About NYC Department of Buildings
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is a municipal agency that enforces the city's building and zoning codes, issues construction permits, licenses certain building trades, and inspects structures across the five boroughs. It describes itself as the primary regulator of the city's construction and real estate industries, and its stated goal is to balance development with worker and public safety. The agency was formed in 1892 and is overseen by a Commissioner appointed by the Mayor.
Its main functions include reviewing building plans, handling permitting and licensing, carrying out inspections, and enforcing the city's codes, including responding to structural emergencies and investigating complaints about unsafe or illegal work. The Department also maintains the Buildings Information System, a public database of property records, and offers guidance to tenants, property owners, and workers. Its executive offices and central enforcement units are at 280 Broadway in Manhattan, with borough offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
| Type | Government office |
|---|---|
| New York offices | Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens (Kew Gardens), Bronx, Staten Island |
| Phone | (212) 393-2144 |
| Website | nyc.gov/site/buildings/index.page |
| Registered NY attorneys | 45 |
Practice areas
Areas of work that NYC Department of Buildings describes on its own website. They describe the organization as a whole, not the practice of any individual attorney listed below.
Organization profile based on its official website and public sources (reviewed October 29, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with NYC Department of Buildings.
Registered attorneys
Felicia Miller Currently registered Nancy Schindler Currently registered Mona Sehgal Currently registered Michael Morelli Currently registered Rachel Rabinowitz Currently registered Laura Popa Currently registered Reynaldo Cabrera Currently registered Dorecia Phillip Currently registered Helen Thomas Currently registered Lucinda Latimer Currently registeredRegistration status can change at any time. Confirm any attorney's current status through the official New York Attorney Search.