The full fine schedule
Once your Commercial Waste Zone is activated by DSNY, you must contract with one of the three authorized carters designated for your zone. Every other outcome has a published fine range.
| Using the wrong hauler (zone violation) | $4,000 to $10,000 per violation |
| No written service agreement on file | $2,000 to $5,000 |
| Hauler operating without zone authorization | $10,000+ (charged to carter) |
| Repeat violations within 12 months | Doubled fine plus potential suspension |
What counts as a violation
The fine applies per pickup event using an unauthorized hauler, not per month or per contract. A single inspection that catches three pickups by the wrong carter can produce three separate violations.
Equally important: the written contract is a standalone requirement. If DSNY inspects and you have no physical copy of a signed service agreement with your authorized carter, that is a separate violation, even if your actual service is with the correct hauler.
How to avoid it
- Confirm your zone status at nyc.gov/commercialwastezones.
- If your zone is active, sign a written agreement with one of the three authorized carters (get quotes from all three first).
- Keep the signed contract physically on-site, not in cloud storage.
- If your zone is pending, prepare a transition plan now. DSNY provides at least 6 months notice.
Source
Local Law 199 of 2019 · NYC Admin Code §16-1000 et seq. · DSNY Penalty Schedule. Fine ranges accurate as of April 2026.