Landlord Didn't Complete Correction of Illegal Apartment Violation

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord converting a building cellar into a Class "A" apartment without a permit. Landlord claimed that his architect had filed plans with DOB but needed more time to file a certificate of correction of a prior violation for the same condition. Landlord had already paid the fine for the first violation. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $2,400. Landlord appealed and lost. The fact that the permits needed to legalize the work weren't yet obtained was no defense. And it didn't matter that the cellar apartment was vacant.

Petratos: ECB App. 1401144 (1/29/15) [1-pg. doc.]