DOB Violations Search
Enter any NYC address and read the building's structural and construction record before you sign anything.
What DOB violations are
The Department of Buildings covers the building itself: structure, construction, elevators, boilers, facades. If HPD asks "is the apartment livable," DOB asks "is the building sound." When DOB confirms a problem, it becomes a violation on the building's public record — and the record ranges from paperwork issues to conditions the city classifies as immediately hazardous.
The records that matter most
Open hazardous violations — anything the file marks as hazardous deserves a close read, especially the open date.
Stop work orders — construction was ordered halted. Worth understanding why before you live under it.
Vacate orders — part or all of the building was ordered emptied. Read the history even when it's closed.
Active permits — not a red flag, but a preview. A gut renovation on the floor above you is information you want before the lease, not after.
How to read a DOB record
DOB's records live in two systems — one holding history back to the 1980s, one holding newer filings — and the same building can have records in both. The city considers that split your problem; a VeriCrib report reads both. As with any violation record, the open date matters more than the count: a violation marked "failed to correct" for years is the record's way of saying still broken, just older now.
DOB vs. HPD
DOB covers the building's bones; HPD covers whether the apartment is livable — heat, hot water, pests, leaks. Same address, separate agencies, separate systems. A VeriCrib report reads both, together.
FAQ
How do I check DOB violations by address?
Enter the address in the search above. You'll get the building's report: DOB violations alongside HPD records, complaints, filings, litigation, and landlord history — read and translated into a clear verdict. Your first three reports are full reports, free.
What is a stop work order?
An order halting construction at the building because the work was unsafe or improperly permitted. An active one means unresolved construction issues; a history of them tells you how the building's projects tend to go.
What is a vacate order?
An order requiring part or all of a building to be emptied because conditions made it unsafe to occupy. Even a closed vacate order is worth understanding before signing.
Are DOB violations a dealbreaker?
Not automatically — many buildings carry some record. Weight open hazardous violations, stop work orders, and vacate orders most heavily, and read how long things stay open.