Open ViolationsA public record project
/

Guides

Plain-language explanations of the records on this site: what each violation class means, which agency does what, what a Local Law filing is, and what a tenant or owner can actually do next. 17 guides. Plain English, not legal advice.

All guides (17)Violations 101 (5)Lookups (3)By agency (2)Local Laws (2)For tenants (3)For landlords (2)

By agency

Who issues what (2 guides)
DOB vs HPD violations, explainedHeat, mold and pests go one way; construction, elevators and facades go the other. Two agencies, two very different records.2 min · updated July 2026OATH hearings, explainedHow a summons becomes a penalty, what a default judgment costs, and the options for responding.2 min · updated July 2026

Skip the reading: look up your building

Most questions are faster to answer from the record itself.