NYC ECB Amnesty Program 2026–2027: Reduce Eligible OATH Violations and Fines Before January 10
NYC ECB Amnesty Program 2026–2027: Reduce Eligible OATH Violations and Fines Before January 10
October 13, 2026
New York City property owners, landlords, developers, and business owners may qualify for substantial reductions on outstanding ECB judgments under a limited-time amnesty program.
The New York City Department of Finance (DOF) has officially launched the ECB Amnesty and Compliance Program, also known as Debt Demolisher, effective October 13, 2026.
The program provides an opportunity to resolve eligible unpaid Environmental Control Board (ECB) judgments at reduced amounts, with potential savings of up to 75% in certain cases.
Program Dates: October 13, 2026 – January 10, 2027
For property owners with outstanding Department of Buildings (DOB), Fire Department (FDNY), or other agency violations, this program may offer an important opportunity to reduce financial liabilities while addressing outstanding compliance requirements.
Have Outstanding NYC DOB or OATH Violations?
Don’t risk missing the January 10, 2027 amnesty deadline. SLK Buildings can assist with reviewing your violation records and coordinating the necessary compliance and correction process.
How Much Can You Save Under the NYC ECB Amnesty Program?
The amount of savings depends on the type of judgment and whether the respondent attended an OATH hearing.
Default Judgments — Failure to Attend an OATH Hearing
Eligible respondents are required to pay only the original base penalty. Additional default penalties and accrued interest are waived.
For example, if the original base penalty was $2,500 but the outstanding judgment increased to $10,000 because of default penalties and interest, the eligible amount payable could be reduced to $2,500.
Judgments Following an OATH Hearing
For eligible judgments where the respondent attended a hearing and was found liable, the program reduces the imposed fine by 25% and waives accrued interest.
For example, a $4,000 imposed fine could be reduced to $3,000, with applicable accrued interest waived.
Actual savings depend on the judgment and eligibility determination by the Department of Finance.
Which NYC Violations May Qualify?
Eligible judgments may originate from violations issued by several New York City agencies, including:
- NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
- Fire Department of New York (FDNY)
- NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
- NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
- Other participating City agencies
The program generally applies to qualifying ECB judgments docketed in court on or before July 15, 2026.
Not every violation qualifies. Certain judgments involving enforcement actions, tax liens, criminal investigations, or other exclusions are ineligible.
Important: Paying an ECB Judgment Does Not Necessarily Correct the Violation
Property owners should understand an important distinction between resolving a financial judgment and correcting the underlying violation.
Certain violations require both payment and corrective action.
For example, a DOB violation involving unpermitted construction, unsafe building conditions, or other building code issues may require corrective work, appropriate permits, professional documentation, and an approved Certificate of Correction.
For violations requiring compliance, the issuing agency must approve the correction and the Department of Finance must receive the required confirmation by January 10, 2027.
Simply paying the reduced penalty may not be sufficient to resolve the underlying compliance obligation.
Property owners should review both the financial and compliance status of their violations before making payment.
How to Apply for the ECB Amnesty and Compliance Program
Property owners and businesses can review their eligible judgments through the NYC Department of Finance.
Step 1: Visit https://www.nyc.gov/mysummons.
Step 2: Search using your violation number, name and address, or OATH ID.
Step 3: Review outstanding judgments and determine which are eligible for amnesty.
Step 4: Confirm whether the violations require corrective action or an approved Certificate of Correction.
Step 5: Review the program terms and pay the required reduced amount in full before January 10, 2027.
Each selected judgment must be paid in full. Partial payment plans are not available under this program.
Payment of a default judgment also constitutes an admission of liability and waives certain rights to challenge that judgment. Owners should review their circumstances before participating.
Property owners with outstanding ECB judgments may also need assistance addressing the underlying violations. Learn more about our NYC ECB and OATH Violation Resolution Services, including violation assessments, correction requirements, DOB filings, and compliance coordination.
At SLK Buildings, we assist New York City property owners, landlords, developers, and businesses with navigating building violations, regulatory filings, and agency compliance requirements.
Depending on the circumstances, our services may include:
- DOB and OATH Violation Review: Reviewing outstanding violations, judgment records, and associated compliance requirements.
- Certificate of Correction Coordination: Assisting with the documentation and administrative process required to demonstrate correction of eligible violations.
- DOB Filing and Permit Coordination: Coordinating necessary applications, plans, permits, and required licensed professionals for corrective work.
- Stop Work Order Resolution: Coordinating the steps necessary to address DOB Stop Work Orders and applicable rescission requirements.
- Agency Compliance and Project Coordination: Helping property owners organize and manage outstanding regulatory issues involving NYC agencies.
Where professional design, licensed contracting, inspections, or other regulated services are required, SLK Buildings coordinates with appropriately licensed professionals.
Our objective is to help property owners understand the requirements, coordinate the necessary corrections, and move toward regulatory compliance.
Don’t Miss the January 10, 2027 Deadline
The NYC ECB Amnesty and Compliance Program is available for a limited period.
Owners with outstanding judgments should review their records as soon as possible, particularly where corrective work, permits, inspections, or Certificates of Correction may be necessary.
Waiting until the final weeks of the program could leave insufficient time to complete the required compliance process.
Need Assistance With NYC DOB or OATH Violations?
If your property has outstanding ECB judgments, DOB violations, or unresolved compliance issues, SLK Buildings can help you review the situation and determine the appropriate next steps.
Contact SLK Buildings to discuss your outstanding violations and compliance requirements.
SLK Buildings — NYC Building Violations, Filings & Compliance Coordination
Website: https://slkbuildings.com
Official NYC Resources
- NYC Department of Finance — ECB Amnesty and Compliance Program: https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/property/ecb-amnesty-compliance-program.page
- Official Program FAQs: https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/property/ecb-amnesty-compliance-program-faqs.page
- NYC OATH Summons and Judgment Search: https://www.nyc.gov/mysummons
Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on the NYC Department of Finance’s published program guidance as of October 13, 2026. Eligibility, financial reductions, and compliance requirements are determined by the applicable City agencies. SLK Buildings does not administer the amnesty program or guarantee eligibility, penalty reductions, or agency approvals.
Disclosure: SLK Buildings is a private consulting and construction-management firm and is not affiliated with NYC DOB, HPD, HCR, or any government agency.
We provide zoning analysis, code compliance analysis (code interpretation), violation resolution, design with our partner Registered Architect, DOB filings, permit expediting, and construction coordination.
SLK BUILDINGS Inc.
212.888.3888 | info@slkbuildings.com
295 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017
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