NYC Stop Work Order Removal

A stop work order (SWO) from the NYC Department of Buildings immediately halts all construction activity at a job site until cited violations are corrected. We guide property owners and contractors through every step to lift the order and resume work legally.

What Is a Stop Work Order?

A stop work order is an official DOB directive posted at a construction site prohibiting further work. It is typically issued after an inspector finds unsafe conditions, work without a permit, or failure to comply with approved plans. Continuing work after a SWO is posted can result in additional violations, fines, and criminal penalties.

Common Reasons DOB Issues a Stop Work Order

• Construction or alteration without a valid permit
• Work not matching approved plans or filings
• Unsafe site conditions or lack of site safety measures
• Open DOB or ECB violations on the property
• Failure to correct prior inspector orders
• Illegal basement, cellar, or conversion work

Steps to Lift a Stop Work Order

• Stop all work immediately: Continuing construction after a SWO is issued violates the law and increases penalties.
• Review the order: Identify violation numbers, cited conditions, and required corrective actions on the SWO notice.
• Correct the violations: Complete repairs, obtain missing permits, or bring work into compliance with approved filings.
• File required documents: Submit Certificate of Correction, permits, affidavits, or sign-offs as required by DOB.
• Request re-inspection: Schedule a DOB inspection to verify corrections and confirm the site is safe to resume.
• Confirm SWO removal: Verify the stop work order is cleared in the DOB system before restarting construction.

How We Help

• Same-day response: Emergency assistance when a stop work order shuts down your project.
• Violation review: We analyze the SWO, underlying violations, and the fastest compliance path.
• Permit & filing support: We handle missing permits, Certificate of Correction filing, and DOB paperwork.
• Correction coordination: We coordinate repairs and legalization work needed to clear the order.
• Inspection follow-up: We prepare the site for DOB re-inspection and track the order until it is lifted.

Related Services

• Vacate Order — lifting DOB vacate orders
• File Certificate of Correction — same-day DOB filing
• ECB / DOB Violations — violation dismissal and resolution
• OATH/ECB Court Representation — hearing defense and penalty reduction
• Construction Permit — permits for corrective work
• Contact Us — speak with a licensed NYC building expeditor