How NYC Property Ownership Records Work
In New York City, property ownership is recorded through deeds filed with the City Register (managed by the Department of Finance). These records are digitized in ACRIS — the Automated City Register Information System — which covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Staten Island deeds are filed with the Richmond County Clerk.
Each property is identified by a BBL (Borough-Block-Lot) number. When a property is sold or transferred, a new deed is recorded with the buyer's name, sale price, and transfer date. Many NYC properties are owned by LLCs, trusts, or corporate entities, which can make identifying the actual owner more complex.
Ways to Look Up a Property Owner in NYC
There are several ways to find who owns a property in New York City:
- ACRIS — Search by address or BBL for recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens. Free but limited to one document type at a time.
- DOF Property Tax Portal — Shows the owner name on the tax bill and assessed values.
- PLUTO / MapPLUTO — NYC Planning's dataset includes owner names for most tax lots.
- RegWatch — Combines all the above into a single search with ownership details, deed history, and cross-referenced data from 250+ sources.
What Owner Information Is Available?
For NYC properties, RegWatch shows:
- Current owner name — individual, LLC, trust, or corporate entity
- Owner mailing address — from DOF records (where tax bills are sent)
- Ownership type — fee simple, condo, co-op, leasehold
- Purchase date and price — from the most recent deed transfer
- Full deed history — complete chain of title from ACRIS
- Mortgage records — current and historical mortgages
Note: NJ owner names are not available due to Daniel's Law privacy protections.
LLC-Owned Properties: Finding the Real Owner
Over 40% of NYC investment properties are owned by LLCs. To research LLC ownership:
- Search the property on RegWatch to find the LLC name on the deed
- Check the deed documents on ACRIS for signatures and managing member names
- Search the LLC on the NY Secretary of State (DOS) business entity database
- Cross-reference the LLC's registered agent address with other property holdings
RegWatch's property profiles make this process faster by showing all deed documents and ownership history in one place.
What You Get with RegWatch
- Current owner name and entity type
- Owner mailing address from DOF
- Full deed transfer history
- Sale prices and dates
- Mortgage and lien records
- LLC and corporate ownership details
- Cross-referenced from 250+ sources
- Email alerts and PDF reports with Pro
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out who owns a property in NYC for free?
Yes. You can search ACRIS for deeds or the DOF portal for tax bill names. RegWatch consolidates ownership details from 250+ sources into one free search.
How do I find the owner of an LLC-owned property?
Search the property address on RegWatch or ACRIS to find the LLC name. Then search that LLC on the NY Secretary of State business entity database. Deed documents on ACRIS sometimes include managing member names.
Are property ownership records public in NYC?
Yes. Property deeds, tax records, and ownership information are public records in NYC. They are available through ACRIS, DOF, and aggregators like RegWatch.
Can I find property owners in NJ too?
RegWatch covers 2.7M+ NJ properties with property details, but NJ owner names are restricted under Daniel's Law. NYC owner data is fully available.
What if the owner name shows an LLC or trust?
Many NYC properties are held in LLCs for liability protection. RegWatch shows the entity name from the deed. You can cross-reference with the NY Secretary of State database to find the LLC's registered agent and members.
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