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OATH Summonses

View the Status of an OATH Summons:  
or to search for an OATH Summons by address, use the Buildings Information System (BIS)

The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is an administrative tribunal that provides hearings on notices of violation issued by City agencies. As it relates to the Department of Buildings, all violating condition(s) must be corrected and certified as corrected with DOB. To certify correction, submit the following documents to DOB’s Administrative Enforcement Unit (AEU) in DOB NOW at www.nyc.gov/dobnow.

  • an original Certificate of Correction affidavit (AEU2 or AEU3321 Form) completed by one of the following individuals: respondent named on the summons, officer of the named corporation, property owner, managing agent of place of occurrence, partner of named respondent partnership; contractor or other agent
  • notarized statement (AEU20 Form) attesting to how the violating condition(s) were corrected if submitting an AEU2 form
  • proof of correction: permits, receipts, labeled photographs, inspection results, etc.; and
  • proof of payment of any applicable DOB civil penalties.

The paper Certificate of Correction affidavit and statement forms (AEU2, AEU3321 and AEU20) can no longer be sent or delivered in-person to AEU. To submit a Certificate of Correction request, use an eFiling account to login to DOB NOW at www.nyc.gov/dobnow and select the BIS Options portal. See the Certificate of Correction Request User Guide.

To get forms and for questions about summonses contact the AEU Customer Service Team the online help form at www.nyc.gov/dobhelp or call (212) 393-2405.

Immediately Hazardous (Class 1) Summonses

Class 1 summonses must be corrected immediately, and a Certificate of Correction must be filed with AEU to prove the violating condition(s) have been corrected. Immediately Hazardous (Class 1) Summonses that have been issued at construction sites larger than four families and have not been certified as corrected in a timely manner, face additional DOB civil penalties of $5,000, with re-inspections every 60 days.

Upon re-inspection, if it is determined the condition remains or an acceptable Certificate of Correction has not been filed with DOB, additional summonses may be issued. To avoid the $5,000 DOB civil penalty and further re-inspections of the condition, certify the summons as corrected with AEU.

To pay an Immediately Hazardous civil penalty, log into eFiling, select Express Cashier Payments and Hazardous Violation Fees. Payment can be made by eCheck or credit card, which includes a 2% service charge. In-person payments will no longer be accepted. A copy of the receipt must be submitted with a Certificate of Correction request.

Tips & Additional Information

  • Comply with NYC Construction Codes, Zoning Resolution, and other applicable rules and laws.
  • Always obtain permits when necessary.
  • Work within the scope of your permit. Hire registered/licensed design professionals.
  • Hire registered/licensed contractors. Perform regular or scheduled maintenance on buildings.
  • Comply with required inspection and reporting requirements for façades, boilers, and elevators.
  • Stay current with new requirements by signing up for the Department’s monthly newsletter, Buildings News.

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