Got a DOT Violation?
We Clear It in 3–7 Days.

A DOT (Department of Transportation) sidewalk violation is an official Notice of Violation issued by NYC DOT inspectors when the sidewalk fronting your property has a defect — cracks ¾ inch or wider, trip hazards over ½ inch, missing flags, or improper slope. Under NYC Administrative Code §19-152, the property owner — not the city — is responsible for repair.

NYC DOT gives property owners 75 days from the date the Notice of Violation is mailed to repair the sidewalk and pass re-inspection. After 75 days the violation can be escalated, fines added, and the debt eventually placed as a lien on the property.

Unpaid DOT sidewalk violations don't go away. After the 75-day window the city can hire its own contractor (typically charging 2–3× private rates), bill you, and if unpaid place a lien on your property. Liens can be sold at NYC's annual tax lien sale to private buyers who can foreclose.

Most NYC sidewalk violation jobs run $15–$25 per square foot installed, including the $70 DOT permit and 4,000 PSI concrete to spec. A typical 60 sqft repair lands between $900 and $1,500. We publish a full borough-by-borough price table on our pricing page.

Per NYC Admin Code §19-152, the adjacent property owner is responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining the sidewalk in front of their property. The one exception is 1, 2, or 3-family owner-occupied homes for tree-root damage — the Parks Department may cover those under the Trees & Sidewalks Program.

No — with one narrow exception. The NYC Parks Trees & Sidewalks Program may repair tree-root damage on 1–3 family owner-occupied homes for free, but the waitlist runs years. For all other cases the property owner pays, either by hiring a contractor (cheaper, faster) or letting the city hire one (2–3× the price + 90-day payment window before lien).

Search NYC DOT's free Sidewalk Violation Search by address or BIN. If a violation exists you'll see the violation number, date issued, defect type, and status. We run this search for free as part of every estimate.

If a DOT violation goes unpaid after the city repairs the sidewalk, the cost becomes a property lien filed by the NYC Department of Finance. Liens accrue interest at 18% and can be sold at the annual tax lien sale. To remove one you must pay the underlying invoice plus interest and admin fees, then request a lien satisfaction letter. See our dedicated lien removal page.

Yes — and it's one of the most common causes in Queens and Staten Island. Even though the tree may be city-owned, the violation is still issued to you, the property owner. We replace the damaged flags and install root barriers to prevent re-occurrence.

Yes. We're one of the few NYC-licensed sidewalk contractors that serves all of Nassau and Suffolk County in addition to the five boroughs. Town-level permits vary; we handle the paperwork.