The record is split across city systems
DOB NOW, HPD Online, ACRIS, and PLUTO each have their own search screen and identifiers. Matching all of them to one lot takes time for every listing.
For residential and commercial brokers
Know the building's public record before your client asks.
Pull DOB NOW filings and permits, HPD violations, ACRIS document history, and PLUTO lot facts for a listing in one place. Every line links to the city record it came from and shows when LotContext retrieved it.
Free account, no credit card. Or start with the free BBL lookup without an account.
The problem
Where the time goes today
Open items surface late
An open HPD violation or an in-progress alteration filing found during the buyer's attorney review can stall a deal that was otherwise ready.
Clients ask where a fact came from
A screenshot without a date or source invites follow-up questions. A brief that names the source and retrieval date answers them up front.
A working session
How brokers use LotContext
-
1
Confirm the lot
Resolve the listing address to its BBL and BIN with the free lookup. Condominium units and corner buildings are where mismatches usually start.
-
2
Run the property
LotContext collects PLUTO facts, DOB NOW filings and permits, HPD violations, and ACRIS document metadata for the parcel and shows each source's status.
-
3
Review what is open
Look at open HPD violations by class, in-progress DOB NOW filings, and recent permits. Open the official record for anything that matters to the deal.
-
4
Share a dated brief
Save the snapshot and send a link your client can open without an account, or print it to PDF for the listing file.
-
5
Watch it until closing
Save the property so newly observed records surface when it is refreshed, instead of re-running the search by hand.
Try it on a real property
Worked example
See a dated research example with DOB NOW filings, permits, recorded documents, and the coverage limits stated next to each source.
Explore the sample report →Available now
What you get, and where it comes from
-
Free BBL & BIN lookup
Resolve an address to borough, block, lot, and BIN before you compare records. No account needed.
Available now Learn more about Free BBL & BIN lookup
-
DOB NOW filings and permits
Job filings with type, status, and filing date, plus approved permits with work type and issue date.
Available now Learn more about DOB NOW filings and permits
-
HPD violations
Housing Maintenance Code violations with class, status, inspection date, and correction-by date.
Available now Learn more about HPD violations
-
ACRIS document history
Recorded-document metadata (type, recorded date) and parties by the role recorded on the document. Never inferred ownership.
Available now Learn more about ACRIS document history
-
Dated, shareable property briefs
Save a snapshot, share it with an opaque link that opens without an account, or print and save as PDF.
Available now Learn more about Dated, shareable property briefs
-
Saved properties and alerts
Save a property and LotContext tells you about records it newly observes when the property is refreshed.
Available now Learn more about Saved properties and alerts
Sources and freshness
LotContext reuses recently collected evidence and collects new or stale properties when you request records. Each source retains its retrieval time. Catalog publication dates below describe the dataset's latest publication in LotContext, not freshness for every property. Check the source status and timestamps in your own report.
| Source | Publisher updates | Latest LotContext publication |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary Land Use Tax Lot Output (PLUTO)
Department of City Planning (DCP) |
Quarterly | Oct 17, 2026 |
|
Digital Tax Map: Tax Lot Polygons
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Weekly publication | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
DOB NOW: Build – Job Application Filings
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 21, 2026 |
|
DOB NOW: Build – Approved Permits
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
ACRIS Recorded Documents (master, legals, parties, codes)
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Monthly publication | Oct 21, 2026 |
Plainly stated
What LotContext does not do
- The current collection does not include DOB or ECB/OATH violations, legacy BIS filings, or certificates of occupancy. Check DOB BIS directly for those.
- ACRIS coverage is document metadata and recorded party roles only. There are no deed images and no title conclusions.
- LotContext does not replace the buyer's attorney's title and municipal searches.
LotContext is research support from public records. It is not legal, title, engineering, or municipal advice, and missing records do not prove compliance or safety. See the methodology.
Questions
Common questions
- Can my client open a brief without an account?
- Yes. Shared briefs use an opaque link that opens without signing in. Shared pages are excluded from search engines.
- How current is the data?
- HPD and DOB NOW publish daily and PLUTO publishes quarterly. LotContext collects a property when you run it, reuses recent evidence, and shows the retrieval time for each source.
- Does a report with no violations mean the building is compliant?
- No. It means the sources LotContext checked returned no matching records at that time. Absence of a public record does not prove compliance, legal occupancy, or safety.
Run your next property through LotContext.
Start free, or tell us about your team's workload and we will walk through a property you choose.
Related guides
- How to research NYC HPD complaints and violations
- How to research NYC DOB permits and job filings
- NYC property due-diligence checklist
Other professions: Property managersArchitects and expeditersInvestorsDevelopers and buildersReal-estate attorneys
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026.