To run an FDNY violations search, go to the FDNY Business violations lookup on NYC.gov, enter the property’s street number, street name, and borough, and submit. The tool is free, no login or NYC ID account is required, and results list every summons, violation order, and criminal court offense tied to the address.1NYC.gov. Violations The whole thing takes about two minutes.
What You Need Before You Start
For most properties, a street number, street name, and one of the five boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island) is enough. Have the Block and Lot ready as a backup. If the address search returns too many hits or can’t locate the property, you’ll need it.
The Block and Lot is a unique parcel identifier the city assigns to every piece of real estate. If you don’t know it, look it up by address on the NYC Department of Finance’s Property Information Portal.2New York City Department of Finance. Property Information Portal It also appears on the property deed, tax bill, or assessment notice. Write down the full Borough-Block-Lot (BBL) before you begin so you’re not switching tools mid-search.
Running the Search
Open the FDNY violations page at nyc.gov/site/fdny/business/violations/violations.page and click the “Violations / Summons Lookup” link.1NYC.gov. Violations Enter the street number under “House Number,” the street name under “Street Name,” and choose the borough from the dropdown. Click “Search.”
You’ll get back either a list of records or a message that none were found. If nothing pulls up for a property you expected to see, check the spelling and the borough selection first. Addresses that span multiple lots may need a Block and Lot search instead of a street search.
Reading the Results
Each record shows the date the violation was issued, a short description, the Fire Code section cited, the violation type, and the current status. The status field is the one to focus on. “Active” means the violation hasn’t been resolved. “Dismissed” means it’s been cleared. “Hearing scheduled” means the case is going to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and hasn’t been decided.1NYC.gov. Violations
Records also show any fine amount attached. If you’re vetting a property before buying or renting, the active items are the ones that matter. A cluster of active violation orders on one building points to ongoing maintenance problems rather than a one-off inspection issue.
What the Violation Types Mean
The FDNY uses four enforcement actions, and the type in your results tells you how serious the finding is.3NYC.gov. Violations – Section: About Violations and Certificate of Correction
- FDNY Summons. The most common. A notice of violation tied to an OATH hearing and a civil fine. The owner can resolve it by correcting the condition and submitting a Certificate of Correction before the compliance date, or by attending the hearing.
- Violation Order. Issued for hazardous conditions needing prompt correction. The owner fixes the problem and requests a reinspection through the FDNY Business portal to clear it.4NYC.gov: Business. Correcting and Responding to Violations
- Criminal Court Summons. For serious or repeat offenses. It’s a criminal matter and requires a court appearance at NYC Criminal Court. A corporation named on the summons must be represented by an attorney.
- Vacate Order. The most severe. Occupants must leave immediately because conditions pose a direct threat to life. Occupancy resumes only after the FDNY confirms the hazard is gone.
If the Search Turns Up an Active Summons on Your Property
You have 35 days from the issue date on the summons to correct the condition and submit a notarized Certificate of Correction (CCR).4NYC.gov: Business. Correcting and Responding to Violations Meeting that deadline can help you avoid a hearing and reduce or eliminate the fine. Fix the problem, then file the CCR through the FDNY Business portal (submitting a CCR does require an NYC ID account, unlike the search).5NYC.gov. Submitting a Certificate of Correction (CCR) Request for an FDNY Summons User Guide For a Violation Order, skip the CCR route: fix the condition and request a reinspection.6NYC Fire Department. Request or Cancel an Inspection
What Happens If You Ignore It
Missing the hearing date on an FDNY summons is expensive. If you don’t respond by the date on the summons, OATH enters a default judgment finding you in violation and imposes a higher fine automatically.7OATH – NYC.gov. Hearings and Defaults You also lose the chance to contest the charge or present mitigating evidence.
If you want to fight the summons but can’t make the date, you can reschedule the hearing once. You can also respond without appearing in person through a phone hearing (requested at least three business days before the hearing), an online One-Click Hearing (submitted on or before the hearing date), or a hearing by mail (received by OATH before the hearing date).7OATH – NYC.gov. Hearings and Defaults For some violations the FDNY offers a “cure” option, which lets you resolve the issue by a set date and skip the hearing entirely. To confirm whether a cure is available on a specific summons, email CureLetterVerification@fdny.nyc.gov.
Checking your own property every so often is worth the two minutes. Violations can be issued after inspections or in response to complaints, and mailed notices don’t always arrive before deadlines start running. The online search is the fastest way to catch an outstanding summons before default penalties pile on.