NYC DOB BIS Search: How to Use the Building Information System (2026 Guide)

The Building Information System (BIS) — commonly known as "DOB BIS" or "BISWeb" — is the NYC Department of Buildings' official public database for searching building records. It contains the most comprehensive property-level data available from the DOB: violations, permits, job applications, complaints, certificates of occupancy, and more. If you need to research a property in NYC, BIS is where you start.

This guide walks you through every BIS search method, explains what each section of the results means, and shows you how to get the information you need in under 5 minutes.

What Is BIS (Building Information System)?

BIS (also called BISWeb) is the legacy public-facing database operated by the NYC Department of Buildings. The official URL is a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/. It has been running since the mid-1990s and remains the most complete source for:

• Property Profile Overviews — building classification, ownership, zoning, lot size, year built
• DOB Violations — active and historical violations issued by the Department of Buildings
• ECB/OATH Violations — civil penalty summonses and fine amounts
• Job/Application Filings — new building, alteration, and demolition permits
• Complaints — all DOB complaints filed against a property
• Certificates of Occupancy — current and historical C of O records
• Elevator Records — inspection history and device information
• Boiler Records — registration, inspections, and compliance

What Information Can You Find on BIS?

BIS covers all five NYC boroughs and every building with a registered BIN (Building Identification Number). Here's what each section contains:

Step-by-Step: Search BIS by Address

This is the most common way to search BIS. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to BIS

Open your browser and navigate to:

https://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/bispi00.jsp

Step 2: Select "Property Profile Overview"

On the BIS homepage, click the first link: "Property Profile Overview / Search by Address, BBL, or BIN". This is the primary search entry point for all building records.

Step 3: Enter the Address

Fill in three fields:

Step 4: Click "Go" and Review the Property Profile

BIS will display the Property Profile Overview — a summary page showing basic building information along with navigation tabs to access detailed records.

The Property Profile shows you:

• BIN (Building Identification Number) — the unique 7-digit identifier for the building
• Block and Lot — the tax lot identifier used by NYC for property records
• Building Class — the DOF building classification code (e.g., R1 = residential, O4 = office)
• Zoning District — the zoning designation (e.g., R6, C4-4A, M1-1)
• Number of Stories — the building height in floors
• Number of Dwelling Units — total residential units (if applicable)
• Year Built / Altered — original construction year and last alteration date

Step 5: Navigate to the Record You Need

From the Property Profile page, click the relevant link to dive into specific records:

• DOB Violations — view all Department of Buildings violations
• ECB Violations — view Environmental Control Board civil penalties
• Complaints — see all complaints filed against the property
• Jobs/Filings — review permit applications and their status
• Certificate of Occupancy — check current and historical C of O
• Licensed Professionals — see engineers and architects on record

Search BIS by BIN (Building Identification Number)

If you already have the property's BIN, you can skip the address search entirely:

1. Go to the BIS Property Profile search page
2. In the "BIN" field (near the bottom of the form), enter the 7-digit BIN
3. Click "Go"
4. The Property Profile loads immediately — no address ambiguity

BIN numbers are printed on all DOB violation notices, permit approvals, and inspection reports. They're also available on NYC ZoLA and ACRIS.

Search BIS by Block and Lot (BBL)

Every property in NYC is identified by a Borough-Block-Lot (BBL) number. This is useful when the street address is ambiguous (e.g., buildings with multiple addresses or recently constructed buildings).

1. On the BIS search page, select the Borough from the dropdown
2. Enter the Block number (up to 5 digits)
3. Enter the Lot number (up to 4 digits)
4. Click "Go"

You can find your BBL on your NYC property tax bill, ACRIS, or NYC Property Information Portal.

Reading Your BIS Results

BIS results can look overwhelming if you're not familiar with DOB terminology. Here's a breakdown of the most important elements on each page:

Property Profile Overview

Understanding the Violations Tab

The violations section is typically the most important part of a BIS search. DOB violations on BIS include:

DOB Violation Types

Violation Status Codes

• V-DOB VIOLATION - ACTIVE — the violation is open and requires action by the property owner
• V-DOB VIOLATION - RESOLVE — the violation has been corrected and dismissed by DOB
• V*-DOB VIOLATION - DISMISS — the violation was dismissed (usually after a successful hearing)

Permits, Jobs & Applications on BIS

The Jobs/Applications section shows all construction work filed with the DOB for a property. Each job has a unique Job Number and falls into one of these types:

• NB (New Building) — ground-up construction of a new structure
• A1 (Alteration Type 1) — major alteration (change of use, occupancy, or egress)
• A2 (Alteration Type 2) — multiple work types under one application
• A3 (Alteration Type 3) — minor alteration (one work type, no change of use/occupancy)
• DM (Demolition) — full or partial demolition
• PL (Plumbing) — plumbing-specific permits
• SI (Sign) — sign installation permits

For each job, BIS shows the filing status, approval date, permit issuance date, expiration date, professional of record, and any associated objections or plan exam actions.

Complaints on BIS

The Complaints section lists every DOB complaint filed against the property — whether through 311 or directly with DOB. For each complaint you'll see:

• Complaint Number — unique identifier
• Date Filed — when the complaint was received
• Category — the type of complaint (e.g., "illegal conversion," "construction w/o permit," "unsafe condition")
• Status — whether the complaint is open, inspected, or closed
• Inspection Date — when DOB inspected (if applicable)
• Disposition — the outcome of the inspection (violation issued, no violation, etc.)

Certificate of Occupancy & Letters on BIS

The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) defines the legal use of a building. It specifies how many units the building has, what type of use is allowed on each floor, the maximum occupancy, and the construction classification. On BIS, you can:

• View the current C of O — the most recent approved version
• View historical C of Os — previous versions showing past legal uses
• Download PDF copies of the actual certificate
• Check Letter of No Objection (for temporary use changes)

BIS vs. DOB NOW: Which System to Use

NYC DOB currently operates two systems, and they serve different purposes. Understanding which to use saves time. For a full comparison, see our DOB NOW vs. BIS guide.

Bottom line: Use BIS for research and lookups (violations, history, C of O). Use DOB NOW for actions (filing permits, scheduling inspections, paying penalties).

Common BIS Search Problems (and How to Fix Them)

"No Records Found" Error

This usually means the address format doesn't match what BIS expects:

• Remove the street suffix — enter "Broadway" not "Broadway Street"
• Try abbreviated street names — "E 34" instead of "East 34th"
• Check the borough — common mistake is selecting Manhattan for a Brooklyn address
• For Queens addresses — only enter the first part of hyphenated house numbers (42-15 → enter 42)
• Try searching by Block/Lot or BIN instead if address search fails

Multiple Buildings at Same Address

Some addresses have multiple BINs (e.g., a property with a main building and a garage). BIS will show all buildings — make sure you select the correct BIN for the building you need.

BIS Website Down or Slow

BIS was built in the 1990s and occasionally experiences downtime, especially during high-traffic periods (weekday mornings). If BIS is unresponsive:

• Try again in 15-30 minutes
• Use D.O.B. Guard's free lookup tool for instant results
• Check DOB NOW for recent records

When to Use BIS: Common Scenarios

Property Buyers / Due Diligence

Before purchasing any NYC property, search BIS to check for:

• Open violations that could require costly repairs
• Active ECB penalties with outstanding fines
• Permit history that reveals previous structural work
• Certificate of Occupancy to confirm legal use matches listing claims
• Complaint history indicating recurring building issues

Property Owners / Managers

Regularly check BIS to stay ahead of:

• New violations that need attention before fines escalate
• Permit expiration dates to avoid lapsed permit penalties
• Facade inspection (FISP/LL11) deadlines
• Elevator and boiler inspection compliance

Tenants / Renters

Search BIS to verify your landlord's compliance:

• Check for open violations (especially safety-related)
• Verify the building's Certificate of Occupancy matches actual use
• View complaint history to understand building-wide issues
• Check HPD violations separately for housing maintenance issues

Contractors / Architects / Engineers

Use BIS before starting work to:

• Check existing permits and open jobs
• Verify no open violations will block new permit applications
• Review the property profile for zoning constraints
• Look up the professional of record for existing filings

Bulk BIS Data Access (Portfolios & Researchers)

BIS itself only supports one-property-at-a-time lookups through its web interface. If you need violation, permit, or complaint data across dozens or hundreds of properties (portfolio owners, researchers, journalists), the underlying data is also published in bulk through the NYC Open Data portal, including the "DOB Violations," "DOB Permit Issuance," and "DOB Complaints Received" datasets. These are the same underlying records shown on BIS, refreshed on a similar daily/weekly cadence, and can be filtered or exported as CSV/JSON for portfolio-wide analysis.

For most owners managing a handful of properties, this bulk-data route is more effort than it's worth — D.O.B. Guard's lookup tool and monitoring service already aggregate this same underlying data per-address without needing to write a query against the Open Data API.

Automate BIS Lookups with D.O.B. Guard

Manually checking BIS works for one-time searches. But if you manage multiple properties or need to track violations over time, you need automated monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BIS free to use?

Yes. BIS is a free public database maintained by the NYC Department of Buildings. No account, login, or registration is required.

What is the URL for DOB BIS?

The official BIS URL is https://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/. It is also known as "BISWeb."

What is the difference between BIS and DOB NOW?

BIS is the legacy read-only database for looking up building records. DOB NOW is the newer system used primarily for filing permits, scheduling inspections, and managing active applications. For a complete breakdown, see our DOB NOW vs. BIS comparison.

Can I search BIS by owner name?

No. BIS only supports searches by address, BIN (Building Identification Number), or Block and Lot (BBL). To search by owner name, use ACRIS to find the property first, then search BIS with the address.

How often is BIS updated?

BIS is updated daily. New violations, permit status changes, and inspection results typically appear within 24 hours of being recorded by DOB.

Does BIS show HPD violations?

No. BIS only shows DOB and ECB violations. For HPD (Housing Preservation & Development) violations, use HPD Online or D.O.B. Guard's free lookup tool which searches both systems simultaneously.

Can I download records from BIS?

BIS allows you to view and print records directly from the browser. Certificate of Occupancy documents are available as downloadable PDFs. For bulk data exports, use the NYC Open Data portal.

What if I find open violations on BIS?

Open violations require action by the property owner. Depending on the violation type, you may need to correct the condition and request a DOB re-inspection, respond to an ECB summons, or hire a licensed professional to file for a dismissal. Learn more in our guide to NYC building violations.