Sidewalk Violation Inspection: How is it Done?
The rules of DOT (Department of Transport) of New York City say that while sidewalks are public property, the property owner adjacent to a sidewalk is solely responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk, and will be charged for violation if the sidewalk is not found to be up to the mark. Not many property owners in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and the Bronx realize this, and only get to know about it when they are slapped with a sidewalk violation notice by the inspection authorities who perform routine inspections all across the city. The notice can be removed if a sidewalk violation contractor in Queens is hired to perform repairs.
This confuses many property owners, especially those who have just recently begun to own a property, for most of them don’t realize what they have been hit with. As a property owner in Queens, the first step when hit with a sidewalk violation is to take it easy, for they have nearly 45 days in hand to perform any repairs to the sidewalk. Henceforth, there can be two ways in which the situation can be resolved:
- Hiring a sidewalk violation repair contractor
- Letting the DOT perform the repairs themselves
The first option is generally the best and fastest way to resolve the issue, for private sidewalk contractors are well experienced in dealing with all kinds of sidewalk violations in Queens, and property owners can readily hire them to deal with the sidewalk at a short notice. No matter what the issue is, sidewalk contractors can completely overhaul the sidewalk in accordance with all the set regulations so that the notice gets removed on re-inspection of the sidewalk. Property owners can even perform minor repairs themselves, but it is best to let a professional do the job because of the regulations.
The second option is generally not preferable. If the property owner does not do anything about the violation, the DOT sends in a sidewalk repair team to perform the repairs. The cost of the repairs will be billed to the property owner, and he/she will have 90 days to repay the full amount, failing which the property itself will be dragged into paying out a fine. The cost of repairs is much expensive here, for the city charges extra convenience fees, making the first option as a cheaper and preferred method.
After the sidewalk is repaired, it is re-inspected, passing which the sidewalk violation notice is removed. The re-inspection team is sent by the DOT, and the sidewalk is rechecked for any broken regulations or violations. If the property owner performs a DIY repair on sidewalk instead of hiring a professional, they have to make sure that they accidentally did not break another regulation when performing the repairs.
There are many contractors dealing with sidewalk repairs in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx, so if you are hit with a sidewalk violation notice, you are recommended to contact one as soon as possible to resolve the situation fast.
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