Failure to Certify Correction / File a COC in NYC
Work may be done, but the DOB violation stays open on the property’s record until a Certificate of Correction (COC) is filed and approved — which is what blocks sales and refinancing.
What It Means
Per DOB: failure to submit a COC for a summons may result in additional violations. Violations remain open (active) on the property’s public profile until they have either been dismissed at an OATH hearing or resolved through the COC review process. The COC is the universal DOB clearing mechanism, filed online in DOB NOW: Safety → Violations & Notices of Deficiency.
Why You Got It
Common triggers: the work was done but never certified; a COC was disapproved and never resubmitted; or a civil penalty was never paid (a COC cannot be approved until all DOB civil penalties are paid or waived).
Consequences & Penalties
DOB does not quote a standalone dollar figure for “failure to certify” itself, but it keeps the underlying violation open and penalties accruing. For Class 1 construction sites larger than four families, an added $5,000 civil penalty applies with re-inspections every 60 days until the condition is certified corrected.
Information current as of 2026-06-21. Penalty amounts and deadlines change — confirm specifics against your violation notice or with a Licensed Master Plumber.
How to Clear It
- Confirm the underlying condition is actually corrected (with permits if needed).
- Pay or obtain a waiver of all DOB civil penalties — a COC cannot be approved until they are paid or waived.
- Submit the COC in DOB NOW: Safety → Violations & Notices of Deficiency with Submitter, Certifier, and Corrector roles plus the required attestations (notarization is no longer required).
- If disapproved, read the Disapproval Reasons tab and either Resubmit or Dispute.
Timeline
If a cure date appears on the summons, filing a valid COC on or before it means zero penalty. Otherwise, file as soon as possible to stop penalty accrual and the 60-day re-inspection cycle for applicable Class 1 sites.
Related Laws & Rules
- 1 RCNY §102-01
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my violation still showing as open after the work was done?
A DOB violation stays open until a Certificate of Correction is filed and approved — or the matter is dismissed at an OATH hearing. Completing the physical work is not enough; the correction must be certified in DOB NOW: Safety.
What do I need before I can file a Certificate of Correction?
The underlying condition must be corrected (with permits where required), and all DOB civil penalties must be paid or waived — a COC cannot be approved until they are.
Do I need a Licensed Master Plumber to certify a plumbing correction?
For plumbing and gas conditions, the Licensed Master Plumber who did the work is typically the Certifier or Corrector on the COC. Certifying the paperwork is the final step of the remediation.
My COC was disapproved — what now?
Read the Disapproval Reasons tab in DOB NOW and either Resubmit with the corrected information or Dispute the disapproval.
Sources
Clear This Violation With a Licensed Master Plumber
Send us your notice and we'll handle the full violation removal specialists — from diagnosis through DOB sign-off. Same-day response.