Mayor Adams to Scale Back Violations and Reduce Fines for NYC Small Businesses

By Yehudit Garmaise

Mayor Eric Adams signed, today, an executive order, called Small Business Forward, which aims “to ensure that local businesses face fewer needless fines and penalties,” he said.

In addition, for businesses who commit first-time violations, Adams wants to allow for “cure periods,” which are specified lengths of time, in which business owners can correct any misunderstandings.

“Businesses receiving first-time violations, as a result of unknowingly or unintentionally breaking certain laws, should be able to correct errors in consultation with enforcing city agencies,” said state Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, who represents the 19th Senate District, in Brooklyn.

Efforts to reduce fines issued to NYC businesses are not new, however, as in January 2020, former Mayor Bill de Blasio created a similar initiative that was called, "Fix It, Don't Fine It."

Adams plans to reduce fine schedules by having many city agencies, such as the FDNY, the Department of Buildings and the Department of Environmental Protection, review business regulations: with the goal of reducing violations and minimizing unnecessary fines.

Within three months, each city agency will identify the 25 violations that are responsible for the greatest number of summonses and fines that small businesses receive.

Then, city agencies will recommend which violations should be eliminated and which violations scale back their fine schedules or offer First-Time Warnings and/or Cure Periods.

Adams’ executive order will save small businesses millions of dollars and countless hours of dealing with city bureaucracy, said Kevin D. Kim, the incoming commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), who added that SBS wants “to help small businesses to get back on their feet.”

"Many of our city's small businesses have struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who was happy to see that, “in his first week,” Mayor Adams has created a practical approach to ensure that city government does not unnecessarily adding to the hardships of small business owners.

“New York City is open for business,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we’re going to drive real change that cuts through red tape and allows small businesses across the five boroughs to power our economic recovery.”

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office