Home & Property · New York City
Queens Buyers Should Check the Certificate of Occupancy
Queens buyers can use DOB's certificate-of-occupancy search to compare the listed use of a building with what is being sold or rented.
Published July 6, 2026 · Last verified July 6, 2026
A Queens house tour can make a basement room, attic space, or extra kitchen feel settled. DOB records are the quieter check. A Certificate of Occupancy shows the legal use and occupancy for a building when one has been issued, and NYC Buildings says the certificate itself does not expire.
The search path depends on the age of the filing. For certificate requests before March 1, 2021, DOB points people to the Building Information Search system and the property profile page. For requests on or after March 1, 2021, DOB points people to the DOB NOW address search, where the property profile can show Certificate of Occupancy details and floor-use records.
Older buildings need a little patience. DOB says buildings built before 1938 are not required to have a Certificate of Occupancy unless later alterations changed the use, egress, or occupancy. In those cases, a Letter of No Objection may be the record to ask about.
Before buying, renting an extra unit, or planning work, save the exact address, borough-block-lot, CO or floor-use printout, and any DOB answer about missing records. It is much easier to ask a clear Queens property question with the record in hand.