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Skills-for-architects nyc-dob-permits

Look up DOB permit and job filing history for any NYC building.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/plugins/00-due-diligence/skills/nyc-dob-permits" ~/.claude/skills/alpacalabsllc-skills-for-architects-nyc-dob-permits && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: plugins/00-due-diligence/skills/nyc-dob-permits/SKILL.md
source content

/nyc-dob-permits — DOB Permit & Filing History

Look up all DOB permits and job filings for any NYC building across both Legacy BIS and DOB NOW systems. No API key required.

Usage

/nyc-dob-permits 120 Broadway, Manhattan
/nyc-dob-permits 1000770001          (BBL)
/nyc-dob-permits 1001389             (BIN)

Step 1: Parse Input

Accept one of:

  • Address + Borough/Zip — "120 Broadway, Manhattan" or "120 Broadway 10271"
  • BBL — 10-digit number (boro 1 + block 5 + lot 4)
  • BIN — 7-digit Building Identification Number

Borough codes: Manhattan=1/MN, Bronx=2/BX, Brooklyn=3/BK, Queens=4/QN, Staten Island=5/SI

Step 2: Resolve via PLUTO

Query PLUTO to get BBL, BIN, and building metadata. No API key needed.

By BBL:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/64uk-42ks.json?bbl={BBL}

By address:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/64uk-42ks.json?$where=upper(address) LIKE '%{STREET}%'&borough='{BORO_CODE}'&$limit=5

Address normalization: Uppercase, strip unit/apt suffixes. Borough names to codes: Manhattan=MN, Bronx=BX, Brooklyn=BK, Queens=QN, Staten Island=SI. If multiple results, ask the user to pick. If zero, try variations or suggest providing a BBL.

Store from PLUTO: 

bbl
, 
bin
(or 
bldgbin
), 
address
, 
borough
, 
bldgclass
, 
zonedist1
, 
yearbuilt
, 
ownername
, 
numfloors
, 
lotarea
, 
latitude
, 
longitude
.

Parse BBL into: boro (1 digit), block (5 digits zero-padded), lot (4 digits zero-padded).

Step 3: Query DOB Permits & Filings

Query all 4 datasets using BIN. IMPORTANT: Legacy datasets use 

bin__
(double underscore). DOB NOW datasets use 
bin
.

Legacy Permit Issuance

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/ipu4-2q9a.json?$where=bin__='{BIN}'&$order=issuance_date DESC&$limit=30

Key fields: 

permit_si_no
, 
job__
, 
job_type
, 
issuance_date
, 
expiration_date
, 
permittee_s_first_name
, 
permittee_s_last_name
, 
owner_s_first_name
, 
owner_s_last_name

Legacy Job Filings

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/ic3t-wcy2.json?$where=bin__='{BIN}'&$order=latest_action_date DESC&$limit=30

Key fields: 

job__
, 
doc__
, 
job_type
, 
job_status
, 
latest_action_date
, 
applicant_s_first_name
, 
applicant_s_last_name

DOB NOW Approved Permits

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/rbx6-tga4.json?$where=bin='{BIN}'&$order=approved_date DESC&$limit=30

Key fields: 

job_filing_number
, 
permit_status
, 
filing_date
, 
approved_date
, 
job_type

DOB NOW Job Filings

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/w9ak-ipjd.json?$where=bin='{BIN}'&$order=filing_date DESC&$limit=30

Key fields: 

job_filing_number
, 
filing_status
, 
filing_date
, 
job_type

Step 4: Print Results

Merge all results, sort by date descending. Group by job type:

  • NB = New Building
  • A1 = Alteration Type 1 (major — changes use/egress/occupancy)
  • A2 = Alteration Type 2 (multiple work types)
  • A3 = Alteration Type 3 (minor, one work type)
  • DM = Demolition
  • Other = Everything else
## DOB Permits & Filings — {Address}

**Total found:** {count} ({x} legacy, {y} DOB NOW)

### New Building (NB)
| Date | Job # | Permit # | Status | Applicant |
|------|-------|----------|--------|-----------|
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

### Alteration Type 1 (A1)
| Date | Job # | Permit # | Work Type | Status | Applicant |
|------|-------|----------|-----------|--------|-----------|

### Alteration Type 2-3 (A2/A3)
{table}

### Demolition (DM)
{table if any}

### Other
{table if any}

**Note:** Pre-BIS records (before ~1989) are not digitized. If this building predates 1989 and few records appear, earlier permits exist only on paper.

Source: [DOB Permit Issuance](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Housing-Development/DOB-Permit-Issuance/ipu4-2q9a) | [DOB Job Filings](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Housing-Development/DOB-Job-Application-Filings/ic3t-wcy2) | [DOB NOW Permits](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Housing-Development/DOB-NOW-Build-Approved-Permits/rbx6-tga4) | [DOB NOW Filings](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Housing-Development/DOB-NOW-Build-Job-Application-Filings/w9ak-ipjd)

If no results from any dataset: "No DOB permits or filings found for this property."

Conventions

  • All dates: YYYY-MM-DD
  • If Socrata returns empty array: "No results found"
  • If HTTP error: note it and suggest checking the address
  • If the user requests, write results to a file
  • Check PLUTO 
    yearbuilt
    — if before 1989, add the pre-BIS note