HPD Mold Violation in NYC: A Landlord's Guide to Clearing It Fast

An HPD mold violation isn't just a paperwork problem. Left open, it can block refinancing, show up on tenant-facing building records, and stack into fines. The good news: most mold violations can be cleared quickly if you fix the right things in the right order.

How HPD classifies mold violations

HPD writes mold violations by how much visible mold is in a room:

• Class A — non-hazardous: smaller areas of mold (generally under 10 square feet in a room).
• Class B — hazardous: moderate areas (roughly 10 to 29 square feet).
• Class C — immediately hazardous: large areas (30 square feet or more).

Your Notice of Violation lists the class and the correction date. That date is your real deadline.

What Local Law 55 requires of NYC landlords

Local Law 55 of 2018 (the Asthma-Free Housing Act) applies to buildings with three or more units. It requires owners to:

1. Inspect units every year for indoor allergen hazards, including mold, and when a tenant complains.
2. Find and fix the moisture source, not just the visible growth. That usually means the leak, the condensation problem or the ventilation failure.
3. Remove mold with safe work practices. That means containment for larger areas, cleaning and drying, and discarding porous materials that can't be cleaned.
4. Give tenants information about allergen hazards with the lease.

When you need licensed professionals (Local Law 61)

If your building has 10 or more units and the mold covers 10 square feet or more, Local Law 61 requires:

• A New York State-licensed mold assessor to write the remediation plan and confirm the work afterward.
• A separately licensed mold remediation contractor to do the work. The assessor and remediator must be different, independent companies.

Smaller buildings and smaller areas still require safe work practices, but not the licensed two-company process.

The fastest way to clear the violation

1. Stop the water. Most repeat violations happen because the leak or condensation source was never fixed.
2. Document "before" conditions with photos and moisture readings.
3. Remediate correctly, with containment and HEPA cleanup, and remove damaged drywall or insulation where needed.
4. Dry the structure fully. Rebuilding over wet framing brings mold back.
5. Keep records of invoices, photos, moisture readings and the assessor's clearance report when one is required.
6. Certify the correction with HPD before the deadline, then keep your documentation in case HPD re-inspects.

Certifying a correction that wasn't actually made can lead to penalties, so never certify before the work is done.

Common mistakes that get violations re-issued

• Painting or bleaching over growth without fixing the leak.
• Leaving wet drywall in place behind cabinets or bathtubs.
• Using one company as both assessor and remediator on a Local Law 61 job.
• Missing the correction date while waiting on a contractor.

Get it handled

If you have an open HPD mold violation, or a leak that's about to become one, call (855) 229-9998. Our IICRC-certified team handles the water source, the drying and the remediation documentation landlords need to close out a violation.

How long do I have to correct an HPD mold violation?

It depends on the violation class. Class A (non-hazardous) violations generally allow 90 days, Class B (hazardous) 30 days, and Class C (immediately hazardous) 24 hours. Check the correction date printed on your Notice of Violation, since that is the deadline that counts.

Do I need a licensed mold assessor in NYC?

Under Local Law 61 of 2018, buildings with 10 or more units need a New York State-licensed mold assessor and a separate licensed remediation contractor when mold covers 10 square feet or more. The assessor and remediator cannot be the same company.

Can I just paint over mold to clear the violation?

No. Local Law 55 requires the underlying moisture source to be fixed and the mold removed using safe work practices. Painting over mold does not correct the condition and often leads to a re-inspection and a new violation.