Guide · 15 minutes
How to look up building violations in NYC. Every system, in order.
The city spreads violations across five systems that don't talk to each other. Here's the order we'd check them in. Or skip to the end and let the search below do the first three.
Step 1: get the BIN and the BBL
Everything at DOB is filed by BIN (Building Identification Number). Finance and HPD also use BBL (borough-block-lot). Search the address in BIS or on ZoLa and write both down. The free search on our home page also finds the BIN for you. Corner buildings often have two or three addresses, and the BIN is how you make sure you're not missing records filed under the other one.
Step 2: DOB violations in BIS
In BIS, open the property profile. You'll see links for Violations-DOB and Violations-ECB, each with a count of open and total. Open both. DOB violations have no fine but block things. ECB violations carry penalties and hearing results. BIS is slow and paginated, so budget five minutes for a big building.
Step 3: DOB NOW
The DOB NOW Public Portal holds newer job filings and the Safety side: boiler, elevator and facade (FISP) compliance. A building can look clean in BIS and still have a missed boiler filing here. Search by address, then check each Safety module.
Step 4: HPD Online
For any residential building, check HPD Online. The Violations tab shows Class A, B and C, open and closed, plus complaints, registration status and litigation. More on reading these at hpdviolationsnyc.com, or pull HPD records alone with our HPD violations search.
Step 5: OATH, FDNY and DOT
- OATH: the Summons Finder lists summonses from every agency, with balances. Search by address or respondent. See OATH violations.
- FDNY: FDNY Business has a no-login violation lookup by address. See NYC fire violations.
- DOT: sidewalk notices. Ask 311, or check the record in the full ViolationWatch search. See DOT sidewalk violations.
Three mistakes that make searches miss things
- Searching one address on a corner building. Use the BIN.
- Stopping at DOB. HPD and ECB are where the money and the tenant issues are.
- Reading "resolved" as "closed". A paid ECB penalty can still leave the violation open until a Certificate of Correction is accepted.
Last checked against nyc.gov: October 23, 2026 (DOB building history, OATH: understand your summons).
Skip the five websites
Or do steps 1–4 in one go
The search below finds the BIN, then pulls DOB, ECB and HPD records together.
- DOB
- ECB
- HPD
- + 7 more agencies in the full search
Common questions
Looking up NYC violations: common questions
Short answers first. Still stuck? Call (347) 201-2336 and a person picks up.
How do I find out if I have building violations in NYC?
Search your address on this site to see DOB, ECB and HPD violations in one go, then check the city systems that hold the rest: DOB NOW for boiler, elevator and facade violations, OATH's Summons Finder for other agencies' summonses, FDNY Business for fire violations and 311 for a DOT sidewalk notice. The five steps above take about 15 minutes. If the building has more than one address, search by BIN.
What does the violation date mean on a NYC record?
It depends on the record: on an OATH summons the date of occurrence is the day the inspector observed the condition, DOB records show the date the violation was issued, and HPD records show both the inspection date and the date the notice was issued. Correction deadlines usually run from service of the notice instead. For HPD, service is generally complete five days after mailing.
What is a BIN?
The Building Identification Number, a seven-digit number DOB assigns to each building. The first digit is the borough (1 Manhattan, 2 Bronx, 3 Brooklyn, 4 Queens, 5 Staten Island). Records are filed by BIN, so it's the most reliable way to search.
Why does a search by address miss violations?
Corner buildings and large lots often have several addresses, and some records are filed under a different one. Search by BIN or block and lot when you can.
Do I need to check every agency before buying a building?
Yes. A clean DOB record says nothing about HPD, ECB balances, FDNY orders or a DOT sidewalk notice filed with the County Clerk. Your lawyer's municipal search should cover all of them, and it's worth checking yourself first.
Is there one place that shows everything?
Not from the city. The search on this site covers DOB, ECB and HPD in one go. ViolationWatch's full lookup adds OATH, FDNY, 311, DEP, DOH, DOT and Parks.
How far back do NYC violation records go?
DOB violations in BIS go back to the 1980s and some earlier. HPD Online covers decades too. Old records still count if they're open.