You open your mail. Another violation notice from DOB. Or HPD. Or ECB. The citation reads like legal gibberish. The deadline looms. You’ve got tenants calling, a property to manage, and zero time to decode bureaucratic requirements or stand in line at a city agency.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to fix violations yourself. Professionals exist who specialize in resolving these exact headaches. They speak the language of NYC agencies, know the filing requirements, and can turn a six-month nightmare into a managed process.
But not all violation professionals are created equal. Some will drag out timelines and rack up fees. Others lack the specific expertise your violation type demands. Picking the wrong firm can cost you more than the original fine.
We break this process down into two straightforward parts:
- What you need to know before hiring a violation professional – the non-negotiables that separate competent firms from costly mistakes
- Reputable NYC firms that actually deliver results – proven companies with track records in resolving DOB, HPD, ECB, and other agency violations
You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to pick a professional who can sort your violations out fast, correctly, and without the runaround. Let’s get started.
What Separates a Competent Violation Professional from a Costly Mistake
Hiring someone to handle your violations sounds simple. Hand over the paperwork, pay the fee, problem solved. But the reality? Many property owners end up paying twice, once for the “expert” who botched the job, and again for someone to clean up the mess.
Before you sign a contract or cut a check, you need to vet these professionals like you would any contractor working on your building. Here’s what actually matters.
Agency-Specific Expertise Matters More Than General Experience
Not all violations are the same. A DOB structural violation requires different expertise than an HPD housing maintenance code issue. ECB environmental violations demand knowledge that won’t help you with an FDNY fire safety citation.
Ask potential firms point-blank: Which agencies do they regularly work with?
A firm that claims to “handle everything” often handles nothing particularly well. You want specialists who know the specific agency, the typical adjudication process, and the inspectors who’ll review your case.
Red flags to watch for:
- Vague answers about their agency experience
- No specific examples of violations they’ve resolved similar to yours
- Claims that “all violations are basically the same.”
- Inability to explain the typical timeline for your violation type
License Verification Isn’t Optional
Many violation types require licensed professionals to sign off on corrections. A DOB structural issue needs a Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA). Elevator violations require licensed elevator inspectors. Plumbing code violations need licensed master plumbers.
The firm you hire should either have these licenses in-house or maintain verified relationships with licensed professionals who do the actual work.
Check these credentials yourself:
- PE and RA licenses through the NYS Office of Professions
- Master plumber licenses through the NYC Department of Buildings
- Elevator inspection certificates through the DOB’s online verification system
- Any trade-specific licenses that the violation demands
Don’t take their word for it. Pull the licenses up yourself. A competent firm will hand you license numbers without hesitation.
Response Time Can Make or Break Your Case
Violations come with deadlines. Miss a hearing date, and you’ve automatically lost your chance to contest the fine. Skip a compliance deadline, and penalties multiply. How fast does the firm respond to new clients? How quickly can they get an inspector to your property? What’s their typical turnaround for filing required documentation?
Test this during your initial contact. Send an email. Call their office. See how long it takes to get a substantive response, not an automated reply, but an actual human with answers. If they’re slow to respond when trying to win your business, they’ll be slower once they have your money.
Transparent Pricing Protects Your Budget
Some firms quote one price, then hit you with “unexpected” fees for paperwork, filing costs, inspector visits, or administrative overhead. Others charge hourly rates that balloon into five figures for violations that should cost a fraction of that.
Get everything in writing before you commit:
- Base service fee
- Filing and administrative costs
- Inspector or licensed professional fees
- Payment schedule tied to milestones
- What happens if the violation isn’t resolved on the first attempt
Smart pricing models include:
- Flat fees for straightforward violations with clear resolution paths
- Milestone-based payments (initial review, filing, resolution confirmation)
- Transparency about which costs are estimated versus fixed amounts
Walk away from firms that refuse to provide written estimates or claim they “can’t know costs until we start working.”
Track Record Beats Marketing Every Time
A slick website means nothing. Testimonials can be fabricated. What you need is verifiable proof that this firm actually resolves violations.
Ask for references from property owners with similar violation types. Not generic references, specific ones. If you’ve got an HPD Class C violation, you want to talk to someone whose HPD Class C violation they resolved.
Questions to ask references:
- How long did the resolution actually take compared to the estimate?
- Did any unexpected costs pop up?
- How responsive was the firm when problems arose?
- Would they hire this firm again?
You can also check the ECB and DOB databases to verify violation resolutions. If a firm claims it resolved 50 violations last year, you should be able to confirm at least some of those dismissals or compliance certifications.
Communication Style Reveals Future Problems
Pay attention to how firms explain your violation during the consultation. Do they break technical jargon down into plain English? Do they outline a clear action plan? Do they answer your questions directly or dodge with generic responses?
Poor communication at the start signals poor communication throughout the process. You’ll be chasing updates, left confused about next steps, and blindsided by developments you should have known about weeks earlier.
The best firms treat you like a partner in the process. They explain what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what you need to do (if anything). They don’t hide behind technical language or make you feel stupid for asking questions.
Portfolio Management Capability Scales With Your Needs
If you manage multiple properties, you need a firm that can handle volume without dropping balls. Can they track violations across your entire portfolio? Do they have systems to flag upcoming deadlines before they become emergencies?
Single-property owners can work with smaller firms. But once you’re managing five, ten, or twenty buildings, you need operational infrastructure that matches your scale.
Questions for multi-property managers:
- How many properties can they actively monitor?
- Do they offer portfolio-wide reporting?
- Can they prioritize violations by urgency across all your buildings?
- What’s their capacity for handling multiple concurrent violations?
Insurance and Liability Coverage Protects Everyone
If something goes wrong, a missed deadline, incorrect filing, or advice that makes your situation worse, who’s responsible? The firm you hire should carry professional liability insurance (errors and omissions coverage).
This protects you if their negligence causes financial harm. It also signals they’re a legitimate operation with something to lose if they screw up. Ask for proof of insurance. A certificate of insurance takes five minutes to produce if they actually have coverage.
Picking the right professional isn’t about finding the cheapest option or the firm with the fanciest office. It’s about matching your specific violation needs with verified expertise, transparent processes, and proven results. Once you know what to look for, the next step is knowing where to look.
New York City Firms That Actually Get Violations Resolved
You’ve narrowed down what to look for in a violation professional. Now comes the practical part: who should you actually call?
We’ve reviewed several firms that handle NYC building violations across multiple agencies. Each brings something different to the table, from traditional hands-on service to AI-powered automation that changes how violation management works.
1. Building Brothers
Building Brothers operates as a full-service violation resolution firm with a focus on DOB violations, plumbing violations, and enforcement tied to NYC building codes. They support every building owner dealing with active compliance risks, including those flagged by the environmental control board at a building or construction site.
Their approach centers on personal service. You get assigned a project manager who coordinates with licensed professionals to fix code infractions, secure necessary permits, and address issues linked to illegal occupancy or stalled construction project approvals. This structured process reduces exposure to civil penalties, prevents additional fines, and minimizes the risk of outstanding fines that compound into further penalties.
They also work closely with housing preservation standards to safeguard properties against repeat violations and help reduce the likelihood of future violations.
What they offer:
- Direct coordination for structural corrections and complex safety issues
- Active management of multi-step cases that trigger serious enforcement
- Support that prevents escalation tied to unresolved code infractions
- On-site inspections that stabilize conditions before authorities intervene
- Project management for complex, multi-step violations
Building Brothers works well if you prefer a traditional service model where someone handles everything offline. You’re paying for that white-glove treatment, which makes sense for property owners who want minimal involvement in the process.
2. Violation Removal Experts Inc
Violation Removal Experts specializes in expediting violation removals across New York City through a streamlined resolution process that moves fast when a violation issued threatens timelines or triggers legal action. Their team handles cases tied to residential properties and commercial sites, ensuring compliance with safety standards, zoning resolution, and enforcement rules set by the Environmental Control Board (ECB).
Their model focuses on speed and precision for each specific infraction identified at a work site or linked to a verified building’s address. They coordinate with a licensed contractor and an experienced general contractor, while aligning with legal counsel to prepare for potential administrative trials if disputes escalate.
Core services include:
- Fast-track response when a violation deadline or cure date approaches
- Coordinated scheduling for a required follow-up inspection
- Expert handling of agency procedures and documentation
- Emergency mobilization for high-risk compliance scenarios
This firm makes sense when time matters and you need immediate execution backed by professionals who can manage both compliance and enforcement risk without delay.
3. Sardar Violation Removal NYC
Sardar Violation Removal NYC brings technical expertise to complex violations that require engineering or architectural solutions across NY. They focus on cases where property owners must act quickly to correct issues tied to structural failures, façade defects, or life-safety risks that may trigger a stop-work order if left unresolved.
They employ licensed professionals in-house, ensuring a clear process from diagnosis to final approval. Their engineers manage every stage of repair work, prepare the right documents, and guide property owners to comply fully before scheduling a mandatory re-inspection.
Their specialty areas:
- DOB structural violations requiring PE or RA sign-off
- Facade inspections and Local Law 11 compliance
- Fire safety system violations (sprinklers, alarms, egress)
- Elevator and boiler violations with technical requirements
Sardar works well for violations where the technical complexity demands specialized knowledge. If your violation needs an engineer’s stamp, they’ve got the credentials in-house.
4. ViolationWatch
ViolationWatch flips the entire model. Instead of hiring someone to handle violations for you, you get an AI-powered platform that handles violations with you, and it does most of the heavy lifting automatically.
This isn’t a consulting firm. It’s a violation management system that monitors, tracks, and helps you resolve violations across your entire portfolio. No phone tag. No waiting for project managers to call you back. No wondering what’s happening with your cases.
Here’s how it works differently?
ViolationWatch connects directly to NYC’s DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, DEP, DEC, DOH, DOT, DSNY, and DOF databases. When a new violation hits your property, you get notified immediately, not days or weeks later when the mail arrives.
Everything lives in one unified dashboard. You see all your violations, their current status, upcoming deadlines, and required actions. No spreadsheets. No filing cabinets full of paperwork. No checking ten different agency websites.
The system updates violation statuses automatically. When an agency marks a violation as resolved or schedules a hearing, you know about it instantly. You’re never caught off guard by a missed deadline or an escalated fine.
The platform includes features most firms charge extra for:
- Automated tracking across all major NYC agencies
- Instant notifications for new violations and status changes
- Centralized document storage for all violation-related paperwork
- Compliance reports that show your portfolio’s violation status at a glance
- Resolution workflows that walk you through fixing each violation type
- Access to compliance professionals when you need expert guidance
You can test the system risk-free. ViolationWatch offers a free trial so you can see how it works with your actual properties before committing. No credit card required. No pressure sales calls. You get full access to see if the platform fits your needs.
They also provide a free NYC Building Violations Lookup tool. Punch in any address, and you’ll see all active violations on that property across every agency. You can use this before you even sign up; it’s completely open access.
Pricing stays transparent and scales with your portfolio:
- Single-property managers pay for what they need
- Multi-building portfolios get volume pricing that makes sense
- No hidden fees for “administrative costs” or “filing charges.”
- Month-to-month plans with no long-term contracts locking you in
The AI automation means you’re not paying hourly rates for someone to manually check agency websites or send reminder emails. The system does that work 24/7. You pay $9.99/per address per month for the platform, not for someone’s time.
Where ViolationWatch really shines is in portfolio management
If you’ve got multiple properties, traditional firms struggle to keep everything straight. You’re coordinating different project managers, tracking separate invoices, and hoping nothing falls through the cracks.
ViolationWatch gives you one view across everything you own. You can prioritize violations by urgency, see which properties need attention, and generate reports for investors or lenders who want compliance documentation.
The platform doesn’t replace licensed professionals when you need them; it connects you to compliance experts for complex cases. But for the majority of violations that follow standard resolution paths, the system guides you through the process yourself. You save thousands by handling straightforward cases in-house while bringing in experts only when necessary.
You’ve Got Options, But Only One Gives You Full Control
Hiring a professional to fix your violations works. You hand off the problem, and someone else deals with the city agencies, the paperwork, and the deadlines.
But here’s what you actually walked away with from this breakdown:
- Vetting matters more than reputation – agency-specific expertise, verified licenses, and transparent pricing separate competent firms from expensive mistakes
- Traditional firms charge per violation – which works fine for one or two cases, but becomes brutal math when you’re managing multiple properties with recurring issues
- Speed and communication predict outcomes – firms that respond slowly during sales will respond even slower once they have your money
- Portfolio-scale needs demand portfolio-scale solutions – individual project managers can’t give you the bird’s-eye view you need across ten or twenty buildings
- Technology changes the cost structure – automated tracking and centralized dashboards eliminate the manual labor you’d otherwise pay consultants to perform
You don’t need someone to manage violations for you if you’ve got a system that makes management straightforward. ViolationWatch puts every tool, notification, and compliance resource in one place so you’re never hunting for information or wondering what’s happening with your cases.
Start with the free lookup tool to see what’s actually on your properties right now, then decide if paying per-violation consultant fees still makes sense for how you operate.