How to Resolve an ECB Violation
The New York City Environmental Control Board (ECB) oversees public health, safety and environmental stability. If an inspector believes your property fails to meet the city's building or zoning regulations, he will give you an ECB violation. There are two types of ECB violations: hazardous and non-hazardous. To resolve an ECB violation, you must acknowledge the offense, pay a fine and rectify the breach of legal code.
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Instructions
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Examine your ECB violation to determine the penalty and solution for your offense. The notice describes how your property has violated a particular legal provision. It describes the violation as either "hazardous" or "non-hazardous" and suggests one or more remedies for the problem. The exact provision your property violated is on the top-left corner of the notice.
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Request a hearing with your local ECB office if your violation is hazardous or if you wish to contest a non-hazardous one. Consult the ECB Violation Reference Guide, available on the ECB's website, for your local office's contact information. You must make an appointment ahead of time to obtain a hearing.
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Fix the violations described on the notice. Follow the inspector's suggested remedy or consult the ECB website for alternate solutions. You may need to acquire one or more building permits or hire a certified professional to complete a home improvement project. You can also revert the property to its original condition if it does not harm the structural integrity of the building.
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Pay the penalty for your violation. If this is your first violation, you may not be required to pay any penalty if you fixed the problem by the date listed on the notice. Consult the ECB website for penalty information. Failing to either appear at a hearing or fix a violation can result in significantly higher penalties, up to $25,000.
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File the Certificate of Correction attached to the back of your ECB violation. Prove that you remedied the violation by attaching pictures of the site, signatures by licensed professionals or receipts as proof. Examples of acceptable proof of remedy are listed in the ECB Violation Reference Guide. The reference guide also details the mailing and submission instructions for the certificate.
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Tips & Warnings
Read through the ECB Violation Reference Guide to learn more about the Environmental Control Board and the types of violations it issues.
Resolve the violation as soon as possible to avoid hefty penalties or legal action. Failing to appear before the court bumps your offense to "aggravated" status.
