NYC Department of Buildings Search

The NYC Department of Buildings maintains two major record systems:

• DOB NOW — The current digital platform for filing permits, scheduling inspections, and tracking active construction. Launched in 2016, it handles all new filings.
• BIS (Building Information System) — The legacy database containing historical records: older permits, violations, certificates of occupancy, and building profiles dating back decades.

Most NYC property professionals need data from both systems. A building may have active permits in DOB NOW and historical violations in BIS. RegWatch searches both simultaneously, so you don't need to check two separate portals. This is especially important for real estate attorneys and title companies doing due diligence.

RegWatch pulls the full range of Department of Buildings data for every property:

• DOB Violations — 1.07M+ safety violations (Class 1, 2, 3) with status, fines, and enforcement history. Search DOB violations →
• ECB Penalties — 1.8M+ administrative penalty cases with OATH hearing status and payment tracking. Search ECB violations →
• Building Permits — Active and historical permits, job filings (NB, A1, A2, A3, DM), and DOB NOW status. Search permits →
• Certificates of Occupancy — Final and temporary C of O records showing legal use and occupancy classification.
• Building Profile — Year built, building class, stories, units, lot dimensions, and zoning from PLUTO.

All data is cross-referenced: you can see which violations are linked to which permits, and whether ECB fines have escalated to liens.

Department of Buildings records are foundational to every NYC real estate transaction. Here's why each stakeholder cares:

• Buyers & Investors — Open DOB violations can block closings, reduce property value, and create legal liability. A building with dozens of unresolved violations is a red flag.
• Title Companies — Must verify no outstanding violations or ECB liens exist before clearing title. DOB records are a required search in every NYC transaction.
• Attorneys — Need complete violation and permit history for due diligence. Missing a DOB violation in contract review can lead to malpractice claims.
• Property Managers — Track active permits and new violations across their portfolio. Staying ahead of DOB enforcement saves money.
• Contractors — Check permit status and active violations before bidding on jobs. Work on a property with open stop-work orders is illegal.

Instead of switching between DOB NOW and BIS, RegWatch gives you everything in one search:

1. Enter any NYC address — search covers all five boroughs and 2.9M+ properties
2. Get a complete building profile in under 3 seconds
3. View violations, permits, and certificates in organized, sortable tabs
4. Download a PDF report for your records or client files
5. Set up portfolio alerts to get notified when DOB issues new violations

RegWatch also combines DOB data with HPD housing violations, DOF tax records, and ACRIS title records — so you can do complete property due diligence from one dashboard.