A property search is most useful when you know what the system includes—and what it leaves out. A blank result in one portal is not the same as a clean building history.
Start with the right building
Keep the full address, borough, and building identifiers together. The Building Identification Number (BIN) identifies a building; borough, block, and lot (BBL) identify the tax lot. Use the identifiers shown on the official property profile when comparing results. This is especially helpful when an address has multiple buildings or an alternate street entrance.
Check both official systems
The Department of Buildings directs owners to both its Building Information System (BIS) and DOB NOW Public Portal. BIS includes building profiles, older filings, complaints, violations, and inspections. DOB NOW covers records submitted through that newer system. Start at DOB’s Find Building Data page for the official links.
DOB’s Public Portal FAQ explicitly says to also search BIS for a complete violation search. Some DOB violations and OATH/ECB violations are not in DOB NOW. Complaints generated from 311 are in BIS.
Read the record, not just the count
For each relevant item, record its number, description, date, and current status. A complaint, permit, and violation describe different things. Do not combine them into a single count of confirmed problems. A historical entry should not automatically be described as an unresolved issue.
Save the source and the date you checked it. Next time, compare the same record number rather than relying only on a changing total. If an item appears unfamiliar, open its details before drawing a conclusion.
A useful monthly habit
Use a short checklist: correct building, both systems checked, new items reviewed, and unresolved questions noted. A monitoring app can help organize covered records, but agency notices and official records remain essential. NYC Property Watch brings available building activity into the app alongside other property information; it does not certify a building’s safety or replace an agency’s instructions.
Sources & editorial note
Reviewed against the sources below on 2026-09-11. This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or safety advice. Requirements and portal layouts can change. Confirm your property’s details with the relevant agency.