Administrative Hearings Held at OATH's Hearings Division

A summons that is issued by City agencies and filed at OATH charges a person or entity with a “violation.” Violations are not crimes. However, it is extremely important that people issued a summons that charges a violation respond, in order to avoid negative consequences. If you do not fully resolve a violation, you may receive liens on properties, civil judgments, and executions of civil judgments by the City Sherriff or Marshal. All these negatively impact credit scores, and then can impact approvals for credit cards, mortgages and other items. Failure to pay a civil penalty may also lead to the denial, suspension, termination, or revocation of a current or future City license, permit or registration.

OATH does not write summonses, and it does not conduct inspections. The summonses that are heard by Hearing Officers at the OATH Hearings Division are issued by more than 20 different New York City and State agencies. These agencies include the Department of Sanitation, Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection, Fire Department of New York, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, among others. The OATH Hearings Division is separate and independent from these agencies.

Recipients of most types of summonses can search for, review and pay many types of tickets on the NYC Business website by creating a new account or signing in to an existing account. Searches for tickets can be done on the OATH website by typing in a name, address, or ticket number on OATH’s Summons Finder.

Recipients of summonses must respond to them, either by admitting to the violation listed and paying the fine, or by fighting the summons by participating in a hearing. All hearings must be scheduled in advance. Most summonses are heard using OATH’s convenient Hearings by Phone option which must be requested 3 business days before the scheduled hearing date listed on the summons by submitting this online Hearing by Phone Request Form. Once the form is submitted, an email will be sent before the hearing date with directions on how and when to call in for your Hearing by Phone. If you do not request your hearing at least 3 business days in advance you will receive a decision finding you in violation, by default and a higher penalty may be imposed. You can request a new hearing after a default, once for each summons. If you submit the new hearing request within 75 days of the missed hearing, the request will be automatically granted. You can use the form below.

You can get text message reminders about your case by texting OATHreminder to (917) 451-8829. If you are unrepresented and need assistance understanding the hearing process or assistance scheduling your hearing, text OATHhelp to (917) 451-8829 and someone from OATH’s Help Center will reach out to assist you.