An OATH summons stays open until DOB approves a Certificate of Correction or OATH dismisses it at a hearing. We correct shed, scaffold and fence conditions in all five boroughs. Rules as of November 2026; not legal advice.
Have a summons? Call (929) 566-7313 with the summons number.
Or send us your summons: the address, the summons or violation number, the type (shed, scaffold, fence, facade or Stop Work Order) and your hearing or cure date.
“DOB violation” can mean three different notices: an OATH summons, a violation DOB handles itself, or a Stop Work Order. All three mean DOB found a problem, and how to resolve a DOB violation depends on which one you have.
Every OATH summons carries a class:
Search your address in DOB’s Buildings Information System (BIS); the property profile lists open violations and OATH (ECB) summonses. Note the summons number and the hearing or cure date, then call us about the correction work.
DOB’s penalty schedule (1 RCNY 102-01) sets the penalty for each sidewalk shed violation, scaffold summons and facade notice by section and class. Standard is the penalty after a hearing, and default applies when nobody appears. Aggravated amounts apply to repeat violations, and an aggravated charge never qualifies for a cure. We checked these figures against DOB’s current schedule in November 2026.
| Violation (DOB wording, shortened) | Section | Class | Standard | Default | Cure option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to get a permit before installing or using a sidewalk shed | §28-105.1 | 2 | $1,250 | $6,250 | Yes |
| Expired permit (shed) | BC 106.8.2 (BC 105.8.2 in the 2014 code) | 2 | $1,250 | $6,250 | Yes |
| Failure to provide a sidewalk shed where the code requires one | BC 3307.6.2 | 1 | $10,000 | $25,000 | No |
| Project information panel, shed parapet panel or construction sign missing or out of compliance | BC 3301.9 | 2 | $1,250 | $6,250 | No |
| Failure to safeguard the public and property during construction | BC 3301.2 | 1 / 2 | $10,000 / $5,000 | $25,000 / $10,000 | No |
| Unqualified supervisor or worker on a scaffold | BC 3314.4.5.1 | 1 | $5,000 | $25,000 | No |
| Failure to take required public-safety measures at an unsafe facade | §28-302.5 | 1 | $10,000 | $25,000 | No |
| Failure to file an amended report showing correction of unsafe conditions | §28-302.5 | 2 | $1,250 | $6,250 | Yes |
| Failure to maintain building walls or appurtenances | §28-302.1 | 1 / 2 / 3 | $5,000 / $2,500 / $500 | $25,000 / $10,000 / $500 | No / Yes / Yes |
| Fence exceeds permitted height (permanent fences) | BC 3112.1 | 3 | $500 | $500 | Yes |
An expired sidewalk shed permit triggers DOB’s Work Without a Permit civil penalty on top of the OATH summons. DOB stopped waiving that penalty for sheds in 2023 and approves your certificate only after you pay it. Renewal rules and penalties for stalled jobs: NYC shed permit rules and Local Law 48 penalties.
The three $10,000 rows all cover failures to protect the public, and none qualifies for a cure.
Late FISP reports cost $1,000 a month, plus $5,000 for each year after the filing window closes.
The fence-height row covers permanent fences, not construction fences. A construction fence follows DOB’s job-site rules and must stand at least 8 feet high, and we build temporary construction fencing to that height.
A cure can mean no OATH penalty, but only if you correct the condition and DOB approves your certificate by the cure date. Call (929) 566-7313 about the correction work.
To resolve an OATH summons for a sidewalk shed, scaffold or fence, correct the condition, then submit a Certificate of Correction in DOB NOW: Safety. The summons closes when DOB’s Administrative Enforcement Unit (AEU) approves the certificate; paying the OATH penalty alone doesn’t close it.
Correct the condition, give proof to the DOB unit that issued the violation and pay any DOB civil penalties.
In NYC, DOB issues a Stop Work Order when inspectors find unsafe work or conditions on a site. A full order bans all work except remedial work the Commissioner authorizes to make the site safe. A partial order stops only certain work or one area.
A shed or fence that makes the site safe can qualify as authorized remedial work, so confirm the scope with DOB before anyone starts. Work the order bars brings an OATH summons: $10,000 standard, $25,000 default. DOB adds its own civil penalty of $6,000 for a first offense and $12,000 after that.
To lift the order:
A DOB facade violation closes through your Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI). Our part is the shed or fence that protects the public during repairs.
Your QEWI submits the overdue report in DOB NOW: Safety, and then you pay the late-filing penalties. From Cycle 6 on, payments and waiver requests also go through DOB NOW: Safety.
Repair the unsafe condition first. Your QEWI then files an acceptable amended report in DOB NOW: Safety, and you pay any outstanding penalties. DOB’s penalty for an uncorrected Unsafe condition starts at $1,000 a month. It applies to periods with no active extension request, so have your QEWI request one if repairs will run long.
An Unsafe rating requires immediate public protection, such as a sidewalk shed or construction fence. If the protection isn’t up yet, see emergency sidewalk shed installation. The shed stays until DOB accepts the amended report or approves an earlier removal. Taking it down without that approval is a Class 2 violation with no cure: $1,250 standard, $6,250 default. For FISP cycles and shed permit terms, see NYC shed permit rules and Local Law 48 penalties.
We do the physical correction work a summons needs before anyone can certify it: sidewalk sheds, scaffolding, construction fences and jersey barriers. The same crew installs, maintains and removes each one. You, your engineer and your attorney or representative handle the filings and hearings.
We install or repair temporary construction fencing and jersey barriers where a summons cites site protection.
As the company that did the work, we supply the corrector’s part of your Certificate of Correction. That means permit and job numbers, dated photos of the corrected condition with their locations, and a written description of the work. You or your representative submit the request in DOB NOW: Safety.
Send us your summons, and we’ll tell you which conditions we can correct.
Brooklyn Sidewalk Shed and Scaffolding is a Brooklyn-based, licensed NYC scaffolding contractor working in all five boroughs since 2004.
Call (929) 566-7313 with the summons number and your cure or hearing date, or send us your summons. We’ll explain what the correction involves, do the work, and give you the records your Certificate of Correction needs.
Class 1 hazard or Unsafe facade? Get the required protection up first. See emergency sidewalk shed installation.
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