How To Look Up NYC ECB Violations Online: A Step-by-Step Process

City violations don’t wait. They pile up. They trigger fines. They threaten compliance. And yet, most property professionals still waste hours—or worse, miss violations entirely—because they don’t know the fastest way to access records online.

This guide changes that. In minutes, you’ll learn a simple, exact process to track every ECB violation tied to any NYC property. No guesswork. No confusion.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• How to reach the official system where violations live online
• The quickest way to run a property search without errors
• Where to locate key property details before reviewing violations
• How to read violation records correctly and spot urgent issues
• A simple method to dig deeper into penalties and hearings when needed

By the end, you’ll know exactly where to click, what to look for, and how to stay ahead of compliance issues—long before fines become problems.

Step 1 — Access the Online System Where Violations Are Stored

This is where you begin. Your goal: reach the Buildings Information System (BIS)—New York City’s official hub for property records, including ECB violations. No accounts. No fees. Just this portal. Why BIS Matters? The system pulls data straight from the Department of Buildings. It offers a bird’s-eye view of complaints, violations, inspections, and more. If you’re serious about staying compliant, you start here.

How to Access the BIS?

Start by going to the DOB-BIS web portal on the NYC official site. No sign-in required—just a few clicks and you’re in. Once inside, you’ll see multiple navigation options:

• Property searches
• Complaints & violations
• Applications
• Inspections

Violations—DOB or ECB—land under the Complaints / Violations tab.

Step 2 — Run a Property Search with Zero Headaches

You’ve landed in the BIS system. Now it’s about finding your target property fast—and without guesswork.

You’ll begin with the search interface. Choose Building Information Search, then:

Enter clear property details—borough, street number, street name. This precision cuts out irrelevant results and keeps your next move on point. When exact street input doesn’t match, switch to the Block-Lot (BBL) method. You can find the BBL on a property tax bill or by using the Department of Finance’s Property Tax system.

If a lot hosts multiple buildings, BIS will flag it with a count. Clicking it brings up records for each individual structure—each with its own violation data if applicable.

Property Search Tips

Step 3 — Pinpoint the Property Profile Before Diving Into Building Violations

You’ve zeroed in on the right property in BIS. Now you need context—a quick snapshot of what you’re dealing with. Once the profile loads, you’ll see a Property Profile Overview. That’s your control center. It shows permits, inspections, violations, job filings, and more. All of it in one place.

Every detail matters. You’ll find occupancy status, job history, and how many violations are open—data you can’t skip if you’re managing compliance.

What to Review First

Start by scanning these key parts:

• Violation counts and types – You’ll see how many ECB, DOB, or other violations are active versus dismissed.
• Active filings or permits – This field shows current job filings or permits linked to the property. That matters when you’re tracking resolution or pending actions.
• Occupancy or use notes – This indicates whether the property is residential, commercial, or mixed-use. A small detail with big implications for code compliance.

Step 4 — Read Violation Records Like a Pro

You’ve reached the violation list for your property. Now it’s time to understand what each record means—start with the details that demand your immediate attention.

New violations in BIS appear clearly. ECB violations tagged Active (A) mean action is required. Resolved or dismissed ones show up as Dismissed (D). DOB violations, meanwhile, follow a different cue: an asterisk marks those that are dismissed, while open ones lack that symbol.

What to Look for First

Begin with the basics. Each violation record includes:

• Issue date — How old is the violation? Older ones may have accrued fines or require prioritized attention.
• Violation description — Look for code references and summaries of the violating condition. Those spell out exactly what needs fixing.
• Cure or hearing date — A crucial deadline. Missing it can mean additional fees—or escalation to administrative hearings.

Grasp the Severity

Some violations are more urgent. For example, the ECB violations often categorize issues by risk level—Class 1 (emergency, life-safety), Class 2 (serious, but less urgent), and so on.

Take note: BIS still reflects unresolved violations even when fines are paid. The record remains live until you submit an approved Certificate of Correction or attend the hearing and have the violation officially cleared.

Status Flags You Can’t Ignore

Certain BIS statuses change as enforcement progresses:

• New Issuance — violation is recent; hearing likely pending.
• Hearing Completed — a decision has been made.
• Defaulted or Docketed — you missed a hearing or didn’t pay; the matter may now be in collection or with the Department of Finance.

These status lines tell you exactly where each violation stands—which ones you must act on first, and which ones don’t require immediate action.

Step 5 — Dive Further Into Penalties and Hearings When Needed

You’ve identified the building violations tied to your property address. Now it’s time to understand their legal implications—what they cost, when court hearings happen, and the options available to any property owner managing many responsibilities across multiple locations.

The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) handles Environmental Control Board (ECB) violations and related ECB hearing schedules across NYC. When a violation reaches OATH, your path forward might include paying, contesting, or resolving through necessary permits or corrective action. Each route carries different outcomes, deadlines, and supporting documents you’ll need to submit for compliance.

Understand the Options for NYC Department Resolution

Start with the first step: review the Cure Date. If it’s valid, you can correct the infraction and submit a Certificate of Correction by that date. Approved corrections often cancel penalties entirely, restoring the safe condition of your property and helping you avoid costly failure to comply notices.

If a Cure Date isn’t available, consider the essential step of paying the standard penalty before the hearing date using the ticket number linked to the violation. This action resolves the case without requiring a hearing, but it still counts as non-compliance under city records.

In select situations, a Stipulation option allows the subject to admit guilt with an agreement to fix the unpermitted work within 75 days. Penalties under this option often fall to about half the standard amount, saving financing resources for other needs.

When you attend the hearing:

• A dismissal clears the violation number entirely—no penalties remain.
• A finding of liability may still occur, but you can submit additional information for mitigation or appeal.
• Some city agencies allow reduced penalties if you prove compliance at the hearing itself.

Missing the hearing leads to a notice of default judgment, triggering penalties up to five times the standard amount—a severe setback for any purchasing or refinancing plans involving the property.

How You Can Leverage Digital Tools

Understanding violation records is one part of staying informed. Automating their tracking across NYC open data systems and various city agencies is the step-by-step guide modern property teams rely on.

ViolationWatch integrates with technology that scans other city agencies like DOB, HPD, FDNY, and DEP for fire safety violations, illegal construction complaints, open violations, and related documentation in real time. It consolidates updates from city agencies into a single dashboard, delivering expert guidance to help you maintain compliance without juggling multiple portals.

You receive instant alerts when deadlines approach, hearings are scheduled, or contact details for follow-up appear—ensuring responsible action before small issues escalate. By linking each violation number to its originating city agencies, hearing dates, and required supporting documents, the platform removes guesswork and helps determine the fastest route to resolution.

For property teams balancing many responsibilities across locations, this integration with technology turns a complex, manual process into a centralized workflow—keeping properties in a safe condition and fully aligned with safety standards.

Look Up NYC ECB Violations Online Without the Guesswork

By now, you know how to track violations quickly, interpret records accurately, and avoid costly mistakes. Following this process doesn’t just save time—it transforms how you handle compliance altogether.

With the right approach, you can:

• Spot critical violations before fines spiral
• Resolve open cases faster by knowing every deadline and hearing date in advance
• Plan budgets better because penalties no longer catch you off guard
• Stay compliant across multiple buildings without juggling scattered records

For property managers overseeing portfolios or investors managing several properties, manual checks won’t cut it long term. That’s where tools like ViolationWatch step in—helping you centralize alerts related to the NYC Department of Buildings, monitor updates across agencies, and close violations before they become expensive problems.

Compliance no longer feels like guesswork. It becomes a manageable, trackable process that keeps your properties and finances under control.