Why DOB Violations Matter
NYC Department of Buildings violations are among the most critical data points in any property transaction. RegWatch indexes 1.07 million+ DOB safety violations and 2.47 million legacy violations across all five boroughs. Open DOB violations can block closings, reduce property value, and create legal liability for owners.
Class 1 violations (immediately hazardous) can result in Stop Work Orders, vacate orders, and fines starting at $2,500. Even Class 3 violations accumulate — unpaid ECB fines become liens on the property that must be cleared before any sale or refinance.
What RegWatch Shows You
Unlike DOB BIS, which only shows DOB violations, RegWatch consolidates violations from multiple agencies in one view:
- DOB Violations — Class 1, 2, 3 with status, date, and description
- HPD Violations — Housing code violations (Class A, B, C)
- ECB Penalties — Fines, hearing status, payment status, outstanding balances
- FDNY Violations — Fire safety compliance issues
Each violation is color-coded by severity and includes enforcement status — so you know exactly where each issue stands in the cure → hearing → judgment → lien lifecycle.
How to Search DOB Violations
On RegWatch, simply enter any NYC address and click the Violations tab. You'll see all DOB violations (plus HPD, ECB, and FDNY) in a single, sortable list. No need to navigate DOB BIS separately.
For property managers and investors, portfolio monitoring tracks violations across all your buildings — alerting you to new violations the day they're filed, before they become costly problems.
What You Get with RegWatch
- All DOB violation classes (1, 2, 3) with descriptions
- HPD + ECB + FDNY violations in one view
- Color-coded by severity
- Enforcement status tracking (open → hearing → lien)
- Historical violation timeline
- Portfolio-wide violation monitoring
- PDF export for client reports
- AI-powered violation analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up DOB violations for a NYC building?
Enter any NYC address on RegWatch to see all DOB violations, including class, status, date issued, and associated ECB penalties. You can also search by BBL or BIN.
What is a Class 1 DOB violation?
A Class 1 DOB violation indicates an immediately hazardous condition — structural instability, blocked exits, illegal occupancy, or unsafe work. These carry the highest fines ($2,500-$25,000) and can result in Stop Work Orders or vacate orders.
Do DOB violations affect property sales?
Yes. Open DOB violations with unpaid ECB fines become liens on the property. Title companies flag these during closing, and they must be resolved or escrowed before transfer. Serious violations can reduce property value or kill deals entirely.
How often does RegWatch update violation data?
RegWatch pulls violation data from NYC Open Data APIs, which are updated by the city regularly (typically daily for DOB and HPD). Data freshness is shown on each violation record.
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