tobacco Sales Training Program Affirmation. Note: The start date on the employee’s certificate must be before the employee made the illegal sale.

For more information about settlements, read Frequently Asked Questions – Settlements.

For more information about OATH hearings, including procedural rules (for example, requests to reschedule a hearing), go to nyc.gov/oath

How can I avoid future violations?

Review our Inspection Checklists to help avoid future violations.