What is the Environmental Control Board (ECB)?

The Environmental Control Board is a judicial court that hears violations issued by other city agencies and issues verdicts and, if appropriate, penalties.  For instance, if the DOB issues a building a violation for an illegal basement, a judge at the ECB—not the DOB—will hear the case and determine, much like a criminal court, whether the charge is valid.  Depending on the information presented, the ECB judge will either dismiss the violation, issue fines, or mandate corrective action be taken to address the issue at hand.

Although the “ECB Notice of Violation” sounds like the ECB is the one issuing the violation, it is not.  It merely hears the case.  The ECB does not issue violations or notices; other agencies do.