Top Companies Providing Automated Alerts for Building Violations in NYC (Who’s the Fastest?)

Missing a single violation notice can cost you thousands in fines. Worse, it can trigger cascading compliance issues that take months to resolve.

You check the DOB portal manually. You scan HPD records weekly. You try to stay ahead of the ECB hearings. But violations still slip through the cracks because tracking ten different city agencies is a full-time job you don’t have time for.

Automated alert systems exist to solve this problem. They monitor multiple NYC agencies 24/7 and notify you the moment a new violation hits your property. The speed difference between platforms can mean catching an issue in hours versus days, and that gap directly impacts your ability to respond before deadlines pass.

Not all alert systems work the same way. Some focus solely on DOB violations. Others cover multiple agencies but send alerts too late. A few deliver instant notifications across every relevant city database, but you need to know which ones actually perform.

Here’s what we cover in this breakdown:

• DOB Alerts – How this DOB-focused tool handles violation notifications and what limits its scope
• DOB Guard – The speed and agency coverage this platform offers for building compliance tracking
• NYC DOB Violations Alert Service – What makes this service different, and where it falls short
• SiteCompli – How this compliance platform integrates alerts with broader property management workflows
• ViolationWatch – Why this all-in-one system delivers the fastest, most comprehensive violation monitoring across DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, and seven other NYC agencies

We tested response times, agency coverage, and notification reliability. Let’s break the results down.

1. DOB Alerts

DOB Alerts built its platform around one specific goal: getting violation notifications to property owners faster than manual portal checks allow. The system monitors the NYC Department of Buildings database continuously and sends alerts when new violations appear on your properties.

You connect your properties to the platform by entering building information numbers (BINs) or addresses. Once set up, DOB Alerts tracks those properties and notifies you via email when the DOB issues a new violation, updates an existing one, or changes a violation status.

How the Alert System Works

The platform checks DOB records multiple times per day. When a change occurs on one of your tracked properties, you receive an email notification with violation details. The alert includes the violation type, issue date, and a direct link to the full DOB record.

Key features include:

• Automated monitoring of DOB violation records across multiple properties
• Email notifications when new violations appear or existing ones update
• Direct links to official DOB records for quick verification
• Simple property management through BIN or address tracking
• No mobile app required, alerts come straight to your inbox

Pricing Structure and Scalability

DOB Alerts offers three pricing tiers based on portfolio size.

1. The Starter plan covers one property for $19 monthly.
2. The Save-As-You-Grow tier scales from 2 to 200 properties with volume-based pricing that decreases per property as your portfolio grows.
3. The Premium plan handles up to 500 properties for $750 monthly, which breaks down to $1.50 per property.

This pricing model works well if you manage a growing portfolio. You pay less per property as you add more buildings to your monitoring system.

Agency Coverage Limitations

DOB Alerts focuses exclusively on Department of Buildings violations. The platform does not monitor other NYC agencies like HPD (Housing Preservation and Development), ECB (Environmental Control Board), FDNY (Fire Department), or DOT (Department of Transportation).

If your properties only face DOB-related compliance issues, this narrow focus keeps the system simple. You get DOB violation alerts without additional agency data cluttering your notifications. Properties that need multi-agency monitoring require supplementary tracking systems. You would need to check HPD, FDNY, and other agency portals separately or use additional tools to cover those bases.

Notification Speed and Reliability

The platform checks DOB records several times daily, which means alerts arrive within hours of violations appearing in the official database. This response time gives you a head start on addressing issues before they escalate or reach hearing dates.

Email delivery is straightforward. You receive notifications directly in your inbox without needing to log into a separate dashboard to check for updates. The alerts include enough information to assess urgency and decide on next steps.

Who Benefits Most from DOB Alerts

This platform suits property owners or managers who primarily deal with the Department of Buildings compliance. If your violations concern construction work, building permits, structural issues, or DOB inspections, the focused approach eliminates unnecessary noise from other agencies.

Smaller portfolios benefit from the low entry price point. You can start monitoring a single property for less than $20 monthly and scale up as your portfolio expands. The cost-per-property decreases as you grow, making it economical for operators adding buildings over time.

2. DOB Guard

DOB Guard expands violation monitoring beyond the Department of Buildings to cover 12+ NYC datasets. The system sends notifications through multiple channels and includes an intelligent risk scoring feature that prioritizes violations based on severity and potential financial impact. You get alerts via email, text, and voice calls depending on your plan tier.

Coverage Across NYC Datasets

DOB Guard monitors violations from a wide range of city agencies. This multi-agency approach catches compliance issues that single-source platforms miss. You track DOB construction violations alongside HPD housing maintenance issues, ECB environmental violations, and FDNY fire safety citations from one dashboard.

Agency coverage includes:

• DOB, HPD, OATH, ECB, and SWO violations
• DOB NOW permit changes with diff tracking
• HPD litigation and AEP (Alternative Enforcement Program) alerts
• FDNY and fire safety violations
• Environmental and sanitation violations
• Department of Transportation issues

The platform pulls data from all five boroughs, so you can monitor properties across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island without switching between systems.

DOB Guard’s proprietary risk scoring system analyzes violations and assigns priority levels based on factors like fine amounts, hearing deadlines, and violation severity. High-risk violations trigger immediate notifications, while lower-priority issues appear in your dashboard for scheduled review.

This scoring helps you triage violations efficiently. You know which issues need immediate attention and which ones can wait for your next review cycle. The system eliminates the guesswork around prioritizing compliance tasks.

Pricing Tiers and Notification Options

The platform offers three pricing structures tailored to different portfolio sizes.

1. The Starter plan handles up to 2 properties for $14.99 monthly (or $144 annually with savings). You get email and text alerts with basic monitoring across all covered agencies.
2. The Pro plan scales up to 10 properties for $49.99 monthly ($480 annually). This tier adds voice alerts for urgent violations, calendar sync capabilities for OATH hearings and deadlines, and the full intelligent risk scoring system. You can add up to 2 alert recipients.
3. The Enterprise plan supports 75+ properties with unlimited scaling at $4 per additional property monthly. This tier includes priority support, SLA guarantees, dedicated onboarding assistance, advanced compliance reports, and API access for custom integrations. You can add up to 5 alert recipients.

Multi-Channel Alert Delivery

Notifications arrive through email, SMS text, and voice calls, depending on your plan level. The Pro and Enterprise tiers include voice alerts for high-priority violations, which means you receive a phone call when the system detects urgent compliance issues. Text and email alerts arrive in near-instant timing after violations appear in city databases. The multi-channel approach ensures you catch notifications even if you miss an email or text message.

DOB Guard syncs OATH hearing dates and compliance deadlines directly to your calendar through Google, Outlook, or Apple integrations. You can view upcoming hearings and violation response deadlines without manually tracking dates from different agency portals.

The calendar sync updates automatically when hearing dates change or new deadlines appear. This feature prevents missed hearings and late responses that lead to additional fines.

3. NYC DOB Violations Alert Service

NYC DOB Violations Alert Service takes a streamlined approach to compliance monitoring by focusing on Department of Buildings data from two primary sources: DOB NOW and the Building Information System (BIS). The platform tracks these databases for new violations and sends instant alerts when issues appear on your properties.

The service targets general contractors, property managers, building owners, licensed professionals like plumbers and electricians, and real estate developers who need focused DOB compliance tracking without multi-agency complexity.

Proactive Compliance Monitoring Approach

The system checks DOB NOW and BIS records continuously for violations tied to your properties. When the automated monitoring detects a new violation, you receive an email alert with details about the issue. This proactive approach helps you address violations before they escalate into larger compliance problems or work stoppages.

Core monitoring features include:

• Automated tracking of the NYC Department of Buildings’ public records
• Instant email notifications when new violations appear
• Direct sourcing from DOB NOW portals and BIS databases
• Continuous monitoring without manual portal checks
• Violation details delivered straight to your inbox

Data Sourcing and Accuracy

NYC DOB Violations Alert Service pulls information directly from publicly accessible NYC DOB databases. The platform monitors both DOB NOW (the city’s current filing system) and BIS (the legacy building information database) to ensure comprehensive coverage of DOB violations.

Data sources tracked:

• DOB NOW portal for current filings and violations
• Building Information System (BIS) for property records
• All violations and contact information were sourced from public records
• Direct integration with official city databases

The service emphasizes accuracy by pulling data straight from official city sources rather than relying on third-party aggregators or delayed feeds.

Target Audience and Use Cases

The platform serves professionals who work primarily with DOB compliance. General contractors can track violations on active job sites. Property managers and building owners can monitor their portfolios for DOB issues. Licensed professionals like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians can catch violations that might affect their work permits or project timelines.

Who benefits most:

• General contractors managing multiple construction projects
• Property managers overseeing building portfolios
• Licensed professionals, including plumbers and electricians
• Real estate developers tracking DOB compliance on new projects

You start monitoring by entering your email address and optionally adding a license or BIN (Building Identification Number). The system verifies you’re human through a simple CAPTCHA, then begins tracking the properties or licenses you specified.

The email-based notification system keeps setup simple. You don’t need to download apps or learn complex dashboards. Alerts arrive in your inbox with the information you need to take action.

Focused DOB Coverage

NYC DOB Violations Alert Service concentrates exclusively on Department of Buildings violations. This narrow focus makes sense for professionals whose primary compliance concerns involve construction permits, work violations, building code issues, and DOB inspections.

The service does not extend to other NYC agencies like HPD, ECB, FDNY, or environmental departments. If your compliance needs center on DOB issues, this focused approach eliminates unnecessary alerts from other city agencies.

The service operates from a New York City location at 445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor. You can reach the team via phone at 845-828-7980 or for questions about monitoring, alerts, or account setup.

4. SiteCompli

SiteCompli operates as a comprehensive compliance management platform designed for commercial real estate portfolios, property management firms, and enterprise-level operators. The system integrates violation monitoring with broader compliance workflows, risk management tools, and regulatory tracking across multiple jurisdictions.

The platform serves clients managing large portfolios where violations represent one component of a wider compliance strategy that includes inspections, certifications, insurance, vendor management, and regulatory reporting.

Multi-Jurisdictional Compliance Framework

SiteCompli extends beyond NYC to cover compliance requirements across different cities and states. The platform tracks regulatory changes, filing deadlines, and violation notices across various jurisdictions, making it suitable for operators with properties in multiple markets.

Compliance coverage includes:

• NYC building violations and regulatory requirements
• Multi-state compliance tracking for distributed portfolios
• Local Law compliance monitoring for NYC properties
• Regulatory deadline tracking across jurisdictions
• Certification and inspection management

The system centralizes compliance data from different regulatory bodies into a single platform. You can track NYC DOB violations alongside Chicago building code requirements or California environmental regulations without switching between separate systems.

Violation Alerts Within Broader Workflows

SiteCompli embeds violation monitoring into its larger compliance management system. When violations appear on your properties, the platform sends alerts and automatically creates tasks within your compliance workflow. This integration connects violation notifications to resolution processes, vendor assignments, and deadline tracking.

Alert and workflow features:

• Automated violation notifications from monitored agencies
• Task creation and assignment for violation resolution
• Deadline tracking tied to hearing dates and response requirements
• Document management for violation-related filings
• Vendor coordination tools for compliance work

The platform assigns violations to appropriate team members or vendors, tracks resolution progress, and maintains documentation throughout the compliance lifecycle. This workflow approach works well for organizations with dedicated compliance teams managing complex resolution processes.

Enterprise-Level Reporting and Documentation

The system generates compliance reports for internal stakeholders, investors, lenders, and regulatory bodies. You can create portfolio-wide compliance summaries, property-specific violation reports, or custom analytics based on your reporting requirements.

Reporting capabilities:

• Automated compliance reporting on scheduled intervals
• Custom report building for specific metrics
• Violation history and resolution tracking
• Compliance cost analysis across the portfolio
• Audit-ready documentation and records

These reporting tools support due diligence processes, portfolio acquisitions, financing applications, and regulatory audits where comprehensive compliance documentation is required.

SiteCompli serves institutional property owners, REITs, property management companies with large portfolios, and commercial real estate operators where compliance represents a significant operational function requiring dedicated staff and structured processes.

5. ViolationWatch

ViolationWatch delivers instant violation alerts across ten NYC agencies through a single unified platform. The system monitors DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, DEP, DEC, DOH, DOT, DSNY, and DOF simultaneously, catching violations the moment they appear in city databases.

Most platforms focus on one or two agencies. ViolationWatch covers them all. You get WhatsApp and email notifications within minutes of NYC violations hitting city records, giving you maximum time to respond before deadlines pass or fines accumulate.

How the AI-Powered Monitoring Engine Works

ViolationWatch built its monitoring system around speed and comprehensive NYC building compliance. The AI-powered engine scans city databases continuously and delivers alerts faster than manual checks or competing platforms.

The monitoring process follows four steps:

• Continuous Database Scanning – The system monitors all ten NYC agency databases 24/7, checking for new violations, status updates, and compliance changes across your entire property portfolio
• Instant Detection and Analysis – When violations appear, the AI engine identifies them immediately and analyzes violation type, severity, agency source, and property impact
• Multi-Channel Alert Delivery – Notifications go out instantly via WhatsApp and email to multiple team members, ensuring someone always catches urgent compliance issues
• Automated Status Tracking – The platform tracks violations through resolution without requiring manual updates, maintaining current records of open violations, closed cases, and upcoming deadlines

This automated workflow eliminates the hours you’d spend checking ten different agency portals manually. The system does that work for you and alerts you only when action is required.

Free Violation Lookup Tool For New York’s Properties

ViolationWatch offers a free lookup tool that lets you search any NYC property for existing violations before signing up. You enter an address and instantly see all violations across the ten monitored agencies.

This tool helps you assess compliance status on properties you manage, properties you’re considering buying before you sell, or buildings where you’re planning construction work. You get a complete violation snapshot without creating an account or entering payment information. The tool works in any modern browser and delivers results instantly.

The lookup tool pulls data from the same sources the paid platform monitors, giving you accurate violation records during your research phase.

Why ViolationWatch Outperforms Other Real-Time Alert Systems

The platform stands out from competitors through comprehensive agency coverage, notification speed, and features designed specifically for NYC building codes compliance.

Seven reasons ViolationWatch delivers superior violation monitoring:

• Complete NYC Agency Coverage – Only platform monitoring all ten major agencies (DOB, HPD, ECB, FDNY, DEP, DEC, DOH, DOT, DSNY, DOF) from a single dashboard instead of requiring multiple tools or manual portal checks, catching everything from ECB violations to elevator inspections and criminal summons notices
• Instant WhatsApp Alerts – Notifications arrive via WhatsApp and email within minutes, not hours, giving you maximum response time before violations escalate or hearing dates approach, enabling immediate action when vacate orders or violation orders appear
• Unlimited Violation Tracking – The per-address pricing model includes unlimited violations, so you never hit caps or face overage charges regardless of how many issues appear on your properties
• Multi-User Notification System – Add multiple phone numbers and email addresses per property so your entire team receives alerts in the language they prefer (English or Spanish available), keeping everyone informed when emergency repairs become necessary
• Violation Type Selection – Choose which violation types trigger alerts for each property, filtering out low-priority issues while ensuring you catch critical compliance problems immediately
• Free Trial Without Credit Card – Test the platform with one property and up to 311 violations completely free, no payment information required, letting you verify alert speed and accuracy before committing
• Portfolio Dashboard with Action Insights – View violations across all properties color-coded by urgency (open violations in red, closed in green, pending actions in yellow), with direct links to official city records and nearby violation context showing what’s posted on neighboring buildings

Transparent Pricing for Any Portfolio Size

Let’s take a look at ViolationWatch’s pricing models.

Pricing structure breakdown:

• Free Trial – Monitor one location with up to 311 violations at no cost and no credit card required
• Per Address Plan – $9.99 monthly per address with unlimited violation and compliance tracking
  • Instant WhatsApp and Email Alerts – Included at all pricing levels with no notification limits or overage fees
  • Multi-User Access – Add multiple team members to receive alerts without additional per-user charges
  • All-Agency Monitoring – Full coverage of ten NYC agencies included in the base price

This pricing model scales efficiently. A single-property owner pays very little money, even less than $10 monthly.

Dashboard Features That Save Time Daily

The ViolationWatch dashboard consolidates violation data from ten agencies into one interface. You see open violations in red, closed violations in green, and pending actions in yellow. Each violation links directly to the official city record for verification.

Core dashboard capabilities include:

• Color-coded violation status for quick visual assessment
• Direct links to DOB NOW, BIS, and other agency portals
• Nearby violation context showing other compliance issues in your building
• Violation type filtering to focus on priority issues
• Historical violation tracking across all properties
• Address-level compliance summaries

The dashboard updates automatically when violation statuses change in city databases. You don’t manually refresh records or chase updates across multiple agency websites. This reduces paperwork and administrative burden significantly.

Who Benefits Most from ViolationWatch

The platform serves NYC property managers, building owners, landlords, construction companies, general contractors, real estate investors, and legal compliance teams who need comprehensive violation monitoring without the complexity of enterprise software. The system helps you prevent fines through early detection and gives you peace of mind knowing you’ll catch costly violations before they escalate.

Target users include:

• NYC Property Managers and Landlords – Stay ahead of DOB, HPD, and FDNY violations across multiple buildings to manage risk, protect tenants, and dodge costly surprises
• Construction Companies and General Contractors – Catch 311 complaints and DOB violations the moment they appear to stop work orders before inspectors arrive on-site, allowing you to fix issues proactively
• Real Estate Investors and Developers – Get real-time alerts for portfolio properties so you can respond quickly and preserve asset value, protecting your investment and maintaining property certificate of occupancy status
• Legal and Compliance Teams – Streamline property compliance workflows by tracking violations from all major NYC agencies in one place, supporting faster resolution for clients through specialized expertise and proper representation

The platform works for single-property owners testing violation monitoring and multi-building operators managing dozens of addresses across all five boroughs.

Why Speed Matters for Violation Response

The difference between receiving a violation alert in 10 minutes versus 24 hours can determine your response options. Faster alerts mean more time to contact inspectors, file corrections, schedule remediation work, or prepare for hearings before deadlines pass.

ViolationWatch’s instant notification system gives you that time advantage to stay compliant. The platform catches violations at the source and alerts you immediately through WhatsApp and email, putting you ahead of property managers who check portals manually or use slower monitoring systems.

One avoided a fine by paying for months of monitoring. One prevented work stoppage saves thousands in project delays. The platform’s speed turns violation monitoring from a reactive task into a proactive compliance strategy.

Platform Pricing Comparison

Here’s how the five platforms stack up on pricing and what you get at each level.

• 
  ViolationWatch’s per-address model offers the clearest value proposition. You pay $9.99 monthly per property, regardless of how many violations appear, with complete coverage across ten agencies instead of DOB-only monitoring.
• DOB Alerts works well for DOB-focused portfolios, but charges nearly double ViolationWatch’s rate for single properties while covering only one agency. The pricing becomes competitive at scale (500+ properties), but you still miss HPD, FDNY, ECB, and seven other agency violations.
• DOB Guard provides strong multi-agency coverage with intelligent risk scoring. The Starter tier costs more than ViolationWatch per property while monitoring fewer addresses. The Pro tier’s $49.99 for 10 properties breaks down to roughly $5 per property, but ViolationWatch’s $9.99 rate includes more agencies and unlimited violation tracking without tier restrictions.
• NYC DOB Violations Alert Service and SiteCompli don’t publish pricing, which typically signals custom enterprise pricing models that require sales conversations and long-term contracts.

The free trial comparison favors ViolationWatch. You test the full platform with real violation monitoring for one location without entering payment details. DOB Alerts and DOB Guard require payment up front to access monitoring features.

Speed Wins When Violations Hit Your Properties

You’ve seen how these platforms handle violation alerts across NYC. Some focus on DOB-only monitoring. Others add multi-agency coverage but charge premium prices or hide costs behind custom quotes. A few deliver fast notifications. Only one combines instant alerts, complete agency coverage, and transparent per-address pricing.

What you learned from this comparison:

• DOB-only platforms miss violations from HPD, ECB, FDNY, and seven other NYC agencies that can trigger fines, work stoppages, and compliance cascades across your properties
• Alert speed directly impacts your response window. Platforms that notify you in minutes instead of hours give you time to contact inspectors, file corrections, and prevent escalation before deadlines pass
• Per-address pricing with unlimited violations beats tiered models that cap property counts or charge extra when violation volumes spike during inspection seasons
• Free trials without credit card requirements let you verify alert speed and accuracy before committing to monthly fees or long-term contracts
• Multi-channel notifications through WhatsApp and email ensure your team catches urgent violations even when inbox messages get buried during busy periods

ViolationWatch monitors all ten major NYC agencies from one dashboard and sends instant WhatsApp and email alerts the moment violations appear. You start with a free trial covering one location and up to 311 violations, no payment details required.When you’re ready to scale, you pay $9.99 monthly per address with unlimited violation tracking and multi-user access. Test it and see how fast alerts actually arrive when violations hit your properties.