Question 1

I need to pull a permit for construction work in NYC.

Accepted Answer

DOB NOW: Build is the city's online portal for submitting permit applications, scheduling inspections, and tracking filings. Most new permit applications are filed here. DOB NOW will accept your application, but it will not tell you which filing type is correct, whether your project triggers zoning review, or whether existing violations on the property will block approval. Choosing the wrong filing path costs weeks. An experienced expediter identifies the right path before the first submission. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 2

I received a DOB or ECB violation on my property.

Accepted Answer

BIS is the city's public database for looking up violations, complaints, and enforcement actions on any property in New York City. You can search by address or block and lot. BIS shows you the raw data, but it does not explain what a violation means in practical terms, whether it will block a filing, or what the cure path is. The system uses agency codes and abbreviations that are not self-explanatory. A Class 2 violation under Section 28-105.1 means something very specific, and the response strategy depends on context that BIS does not provide. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 3

I want to look up a property's building history, permits, and complaints.

Accepted Answer

BIS is the most comprehensive public source for building records in New York City. It consolidates permit history, violations, complaints, certificates of occupancy, and inspection data in one searchable interface. BIS contains decades of records, but interpreting them requires familiarity with DOB's filing codes, job types, and status designations. A property with fifty line items in BIS might have three that actually matter to your project. Knowing which three, and what they mean for your filing path, is what an experienced expediter brings to the table. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 4

I need to know the zoning on a property and what I can build.

Accepted Answer

ZoLa is the NYC Department of City Planning's interactive zoning and land use map. It shows zoning districts, overlays, special purpose districts, landmarks, and other land use designations for any lot in the city. ZoLa shows you the designation but does not tell you what you can actually do with it. Translating a zoning district into permitted uses, bulk calculations, setback requirements, and parking obligations requires reading the Zoning Resolution itself, which is not a self-service exercise. Special districts, overlays, and contextual zoning add layers that are not apparent from the map alone. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 5

My permit application is stalled and I do not know why.

Accepted Answer

The DOB NOW Public Portal lets anyone look up the current status of a permit application by job number or address. It shows where the application sits in the review pipeline. The portal shows you the status label, but not the underlying reason. "In review" can mean the examiner is actively working on it, or it can mean the filing has been deprioritized because of a missing item the system does not surface. Objections are listed but not always explained in terms a non-professional can act on. The most common reason for a stalled filing, an open violation blocking the application, does not always appear in the portal at all. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 6

I need a certificate of occupancy or need to understand one.

Accepted Answer

BIS stores the certificate of occupancy on file for any property in New York City. You can pull the current C of O, review historical certificates, and see whether a new or amended certificate is pending. BIS shows you the certificate on file, but many buildings in New York City have certificates that are decades old, incomplete, or inconsistent with the building's current use. Reading a C of O correctly requires understanding DOB's classification system, which has changed multiple times. Whether a discrepancy between the C of O and the actual use constitutes a violation, and what it takes to correct it, is not something BIS can tell you. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 7

I am buying or refinancing a building and need to know what is on record.

Accepted Answer

DOB's Find Building Data page aggregates links to BIS, DOB NOW, and other public data tools in one place. It is the best starting point for a comprehensive look at a property's DOB record. This page gives you the tools, but running a proper due diligence review means cross-referencing DOB records with ACRIS (property records), HPD (housing maintenance), FDNY, DOT, and the Department of Finance. A clean DOB record does not mean a clean building. Open HPD violations, outstanding FDNY orders, or unresolved DOT matters can surface post-closing and carry significant remediation costs. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

Question 8

I am new to NYC construction and want to understand how the permit process works.

Accepted Answer

NYC Business provides a high-level overview of the construction permit process, including the types of permits available, general filing requirements, and links to the relevant agencies. This overview is helpful as a starting point, but it describes the process in general terms. It does not account for the specific complexities that arise on real projects: which filing type applies to your scope, whether your building is governed by the 1968 or 2014 code, whether an LPC review is required, or whether existing conditions at the property will affect the filing strategy. Every project is different, and the general overview cannot substitute for project-specific guidance. For professional help: https://pdgbc.com/contact

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Official NYC government links

DOB NOW: Build

DOB NOW Public Portal

Building Information Search (BIS)

Find Building Data

NYC Planning ZoLa

Construction Permits Overview

DOB Determinations

Info for Business Owners

Buildings Information System (Overview)

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