Points, not percentages
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspects restaurants unannounced. Inspectors record every violation they find, and each violation carries points based on how serious it is and how widespread the condition is. The points add up to the inspection score.
Unlike a school grade, a lower number is better. A restaurant with zero violations scores 0.
The grade cutoffs
- A: 0 to 13 points.
- B: 14 to 27 points.
- C: 28 points or more.
Two chances to earn an A
A restaurant that scores 13 or fewer points on its initial inspection receives an A right away. If it scores 14 or more, it is not graded yet. The Health Department returns for an unannounced re-inspection, usually within about a month, and the grade is based on that second inspection.
If the re-inspection score would earn a B or C, the restaurant can post that grade or post a Grade Pending card while it contests the violations at a hearing with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
How often restaurants are inspected
Restaurants with better scores are inspected less often. A-grade restaurants are generally inspected about once a year, while restaurants that score in the B or C range are inspected more frequently. Every inspection, including the scores and violations, is published in the city dataset this site uses.