Permits and Licenses Health Academy Food Operators Opportunities

Violations and Summonses

If you receive a summons from the Health Department, you can contest the violations listed in the summons at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) Hearings Division. Your hearing date is printed on your summons.

Note that you will not be able to apply for or renew a permit or license if you owe outstanding fines.

You can pay your summons:

Online
In person at the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection or at the NYC Department of Finance
By mail (use the address on the summons)

Cure a Violation

Certain first-time violations issued to food service businesses, group child care centers and pet shops can be “cured." To cure a violation, a business must correct the condition for which they received a summons. They must then submit proof and an affirmation form to the Health Department by the deadline stated in the relevant guide. If the Health Department decides the business has corrected the condition, they will not issue civil penalties (monetary fines) against the business. Read the guide for more details:

Settle a Restaurant Violation

You can settle some restaurant violations before an OATH health hearing is held. To settle a violation means that you admit to the violation. If you settle, you will pay a fine lower than the minimum recommended fine and do not have to attend a hearing.

You will receive the settlement offer in the mail soon after the inspection. You can make settlements online, in person or by mail.

Additional Resources

Penalty Relief for Restaurants that Score an A (PDF)
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The Inspection Process

Violations and Summonses

Cure a Violation

Food Establishments

Child Care Programs

Pet Shops

Settle a Restaurant Violation

Additional Resources