Open ViolationsA public record project
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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)

For tenants

Practical steps (3 guides)
Tenants: check a building before signing a leaseWhich records predict a bad winter, which are routine paperwork, and how to read a building page in five minutes.2 min · updated July 2026NYC heat season: the rules, and what the record showsOctober 1 to May 31, 68 by day and 62 by night, and why the same buildings fail every winter.2 min · updated August 2026Buying? Check the building's record firstOpen violations and unpaid penalties convey with the building. Five minutes of public record beats a surprise assessment.2 min · updated August 2026

Skip the reading: look up your building

Most questions are faster to answer from the record itself.