Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Finance Commissioner Richard Lee launched Debt Demolisher, formally the ECB Amnesty and Compliance Program, on October 13, a fine relief program that lets eligible small businesses and homeowners across the five boroughs settle outstanding city fine debt at a reduced cost with accrued interest waived. The program runs for 90 days, through January 10, 2027.

Debt Demolisher applies to Environmental Control Board judgments, which stem from unpaid violations issued by agencies including the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Buildings and the Department of Transportation. The infractions can range from building code violations to failing to properly dispose of a mattress. Participants with eligible debt can have accrued interest waived and resolve their debt at a discounted rate, but they must come into compliance with the underlying violations tied to their judgments. The city projects the program will bring in $25 million that would likely have gone otherwise uncollected. New Yorkers can check eligibility and resolve judgments at nyc.gov/debtdemolisher.

How much relief a participant gets depends on how the original fine was assessed. Under Local Law 147, which established the program, people who received a default judgment after failing to respond to a violation or appear for a hearing can settle by paying the original base penalty, without default penalties or accrued interest. Those found liable following a hearing can settle by paying 75 percent of the imposed penalty, with interest waived. Some who have already paid toward a fine can resolve the remaining eligible debt for $1 if their prior payments meet the required threshold, and the city will not refund payments already made. For violations that carry an order to correct the problem, participants must also obtain a certificate of correction from the issuing agency.