Owners & management · 10/18/2026
DOB Offers Free One-on-One Help to Borough Park Small Owners Oct. 18
Department of Buildings staff held a free, in-person help day in Borough Park on Sunday for small property owners and business operators. Owners of one- to four-family properties could meet staff about violations, permits, job applications, stop-work orders and vacate orders. Some matters could be processed the same day, and owners could get fee estimates and payment options for civil penalties.
VReported by VINnewsRead the original ↗
What happened
New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) staff held a free, in-person help day for small property owners and business operators in Borough Park, Brooklyn, on Sunday, October 18, 2026, according to VINnews. The event ran from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the BPJCC Community Center, 5102 13th Ave.
The event was aimed at owners of one- to four-family properties. They could meet one-on-one with DOB staff about violations, open job applications, permit requests and small-business questions. Organizers said the format was hands-on help with specific cases rather than a seminar or presentation.
VINnews listed the services offered. Staff would do on-site reviews of stop-work orders and help with eligible requests to lift them. They would also take inspection requests for full or partial vacate orders. Owners could submit certificates of correction for review, get fee estimates, and look at payment options for civil penalties, work done without permits and other DOB violations. Same-day processing was available for eligible matters.
Senior DOB staff from several units were also on hand to talk about building code compliance and the steps needed to close out open matters.
Key facts
- Agency
- NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
- Date
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Hours
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Address
- BPJCC Community Center, 5102 13th Ave., Borough Park, Brooklyn
- Who could attend
- Owners of one- to four-family properties and small business operators
- Cost
- Free
- Services
- Violations, job applications, permits, stop-work order reviews, vacate order inspection requests, certificates of correction, fee estimates, penalty payment options
- Processing
- Same-day processing for eligible matters
What it means
Landlords
Owners of one- to four-family buildings with open DOB violations, stop-work orders or penalties for work without permits had a chance to work through them face to face with DOB staff. Some matters, such as certificates of correction, could be processed the same day if eligible.
Buyers and owners
Open DOB violations and stop-work orders can hold up permits and other work on a property. Getting fee estimates and payment options from DOB staff directly can help owners plan what it will cost to clear a property's record.
Caseworkers
This was a DOB event, so it covered building code matters, not HPD housing maintenance violations. Clients affected by a full or partial vacate order may want to know that the owner can request a DOB inspection as a step toward resolving it.
The highlights
- Runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at BPJCC Community Center, 5102 13th Ave.
- Open to owners of one- to four-family properties, with same-day processing.
- Staff review stop-work orders, certificates of correction and penalty payment options.
Why it matters Landlords
Small landlords with open DOB violations, stop-work orders or fines can get direct help and possible same-day fixes instead of long back-and-forth.
What to do: If you own a one- to four-family building with open DOB issues, bring your paperwork before 4:30 p.m.
Not known yet
- Whether DOB plans more sessions like this in Borough Park or other neighborhoods
- Which matters counted as eligible for same-day processing or for lifting a stop-work order
- What documents owners needed to bring and whether walk-ins were accepted
- Whether any penalty reductions were offered, or only payment options
Background
In New York City, the Department of Buildings enforces the construction and building codes. It issues permits, stop-work orders, vacate orders and violations. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) separately enforces the Housing Maintenance Code, which covers conditions like heat, hot water and repairs inside apartments. Some DOB violations carry civil penalties and are heard at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Owners usually have to show that a violating condition was fixed, often through a certificate of correction, before a violation is closed on the city's records.
Summary written by Bulwark from VINnews’s reporting. The original story is at vinnews.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related
Follow Bulwark on WhatsApp
Deadline countdowns, rule changes, voucher rents and breaking NYC housing news in your WhatsApp Updates. Free.
Send the message that opens, then save our number. WhatsApp only shows updates from saved contacts.
Brooklyn, NY
Want a manager who tracks this for you?
Rent, repairs, filings and deadlines handled, with one clear statement a month.
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0