Check the NYC Certificate of Occupancy Before Renting

Before renting an unusual unit, check the building record. This is most useful for basement, cellar, attic, and converted-space listings, because the CO is the record that states legal use and occupancy. A building generally cannot be occupied until a CO or Temporary CO is issued.

Older CO records may be in BIS, while newer records use DOB NOW. The Find Building Data page can also show permits, violations, complaints, occupancy details, and compliance records.

A renter does not need to become a code expert. The useful move is simple: compare the advertised apartment with DOB records before money changes hands.

Save the dated lookup with the notice, contract, map, or bill that started the question.

Build a narrow file for Brooklyn: NYC DOB: Certificate of Occupancy, the exact certificate of occupancy or DOB, the date searched, and the address, parcel, account, citation, or application number that made the question come up.

A compact trail usually does the job: source, date, record name, and the office family behind it, which here means New York City Department of Buildings. Brooklyn certificate of occupancy or DOB errands move faster when the public lookup and the office answer are saved together.