NYC DOB Search: How to Look Up Building Violations by Address

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

DOT (Department of Transportation) Violations

• Sidewalk violations (cracked, uneven, or hazardous sidewalk flags)
• Sidewalk shed / construction permit compliance on public right-of-way
• Curb cut and driveway violations

DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) Violations

• Asbestos abatement violations (improper removal or missing ACP-5/ACP-7 filings)
• Noise Code violations (construction noise outside permitted hours, equipment noise)
• Water/sewer and backflow prevention violations

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)

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:

Understanding Your Search Results

DOB Violation Classes

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

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

If you need help navigating the correction or filing process, you can request a free violation review from D.O.B. Guard — reviewed and quoted before you pay anything.

If You're a Buyer (Due Diligence)

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

If You're a Tenant

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

If You're an Investor/Lender

1. Factor remediation costs: Open Class 1 violations = $20,000–$100,000 to resolve
2. Check for liens: ECB liens must be cleared before transfer
3. 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.

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

• Free NYC Address Lookup Tool — search all violations, permits and complaints by address in one query
• DOB Violation Search — dedicated DOB violation lookup by address
• ECB Violation Lookup — search OATH/ECB tickets and fines by address
• NYC DOB BIS Search — how to use BIS and DOB NOW
• DOB Complaint Lookup NYC — search by address & check status
• What Is an ECB Violation? OATH/ECB Tickets & Fines Explained
• NYC DOB Property Search by Address — complete multi-system reference

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