Data Glossary

Borough, Block, and Lot: NYC's unique 10-digit tax-lot ID for a parcel of land.

Why it matters: It's the key that ties together every city record for this property — tax, deeds, violations, zoning.

Building Identification Number: NYC's unique 7-digit ID for a specific building.

Why it matters: A single lot (BBL) can hold several buildings; the BIN pins records to one of them.

The tax block number — the middle segment of the BBL. NYC groups lots into numbered blocks.

The tax lot number — the last segment of the BBL, identifying this individual parcel within its block.

NYC Dept. of Finance building-class code describing the structure type (decoded inline).

Why it matters: Tells you what kind of building it is — e.g. a one-family home, a walk-up, an elevator co-op.

Whether the building is an individually designated NYC landmark.

Why it matters: Landmark status restricts exterior changes — renovations need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval.

Who owns the lot, by category.

C

City ownership.

M

Mixed city/private ownership.

O

Other public (state, federal, or public authority).

P

Private (an individual, company, or non-profit) — or fully tax-exempt private.

X

Fully tax-exempt, city/state/federal owned.

The lot's broad land-use category (NYC City Planning code).

10

Parking facilities.

11

Vacant land.

01

One- & two-family buildings.

02

Multi-family walk-up buildings.

03

Multi-family elevator buildings.

04

Mixed residential & commercial.

05

Commercial & office buildings.

06

Industrial & manufacturing.

07

Transportation & utility.

08

Public facilities & institutions.

09

Open space & outdoor recreation.

The NYC zoning district code governing what can be built and how it can be used.

Why it matters: R = residential, C = commercial, M = manufacturing, plus a density number. Determines allowed uses, size, and height.

Floor Area Ratio actually used: building floor area ÷ lot area.

Why it matters: Compare to Max FAR — a big gap means unused development rights (air rights) may exist.

The maximum Floor Area Ratio zoning allows on this lot.

Why it matters: Caps how much building is permitted; Built FAR below this suggests room to expand or sell air rights.

Maximum Floor Area Ratio allowed for residential use on this lot.

A commercial (C1/C2) overlay mapped onto a residential district, allowing local retail on the ground floor.

A special-purpose zoning district with its own extra rules (e.g. a waterfront, downtown, or historic special district).

Whether the lot straddles two or more zoning districts.

Why it matters: A split lot follows different rules on different parts, which complicates what can be built where.

FEMA flood-risk zone for the property.

Why it matters: High-risk zones (A/AE/V/VE) usually require flood insurance and signal real flooding risk.

X

Minimal risk — outside the 100- and 500-year floodplains. No mandatory flood insurance.

AE

High risk (1%/yr chance) with a known base flood elevation. Flood insurance typically required.

A

High risk (1%/yr chance), no base flood elevation determined.

AO

High risk from shallow sheet-flow flooding (usually 1–3 ft).

VE

High risk coastal zone with wave action — the most hazardous, insurance required.

V

High risk coastal zone with wave action, no base flood elevation determined.

UNKNOWN

No FEMA flood-zone data was returned for this point.

The Flood Insurance Rate Map panel this property is printed on.

Why it matters: It identifies the exact FEMA map an insurer or lender will read the property's flood zone off, and is what you quote when disputing a zone determination.

When this Flood Insurance Rate Map panel took legal effect.

Why it matters: An old panel means the mapped risk predates recent building, drainage and coastline changes — the map can be decades behind the ground.

What the drinking-water service line is made of.

Why it matters: Lead or galvanized (or unconfirmed) lines are a health and replacement-cost concern.

Lead

Confirmed lead service line — a health hazard; replacement is costly.

Non-Lead

Confirmed not lead (e.g. copper or plastic).

Galvanized Service Line Requiring Replacement

Galvanized pipe downstream of a lead line — treated as lead-equivalent.

Unknown - Lead Status Unknown

The city hasn't confirmed the material — treat as possible lead.

Non-Applicable

No service-line record applies to this lot.

Open violations from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), which enforces construction & building-safety rules.

Why it matters: Open violations are unresolved liabilities a buyer inherits; 0 is best.

All-time count of NYC Department of Buildings violations on record for the building.

True when the building has more DOB violations than the examples listed below (the total count above is still accurate).

Open Housing Maintenance Code violations (heat, hot water, pests, upkeep) issued by NYC's housing agency, HPD.

Why it matters: Signals landlord neglect / deferred maintenance; 0 is best.

Open Class C Housing Maintenance Code violations — the most serious, 'immediately hazardous' tier.

Why it matters: Class C means dangerous conditions (no heat, lead paint, mold). Any open Class C is a red flag.

True when the building has more Housing Maintenance Code violations than the examples listed below (the total count above is still accurate).

Unpaid fines from ECB/OATH summonses — the NYC tribunal that adjudicates building & quality-of-life violations.

Why it matters: Outstanding fines can attach to the property; lower is better.

True when the building has more ECB summonses than the examples listed below (the total count and fines above are still accurate).

Hazard grade of the housing violation.

A

Non-hazardous (e.g. a minor upkeep issue).

B

Hazardous (must be fixed reasonably promptly).

C

Immediately hazardous — the most serious (no heat, lead paint, mold, vermin).

I

Informational only.

A 'Y' flag marks a rent-impairing violation: tenants may legally withhold rent until it's fixed.

Share of ownership conveyed by a deed.

Why it matters: 100% is a full transfer; less than 100% is a partial-interest transfer (e.g. between co-owners).

The kind of legal document recorded (deed, mortgage, lien, etc.).

NYC property tax class (1–4) that sets how the property is assessed and taxed.

1

Mostly 1–3 family homes.

2

Other residential (co-ops, condos, rentals).

3

Utility property.

4

Commercial and industrial.

The CITY's estimated market value used for tax assessment — often well below the actual sale price. Not an appraisal.

Why it matters: Don't mistake it for what the home is worth; it's a tax figure the NYC Finance Dept. calculates.

The taxable assessed value the city applies its tax rate to (a fraction of market value).

The taxable assessed value of just the land, excluding the building.

The portion of assessed value exempt from tax (e.g. STAR, veterans, or non-profit exemptions).

Whether the building is likely subject to NYC rent stabilization, which caps how much rent can rise each year.

Why it matters: Great for renters (capped increases, renewal rights); a constraint on an investor's rent upside.

How many grocery-sized markets (2,000-10,000 sq ft) sit within a 1 km walk — the three nearest are listed above.

Why it matters: Fills the gap between the weekly shop and the corner store, which is where a lot of NYC food shopping actually happens.

The NYC Community District (a local planning/service area, each with a Community Board) the property sits in.

The NYC City Council district — which council member represents the property.

The U.S. Census tract — a small statistical area used to report neighborhood demographics.

How far out from the property this source looked for results (shown in feet or miles).