Code Enforcement

Certification Watchlist (CWL)

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Certification of Correction is a free process that requires a property owner to submit (within the timeframe established by law) a certification that the specific condition cited by a violation issued by the Department has been corrected.  The date for Correction and Certification appears on each Notice of Violation. Failure to correct and properly certify the correction of conditions subjects owners to civil penalties, inspection fees and enhanced enforcement, including the correction of immediately hazardous conditions through the Emergency Repair Program (properties are billed for ERP activity).More information about certification can found at clear violations.

Property owners and agents who certify the correction of conditions must do so only after conditions are corrected properly.  HPD may audit any certification of correction submitted to the agency.  An audit consists of a reinspection of the condition by a Housing Inspector. Violations found to not be corrected after an owner has certified the correction are placed into a False Certification status.  These violations remain open.  A false certification subjects a property owner to civil penalties. 

False certification also subjects properties to placement on the Certification Watchlist, an enhanced enforcement program.   For the calendar year in which a building is on the Certification Watchlist, all certifications of correction for hazardous or immediately hazardous violations (excluding violations for pests) submitted for that building cannot be closed based on the owner’s certification (deemed complied) without at least two reinspection attempted.  

Selection and Notification

On/about January 15th each year beginning in 2025, one hundred (100) class A multiple dwellings are selected for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Certification of Correction Watch List pursuant to Local Law 71 of 2023 based on the following criteria:   

(A) more than 20 hazardous violations or immediately hazardous violations have been certified as corrected during the previous calendar year, other than a violation issued pursuant to section 27-2017.4 of this code (pest violations), and

(B) at least four of such hazardous or immediately hazardous violations were falsely certified as corrected during such calendar year.

The buildings with the highest number of falsely certified violations that meet the above criteria are selected for the program.

HPD notifies owners and managing agents of buildings selected for the Certification Watchlist via mail shortly after the building is selected on/about January 15th each year.

The Certification Watchlist Notice to Tenants is posted by HPD at the building when it enters the program.   It is also available in the following languages.

List of buildings selected for the watchlist.

Useful Links

For more general information on the Certification of Correction process, you can review: