Effective March 1, 2026 · Last updated March 2026
Wocket aggregates public data from NYC agencies to make building information more accessible. But public data has limitations, and it's important you understand them before relying on anything you see here.
The data displayed on Wocket comes from official NYC sources — primarily the Department of Buildings (DOB), Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), and the Environmental Control Board (ECB) via the NYC Open Data portal.
That said, city data is not perfect. Records may contain errors, lag behind reality by weeks or months, or have gaps. Datasets are updated on different schedules, and some records may be missing entirely. We present the data as we receive it — we don't independently verify every record.
When a violation shows as "resolved" or "closed" in city records, that's an administrative status — it means the city considers the matter closed on paper. It does not necessarily mean the underlying problem has been physically repaired or remediated.
For example, a violation might be dismissed on a technicality, resolved through a certification process, or closed after a fine is paid — none of which guarantee the hazard has been addressed.
NYC's building records were digitized starting in the late 20th century. For buildings constructed before 1938, many records exist only on paper and have never been entered into digital databases. This means older buildings may appear to have fewer violations, complaints, or permits — not because they're in better condition, but because the records simply aren't in the system.
If Wocket shows "No Certificate of Occupancy on file" for a building, that means no CO was found in the city's digital records. It does not mean the building lacks a CO entirely — older certificates may exist as paper documents in DOB archives that were never scanned or uploaded.
If CO status is important to you (and it often is), we recommend requesting records directly from the DOB.
Wocket calculates its own safety grades, risk tiers, percentile rankings, and other scores. These are based on our analysis of publicly available data using our own methodology.
These metrics are not official government ratings. They are not endorsed by the DOB, HPD, or any city agency. They do not represent the city's assessment of a building's safety.
A building receiving a low grade from Wocket means our algorithm flagged concerning patterns in the data. It does not mean the city has declared the building unsafe. Conversely, a high grade does not mean the city has certified the building as safe.
Our methodology has limitations. It can only account for what's in the data — and as noted above, the data itself has gaps.
Wocket uses AI to generate building summaries, answer questions, and produce reports. AI can make mistakes — it may misinterpret data, omit important context, or present information in a misleading way.
AI summaries are a starting point, not a final answer. Always check the underlying data and official sources before acting on AI-generated content.
For authoritative records, go directly to these city resources:
If you're making an important decision — signing a lease, pursuing a legal case, evaluating a purchase — please verify the information independently through official channels. Wocket is a research tool, not a source of truth.
We built this to make public data more accessible. But accessible doesn't mean infallible. Use it as a starting point, not the final word.
Wocket is an informational tool, not a legal service. Data presented on this platform has not been verified for accuracy, completeness, or admissibility in any court of law.
If you use any information from Wocket in legal proceedings — including but not limited to Housing Court, landlord-tenant disputes, or any litigation — you are solely responsible for independently verifying the accuracy and validity of that data through official sources before relying on it.
Wocket assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of data obtained from this platform in any legal proceeding, court filing, or dispute. We do not guarantee that information displayed is current, complete, or suitable for legal use. Always consult a qualified attorney before taking legal action.