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Why is my HPD violation still open after I fixed it?

Last reviewed Oct 6, 2026 · Violation resolution guides

Almost always because the correction was never certified to HPD, or was certified after the window closed. Doing the work does not close a violation by itself — HPD has no way to know the condition changed unless it is told or it re-inspects.

The six reasons, in order of how often they are the answer

Nobody certified it
The work was done, everyone moved on, and no certification was ever filed. The violation sits open indefinitely. This is the most common answer by a wide margin.
The certification was late
Filed, but after the window for that violation had closed. A late certification does not close the violation, and nothing bounces back to tell you so.
The building registration had lapsed
Certification requires a current HPD registration. If it expired, the certification could not be accepted — and the reason is not obvious from looking at the violation.
The wrong violation was certified
Buildings often carry several violations with similar descriptions in different apartments. Certifying by description rather than by order number and apartment closes one and leaves the one you meant still open.
HPD re-inspected and the condition was still there
Either the correction did not address what was cited, or the condition recurred. The violation stays open and the file now shows a failed re-inspection.
It closed, and you are looking at a different record
A new violation for a similar condition, or the same condition in another unit. Check the order number and issue date rather than the description.

Working out which one applies

  1. Pull the violation by order number

    Find it on HPD Online by its order number rather than by scanning the list. Confirm the apartment and the issue date match the one you believe you fixed.

  2. Look for a certification date

    If there is none, nothing was ever filed. If there is one, compare it with the correction date to see whether it fell inside the window.

  3. Check the building registration status

    On the same building record. If registration lapsed around the time of the filing, that is very likely your answer.

  4. Check for a re-inspection result

    A failed re-inspection changes the problem from administrative to physical, and means going back to the condition itself rather than back to the paperwork.

Common questions

Can I certify a violation late?

You can file, but a certification outside the window does not close the violation. Where the window has passed, HPD publishes the alternative routes, which generally involve a dismissal request or a re-inspection.

How do I get HPD to re-inspect?

HPD publishes a process for requesting a re-inspection or a dismissal. Which one applies depends on why the violation is still open, so establish that first — requesting the wrong one costs weeks.

Does paying the penalty close the violation?

No. A penalty is a financial consequence of the violation existing. The violation itself closes when the condition is corrected and that correction is certified or confirmed.

Official sources

Rules and figures change. Check anything you are about to act on against the agency itself.

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