Complaint, New York Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

NYC Building Complaints, Permits & Inspections: What to Do in 2026

If you searched for the New York Building Department because construction looks unsafe, work appears to be happening without a permit, a building is being used illegally, or you need to check a permit or inspection, the agency you usually need inside New York City is the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).

First: Make Sure DOB Is the Right Agency

Not every building problem belongs to DOB. Choosing the correct complaint type helps the City route the problem to the right inspection or enforcement unit instead of adding unnecessary delay.

How to File a New York City Building Complaint

A useful complaint is specific. Saying “construction is illegal” gives an inspector less to work with than explaining exactly what is happening, where it is happening, and why you believe the condition is unsafe or unpermitted.

What Information Should You Prepare?

• Full building address and borough.
• Apartment, floor, rear yard, roof or other exact location when relevant.
• Description of the work or unsafe condition.
• Dates and approximate times the activity occurs.
• Whether people are living in the building during the work.
• Whether a DOB permit is posted.
• DOB job or permit number if you can find it.
• Details about debris, fencing, shoring, scaffolding or neighboring-property protection.
• Your NYC311 Service Request number for any follow-up.

Contact-information and anonymity rules can differ by complaint type. Follow the requirements shown by NYC311 for the specific condition you are reporting.

Common DOB Complaint Categories

DOB maintains an official complaint-category list. You do not normally need to memorize a category code before using NYC311, but knowing how DOB classifies conditions can make old BIS records easier to understand.

You can review the full official DOB complaint-category PDF when you are interpreting a BIS complaint record.

What Happens After You File?

NYC311 gives you a Service Request number. Keep it. The request can then be routed to DOB or another appropriate City unit depending on the problem reported.

1. Save the NYC311 Service Request number.
2. Use NYC311 Service Request Lookup to check the request when status information is available.
3. For DOB complaints, search the building in BIS as well.
4. Open the complaint record and review its status, inspection date and disposition information when posted.
5. If a violation resulted, review the property’s violation records rather than assuming the complaint itself is the violation.

How to Check a Building Before Filing a Complaint

A five-minute property search can sometimes answer an important question: is the work actually permitted? NYC building records are split between BIS and DOB NOW, so checking only one system may give an incomplete picture.

For BIS records

1. Open the Buildings Information System.
2. Select the borough.
3. Enter the house number and street.
4. Open the matching Property Profile.
5. Review complaints, violations, applications, permits, inspections and Certificate of Occupancy information.

For newer DOB NOW records

1. Open the DOB NOW Public Portal.
2. Search using the property address, BIN or other available information.
3. Open the correct property or job.
4. Review current filings, permits and available violation information.

DOB states that complaints generated from 311 are viewed in BIS, not in the DOB NOW Public Portal. At the same time, many newer applications and permits are in DOB NOW. That is why using both systems is often necessary.

After-Hours Construction Complaints

Normal NYC construction hours are generally Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Construction outside those hours may require an approved After Hours Variance (AHV).

Before assuming nighttime or weekend construction is unauthorized, check DOB’s After Hours Variance information. DOB maintains a real-time map showing sites where after-hours construction has been authorized.

NYC311 also notes a limited rule for alterations or repairs at qualifying one- and two-family homes: weekend work may be allowed from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the home is more than 300 feet from a house of worship. Other conditions can still apply.

Tenant Complaints About Construction Inside an Occupied Building

Tenants dealing with active construction may have an additional route through the DOB Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA). OTA coordinates certain concerns involving construction in occupied buildings.

The official OTA complaint form asks for the property location, complainant information, whether active construction is occurring, whether permits are posted, and concerns such as blocked egress, disruption of essential services, unlicensed contractors, dust, debris, fire safety, work without a DOB permit or after-hours work.

Download the official Office of the Tenant Advocate complaint form. The current form directs completed submissions to tenantadvocate@buildings.nyc.gov.

Need a Permit Instead of Filing a Complaint?

If you are the property owner, contractor or applicant trying to perform work legally, a complaint page is usually not your starting point. Most regulated construction begins with a DOB filing and permit process.

DOB states that the majority of construction requires a permit. Common filing categories include New Building, Alteration-CO and Alteration, along with plumbing, electrical, boiler, elevator, demolition and other work types.

1. Define the exact scope of work.
2. Search existing property records in BIS and DOB NOW.
3. Determine whether a New York State Registered Architect or Professional Engineer is required.
4. Prepare drawings and supporting documents.
5. Submit the applicable filing through DOB NOW or the system required for that filing type.
6. Resolve plan-exam objections or other required approvals.
7. Obtain the actual work permit before beginning permit-required construction.
8. Complete required inspections and final project closeout.

How NYC DOB Inspections Work

There are two different ideas that are easy to mix up: development inspections are associated with permitted construction, while enforcement inspections respond to complaints, violations and other enforcement matters.

For development inspections, DOB NOW: Inspections provides online scheduling for many inspection types, including construction, plumbing, boilers, elevators, fire suppression, signs and other supported work.

1. Confirm the permit and job are ready for the inspection stage.
2. Sign in to the applicable DOB inspection system.
3. Select the job or permit and required inspection type.
4. Request the inspection and review appointment details.
5. Make the work accessible and have relevant approved plans and permit information ready.
6. Review the result after the inspection.
7. Correct objections and request reinspection or complete an allowed certification process when applicable.

Start with DOB NOW: Inspections.

NYC DOB Borough Offices & 2026 Contact Information

For property-specific DOB questions, the Department advises contacting the borough office where the property is located. Regular borough customer-service hours are generally 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with phone lines generally operating until 4:30 p.m.

DOB’s main phone number is (212) 566-5000. Complaints should still generally start with 311 rather than calling a borough enforcement unit as a replacement for filing the complaint. Check the official DOB office directory before visiting because office procedures can change.

Brooklyn property owners who need a deeper permit and inspection walkthrough can also use our Brooklyn Building Department guide.

What Building Code Applies in NYC in 2026?

In 2026, the 2022 New York City Construction Codes remain the primary current construction-code framework. They include the Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes along with the General Administrative Provisions and related NYC requirements.

New York City enacted a new Existing Building Code in 2026, but DOB states that it does not become effective until July 17, 2027. Until then, alteration and maintenance of existing buildings continue under the current 2022 NYC Construction Codes and other applicable laws.

Review the official NYC construction codes for current text and updates.

If Your Property Is Outside New York City

This distinction matters. The NYC Department of Buildings regulates properties in the five boroughs. A New York mailing address elsewhere in the state may be under a town, city or village building department with a completely different permit and complaint system.

For example, a property in Suffolk County may fall under the Town of Brookhaven Building Division, while properties in the City of Albany use a different process described in our Albany Building Department guide. In western New York, our Cattaraugus County jurisdiction guide explains why building permits are often handled by the local city, town or village rather than one countywide office.

Practical Examples: Where Should You Start?

New York Building Department Complaint FAQs

Bottom Line

If you have a building complaint in New York City, the simplest path is: identify the condition, check the property records, file through NYC311, save your Service Request number, and use BIS to follow DOB complaint activity.

If you are trying to build or renovate instead of report a problem, use DOB NOW for the appropriate permit and inspection workflow. And if the property is outside the five boroughs, stop before filing: the responsible building department may be a completely different local government agency.