What Is an HPD Order Code 550 Mold Violation?
If your property has received an HPD violation with Order Code 550, your building has been cited for a mold condition requiring immediate action. Under NYC Local Law 55 of 2018 — the Asthma-Free Housing Act — owners of multiple dwellings are legally required to investigate and remediate indoor mold hazards.
HPD Order Code 550 is issued when an inspector identifies a mold condition of 10 square feet or more in a dwelling unit or common area. Depending on severity, it is classified as a Class B or Class C violation and comes with strict correction deadlines.
Ignoring a 550 violation is not an option. Uncured violations escalate into daily civil penalties, emergency repair orders, and can complicate the refinancing or sale of your property.
What Local Law 55 Requires of Property Owners
Under Local Law 55, owners of buildings with three or more units are required to:
- Investigate the source of any mold condition — including moisture intrusion, leaks, or ventilation failures — before or during remediation
- Remediate all mold conditions of 10 square feet or more using a New York State-licensed mold remediation contractor
- Correct the underlying moisture source — without this step, mold will return and HPD will not accept the cure
- Hire a licensed mold assessor separate from the remediator — NYS law prohibits the same firm from performing both the assessment and remediation on the same job
Both licenses must be active and verifiable through the NYS Department of Labor Mold Program.
Steps to Cure an HPD Order Code 550 Violation
Curing a 550 mold violation requires following the correct sequence. Skipping any step — or using unlicensed contractors — will result in the violation remaining open.
- Hire a NYS-Licensed Mold Assessor
A licensed assessor inspects the affected area,identifies the extent of mold, determines the moisture source, and produces a Mold Remediation Plan the contractor must follow. - Hire a NYS-Licensed Mold Remediation Contractor
A separate licensed remediator follows the remediation plan using industry-standard containment and removal protocols. - Fix the Underlying Moisture Source
Whetherit’s a roof leak, plumbing failure, chronic condensation, or poor ventilation — the moisture problem must be corrected or the mold will return. HPD will not accept a cure if this step is skipped. - Post-Remediation Assessment
After remediation is complete, the licensed mold assessor returns to verify the work and issue a post-remediation assessment report confirming the condition has been properly resolved. - SubmitCure Documentation to HPD
The cure package must include documentation of the remediation work, contractor license information, and the post-remediation assessment report. Only then will HPD formally close the violation.
Deadlines and Penalties
HPD mold violations carry compliance deadlines based on classification:
- Class B violations — must be corrected within 30 days
- Class C violations (immediately hazardous) — must be corrected within 24 hours
Failure to cure within the required timeframe can result in:
- Daily civil penalties accumulating while the violation remains open
- Emergency repair orders — the city performs the work and bills you at above-market rates
- Damaged property records that affect financing, sales, and insurance
How Manhattan Lead Helps You Cure an HPD 550 Mold Violation
At Manhattan Lead, we help property owners, landlords, and building managers throughout New York City navigate the mold violation process from start to finish. We coordinate every required step to cure your HPD Order Code 550 violation, including:
- Connecting you with NYS-licensed mold assessors to evaluate the condition and produce a compliant remediation plan
- Coordinating NYS-licensed mold remediation contractors to perform the required work
- Ensuring the underlying moisture source is identified and corrected
- Obtaining the post-remediation assessment report needed to close the violation
- Submitting complete cure documentation to HPD on your behalf
We understand the deadlines, the documentation requirements, and exactly what HPD needs to formally close a 550 violation. Our goal is to get your violation cured correctly and quickly, with minimal disruption to your tenants and your operation.
Contact Manhattan Lead today at (212) 226-1614 to get started. We serve property owners across all five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
