NYC year-built records
When was my NYC building built?
Free address match
Match the address for free. The available year built is included in the $1 report.
We confirm the building and borough for free. The full records are an optional $1 report.
Start with the city's recorded construction year, then check how certain that date is. Apartment Fax includes the available year built and building facts in its $1 report.
Search NYC's Property Information Portal (free) How to read the recordsReading the records
Find the recorded year built by address
Search the address in NYC's Property Information Portal and review the building information. Apartment Fax uses the city's PLUTO dataset for its year-built field. Treat that year as a starting point, then check DOB records if the exact date matters.
City Planning says the year is generally more reliable for the decade than the exact year. A blank or zero value means the construction year is unknown.
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Search city property records
Enter the address in the Property Information Portal. Confirm the borough and tax lot.
- 02
Read the year built
Use the published year as an approximate construction date. Leave an unknown year unknown.
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Check the building history
Use DOB records to investigate construction and later work when you need more detail.
How to read an example
Two dates. Different work.
In this example, 1925 is the recorded construction year and 2008 refers to later work. The two dates can coexist. Neither tells you when the kitchen in a particular apartment was replaced.
Which work does each date describe, and is there a permit or another record to check?
Example only. Not a record for a real address.
- Recorded year built
- 1925
- Recorded alteration year
- 2008
- Approximate age in 2026
- 101 years
- Your unit's renovation date
- Not established by these fields
Read the source, date and status together.
Address check and report
Check the address for free.
Get the records for $1.
The address check confirms the location. The full report brings the available public records together and is emailed when ready.
See a sample reportAddress check
Match the building and borough before you pay.
Full report
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In the $1 report
- PLUTO year built when the city publishes one
- Recorded alteration year where available
- Residential unit count, floors and building class
- Available DOB permits and other records for the address
Coverage varies by address and source. A missing record does not mean a building has no problems.
Start with the addressA construction year and a renovation year are different
Year built describes recorded construction completion. Alteration fields describe later work and can also be estimates. A newer alteration date does not mean the whole building was rebuilt or that every apartment was renovated.
If a listing says "newly renovated," ask which parts changed and when. Compare that answer with available permits and the apartment you visit. The building's age alone says little about the condition of its plumbing, windows or your unit today.
What to do when the dates disagree
Confirm the borough and tax lot first. A listing, a tax record and a construction filing may refer to different work or different parts of a property. Keep the source with each date instead of choosing whichever year looks most precise.
For a closer look, use DOB's Buildings Information System and DOB NOW to review the available building history. A certificate of occupancy can help explain permitted use, but its issue date should not automatically be treated as the original construction date.
Go to the source
Check the official city records
The Property Information Portal provides city property details. City Planning's PLUTO dictionary explains the date fields, and DOB provides construction and permit records.
More about the lookup
Frequently asked questions
Can I find out when my NYC building was built for free?
Yes. Search the NYC Property Information Portal by address and check the building information. Apartment Fax offers a free address match; the available year built appears in its optional $1 report.
How old is my NYC building?
Subtract the recorded year built from the current year for an approximate age. For example, a recorded year of 1925 gives an age of about 101 years in 2026. The answer is only as precise as the source date.
Why does the year-built field show zero or nothing?
PLUTO uses zero or a blank value when the construction year is unknown. Check DOB records for more information; a missing date is not evidence that the property is new or vacant.
Does the year built tell me when my apartment was renovated?
No. A building-level construction year does not date work inside a particular unit. Ask for details of the work and compare any available permit records.