The DOT gives you 75 days from the violation date to complete the repair privately before the city dispatches its own contractor. The clock counts calendar days — it does not pause for weekends, holidays, permit-processing time, or contractor availability.
What day one actually is
Day one is the violation issue date printed on the DOT notice, not the day it arrived in your mailbox and not the day you first noticed it. If you're already at day 20 when you open the envelope, you have 55 days left.
Buying time with a good-faith contractor start
DOT rarely dispatches on day 76 sharp if there is documentary evidence of a permit pulled, materials scheduled, and a contractor on-site. We keep every job's paper trail specifically so the city sees active good-faith work.
What day 76 actually looks like
DOT dispatches a Corrective Action contractor at 2–3× market rate and bills you. The invoice becomes a property lien if unpaid — liens block refinancing and property sale, and they compound with interest.