What it is
What ACRIS covers.
ACRIS is the Department of Finance’s system for searching property records and viewing document images. It covers Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, from 1966 to the present, and you can use it to access deeds and other recorded documents and to find a property’s borough-block-lot (BBL) number or address.
It’s also used to file and pay for recordings and transfer taxes. Records before 1966 aren’t in ACRIS, and the Department restricts bots, automated scripts and bulk downloading.
With other records
ACRIS is one piece.
ACRIS tells you about recorded documents. It does not show building violations, permits or the Certificate of Occupancy, which are in DOB and OATH records. A full check of a property looks at all of them.
- Recorded documents and BBL: ACRIS
- Violations, open permits and CO: DOB NOW and BIS (see our guide to checking a property for violations)
- Zoning: ZoLa (see our guide to finding zoning)
- Property tax bills: the Department of Finance
Doing due diligence on a NYC property? Call us and we’ll check the DOB side for you.
Call (929) 367-0962Questions
Frequently asked.
Does ACRIS include Staten Island?
The search scope covers four boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. Staten Island transfer returns must still be filed through ACRIS.
How far back do records go?
From 1966 to the present. Earlier records aren’t in ACRIS.
Can I see building violations in ACRIS?
No. Those are in DOB NOW, BIS and the OATH records.
Sources
Official sources.
General information about New York City procedures, last reviewed November 2026. Amounts and rules change and every property is different, so this isn’t legal advice. Call us about your specific situation.