How to Look Up NYC Building Violations by Address (2025 Guide)

Over 200,000 building violations are issued annually across NYC's five boroughs by DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, and other city agencies. Whether you're a property owner performing routine monitoring, a buyer conducting due diligence, or a tenant verifying landlord compliance, knowing how to look up NYC building violations by address is essential. This step-by-step tutorial shows you exactly how to search all violations in under 5 minutes using free official NYC databases.

What Building Violations Can You Find by Address?

NYC building violations are issued by multiple agencies. Here's what you can search by property address:

DOB (Department of Buildings) Violations

Construction violations (Work Without Permit, illegal alterations)
Structural safety issues (unsafe conditions, collapse risk)
Stop Work Orders
Permit violations and expirations
Facade inspection failures (Local Law 11)

HPD (Housing Preservation & Development) Violations

Housing maintenance code violations (no heat/hot water)
Mold, vermin, and pest infestations
Lead paint violations
Water leaks and plumbing failures
Structural hazards in residential buildings

ECB (Environmental Control Board) Civil Penalties

Civil penalty summonses from DOB, HPD, FDNY, DSNY, DEP
OATH hearing status and fines
Payment status and liens

FDNY (Fire Department) Violations

Fire safety violations (blocked exits, missing alarms)
Sprinkler system failures
Fire extinguisher violations
Certificate of Fitness issues

311 Service Requests

Complaint history that triggered violations
Open 311 complaints (potential future violations)

Step-by-Step: Search DOB Violations by Address

The NYC Department of Buildings maintains the most comprehensive public violation database through BIS (Building Information System). Here's exactly how to search:

Step 1: Access DOB Building Information System (BIS)

URL: https://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/

This is the official NYC DOB public database. No account or login required.

Step 2: Select "Property Profile Overview"

On the BIS homepage, you'll see multiple search options. Click "Property Profile Overview" (top option).

Step 3: Enter Property Address Details

Borough: Select from dropdown menu

Manhattan = 1
Bronx = 2
Brooklyn = 3
Queens = 4
Staten Island = 5

House Number: Enter numbers only

✅ Correct: "123" or "456"
❌ Incorrect: "123A" or "#456"
For hyphenated addresses (123-45), enter the first number only: "123"

Street Name: Exclude street type (Street, Avenue, Road, etc.)

✅ Correct: "Broadway" or "Main"
❌ Incorrect: "Broadway Street" or "Main Avenue"

Step 4: Click "Search"

The system will load the property profile page showing building details, permit history, and violation records.

Step 5: Navigate to "Violations" Tab

You'll see multiple tabs at the top:

Property Summary
Jobs/Permits
Violations ← Click here
Complaints
ECB Violations

Step 6: Filter Violation Results

Use the filter options to refine your search:

Filter by Type:

DOB: Construction and structural violations
ECB: Civil penalty summonses
HPD: Housing maintenance violations

Filter by Status:

Open: Unresolved violations (action required)
Resolved: Corrected and dismissed
All: Complete violation history

Filter by Date Range:

Last 6 months (most recent)
Last 1 year
Last 5 years
All time (complete history back to 1980s)

💡 Pro Tip: Start with "Open" Status Filter

Most buyers and lenders only care about open violations that require action. Filter by "Open" status first to see what needs immediate attention, then view "All" for complete property history.

Step-by-Step: Search HPD Violations by Address

HPD (Housing Preservation & Development) maintains a separate database for housing maintenance violations. Here's how to search:

Step 1: Access HPD Violations Online

URL: https://hpdonline.hpdnyc.org/

Step 2: Click "Building Information"

From the HPD homepage, select the "Building Information" search option.

Step 3: Enter Full Address

HPD requires the complete address format:

Example: "123 Main Street, Brooklyn" or "456 Broadway, Manhattan"
Select borough from dropdown

Step 4: View HPD Violation Details

The results show:

Class A violations: Non-hazardous (peeling paint, minor leaks) — $50–$500
Class B violations: Hazardous (no heat, vermin infestation) — $125–$1,000
Class C violations: Immediately hazardous (lead paint, structural collapse) — $500–$5,000
Complaint history
Inspection dates
Correction status

Step-by-Step: Search ECB Violations by Address

ECB (Environmental Control Board) civil penalties are searchable through OATH's online system:

Step 1: Access OATH ECB Search

URL: https://www.nyc.gov/site/oath/hearings/ecb-search.page

Step 2: Search by Address or ECB Control Number

Enter property address in the search field. Results show:

ECB control number
Hearing date
Violation type
Penalty amount
Payment status (open/paid/dismissed)

All-in-One Solution: D.O.B. Guard Free Lookup Tool

Instead of searching 4 separate databases (DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY), use our free all-in-one tool:

🔍 Free All-in-One NYC Violation Lookup

Search DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, and 311 violations by address in one search. No account required. Instant results.

Search All Violations Now →

Understanding Your Search Results

DOB Violation Classes

Class	Severity	Examples	Fines
Class 1	Immediate Hazard	Stop Work Order, unsafe structure	$5,000–$25,000
Class 2	Major Violation	Work Without Permit, illegal conversion	$1,000–$10,000
Class 3	Minor Violation	Missing paperwork, expired permits	$500–$2,500

Common Violation Codes Explained

28-204.6: Work Without Permit — Construction performed without DOB-approved permits. Fine: $2,500–$10,000.
28-210.1: Illegal Conversion — Converting single-family to multi-unit without Certificate of Occupancy. Fine: $5,000–$15,000.
27-2005: Failure to Maintain (HPD) — No heat/hot water, mold, vermin, structural hazards. Fine: $500–$5,000.
28-207.2: Stop Work Order Violation — Working after Stop Work Order issued. Fine: $10,000–$50,000.

What to Do After Finding Violations

If You're the Property Owner

Correct immediately: Address underlying issue (obtain permits, repair hazards)
Submit proof: File correction documentation with DOB/HPD
Request inspection: Schedule re-inspection to verify correction
Pay fines: Pay ECB fines within 60 days to avoid liens

If You're a Buyer (Due Diligence)

Request seller clearance: Open violations must be resolved before closing
Negotiate price reduction: Factor correction costs ($5,000–$50,000 typical)
Escrow funds: Hold back money to cover violation resolution
Title search: Verify no ECB liens on property

If You're a Tenant

File HPD complaint: If landlord ignores Class B/C hazardous violations
Request rent abatement: Open violations may qualify for rent reduction
Withhold rent (HP Action): File in Housing Court if hazardous conditions persist

If You're an Investor/Lender

Factor remediation costs: Open Class 1 violations = $20,000–$100,000 to resolve
Check for liens: ECB liens must be cleared before transfer
Verify correction timeline: Some violations take 6-18 months to resolve

Pro Tips for Building Violation Lookups

1. Search Quarterly, Not Just at Sale

Violations can be issued anytime (311 complaints, routine inspections, permit expirations). Quarterly searches catch issues before fines escalate.

2. Check Neighboring Properties for Row Houses

For attached buildings, search adjacent properties. Violations on party walls or shared structures can affect your property.

3. Save PDFs of Clean Records

When violations are resolved, save PDF screenshots from BIS. Banks and title companies require proof of clean violation history.

4. Set Up Automated Monitoring

Manual searches are time-consuming. D.O.B. Guard monitors properties 24/7 and sends alerts the moment violations are issued.

⚡ Stop Manual Searches: Get Automatic Alerts

D.O.B. Guard monitors 12+ NYC databases and texts you the moment DOB, HPD, ECB, or FDNY violations appear. Monitor unlimited properties for $15/month. Start monitoring →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search NYC building violations by owner name?

No. All NYC violation databases (BIS, HPD, OATH) only search by property address or BIN (Building Identification Number). Owner names are not publicly searchable.

How far back does BIS show violation history?

BIS maintains permanent records dating back to the 1980s. Even resolved violations remain in the database indefinitely.

Can I search multiple properties at once?

No. BIS requires individual searches for each property. Property owners with multiple buildings use monitoring services like D.O.B. Guard to track all properties simultaneously.

How often is BIS updated?

Daily. New violations, inspection results, and status changes appear within 24 hours of issuance.

Are all building violations public?

Yes. All DOB, HPD, and ECB violations are public records viewable by anyone. This includes buyers, lenders, tenants, and the general public.

Related Resources

Last updated: November 2025. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.