Type any New York City address and see two things from the city’s own public records: roughly when the building was built, and every electrical permit job filed for it since 2018, written out in plain English. It is free, needs no sign-up, and is meant for buyers, renters, co-op and condo board members, landlords and owners planning electrical work.
What this report shows
- The building. Its tax-lot address, building type, residential units, floors, landmark or historic-district status, and the era it was built in, from the city’s property data.
- Electrical permit activity since 2018. Each job filed with the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), the filer’s own description of the work, the kinds of work marked on the filing (general wiring, lighting, service work, new meters and so on), and the permit and completion dates when the city recorded them. Amendments to a job are folded into that job, so each job is counted once.
- What buildings from that era commonly have. A few general notes, taken from our own guides, on wiring and panels that are often found in buildings of that period, with links to read more. These are general statements about an era, not findings about the building you searched.
What it cannot tell you
- It is not an inspection. A permit filing shows that work was filed, not exactly what was done or how it was finished. Only an in-person look shows what is behind the walls.
- The year built is approximate. The city’s year-built field is often rounded, so the report shows an era, such as 1900–1929, instead of a single year. It also says nothing about the age of the wiring, which in older buildings has usually been replaced in pieces over time.
- The permit table starts with filings from 2018. Older electrical work is not in it, so a building with no results may still have had work.
- Condominium units may not match. The city records a condominium under one “billing” tax lot for the whole building, so an individual unit’s address can come back with limited results.
- Work done without a permit does not appear anywhere. A clean-looking history is not proof that everything was permitted.
- Descriptions are written by whoever filed the job. We show them as filed.
Where the data comes from
Everything is looked up live, from your browser, from three public City of New York sources:
- Address matching: the NYC GeoSearch service.
- Building facts: MapPLUTO, from the Department of City Planning.
- Electrical permits: DOB NOW: Electrical Permit Applications, on NYC Open Data.
The city can correct or change its data at any time and does not guarantee that it is complete or accurate; see the City’s terms of use. For official records, use the DOB’s own Building Information Search. We last tested this tool against the live data on October 22, 2026.
AE Electric is an electrical contractor, so we are not a neutral party. That is why the sources and limits are spelled out here, and why the report does not grade or score any building.
Why electrical permits matter in NYC
The DOB’s rules leave no category of electrical work that can be done without a permit, and the work has to be done by a NYC Licensed Master Electrician. Some minor jobs need a permit but no DOB inspection; most work needs both. The DOB explains this on its electrical requirements page for owners, and we cover the details in our guide, Do You Need a Permit for Electrical Work in NYC?
Your privacy
The address you type goes straight from your browser to the City of New York’s data services. It does not come to AE Electric, and we do not log or store it. We may count anonymous usage, such as how many searches were run, to see whether the tool is useful; those counts never include an address.
Want a licensed electrician to look at it?
If the report raised a question, or you are planning work, call AE Electric at (646) 846-0008 or send us a message. Related services: electrical safety inspection, electrical panel upgrade and house rewiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an official city record?
No. It reorganizes public records published by the City of New York into plain English. For official records, use the Department of Buildings' own Building Information Search or the NYC Open Data tables linked above.
Why does it say no electrical permits were found for my building?
The permit table starts with filings from 2018, so earlier work is not included. Work in a condominium may be filed under a different tax lot, and work done without a permit does not appear at all. No results does not mean no work was done.
Does the era tell me what wiring my building has?
No. The era is the city's approximate year-built record. Wiring in older buildings is often replaced in pieces, so a single building can contain several generations of wiring. The notes shown for each era are general statements, not findings about your building.
Why can't I find my condo or co-op unit?
The city's property records list a condominium under one billing tax lot for the whole building, not one record per unit. Try the building's street address rather than the unit.
Do you store the address I search for?
No. Your browser sends the search directly to the City of New York's data services. AE Electric does not receive or store the address. We may count anonymous usage events, which never include an address.
Do I need a permit for electrical work in NYC?
Per the Department of Buildings, there is no category of electrical work that can be done without a permit, and the work must be done by a NYC Licensed Master Electrician. Some minor work needs a permit but no DOB inspection. Our permit guide explains which is which.
How current is the data?
The tool queries the city's data live each time, so it is as current as the city's tables. Very recent filings may not appear yet, and the city can correct records at any time.