DOB BIS · Known Outage Source

NYC DOB BIS Is Down.
Here's What To Do.

DOB BIS goes down regularly. If you're a fire alarm contractor or expeditor trying to pull building data right now, here are your real alternatives.

DOB BIS
Legacy system. Frequent outages. No ETA on fixes.
DOB NOW
Usually available. Slower during peak hours.
Fire PDF Pro
Independent data layer. Works when BIS is down.
Workarounds

What NYC Contractors Do When BIS Goes Down

These are the actual alternatives used by fire alarm expeditors and contractors in NYC when the Building Information System is unavailable.

1
Try DOB NOW Build

DOB NOW is the newer portal and runs on separate infrastructure from BIS. When BIS is down, DOB NOW is often still operational. Use it to look up job filings and BIN numbers.

Go to DOB NOW
2
Use NYC GeoSearch

The NYC GeoSearch API is maintained separately and returns BIN, BBL, borough, and address data by street address. It's fast, reliable, and often up when BIS is not.

NYC GeoSearch
3
Use Fire PDF Pro

Fire PDF Pro queries the NYC DOB open data layer directly, independent of the BIS interface. Enter an address or BIN and get occupancy group, construction class, and form-ready data instantly.

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Background

Why Does DOB BIS Keep Going Down?

NYC DOB BIS (Building Information System) is a legacy platform that has been in operation for decades. It was not designed to handle the volume of concurrent users that access it today. Fire alarm contractors, expeditors, architects, and engineers all depend on it daily to pull BIN numbers, check occupancy classifications, and review permit history.

The system experiences outages most frequently during morning peak hours — typically between 8am and 10am — when the majority of NYC filing professionals are starting their workday and running property lookups simultaneously. Scheduled maintenance windows also occur, often without advance notice to users.

The practical problem for fire alarm contractors:

A BIS outage during a busy filing day means you cannot pull the building data required to populate your TM-1, A-433, or B-45 forms. That means delayed submissions, missed deadlines, and jobs that sit idle while you wait for the system to come back online.

The Data DOB BIS Provides That You Need for FDNY Filings

BIN Number
The 7-digit Building Identification Number required on every FDNY form. Assigned to every building in NYC by the Department of Buildings.
Occupancy Group
The occupancy classification of the building (R-2, B, A-2, etc.) required for fire alarm system design and TM-1 form completion.
Construction Class
The construction type classification (I-A through V-B) that determines fire protection requirements and must appear on FDNY filings.
Number of Stories
Building height in stories, used for device scheduling on the A-433 form and for determining high-rise fire alarm requirements.
Borough, Block & Lot (BBL)
The tax lot identifier used across DOB, FDNY, and NYC Finance systems to uniquely identify a property.
FAQ

Common Questions When BIS Is Down

Is NYC DOB BIS down right now?
DOB BIS experiences outages regularly, particularly during peak morning hours (8–10am) and during NYC DOB scheduled maintenance windows. This page does not track live uptime, but the workarounds above work regardless of BIS status.
What is the difference between DOB BIS and DOB NOW?
DOB BIS is the legacy Building Information System used to view historical records, violations, and building profiles. DOB NOW is the newer electronic filing portal used to submit new permit applications. They run on separate infrastructure. When BIS is down, DOB NOW may still be operational, and vice versa.
How do I find a BIN number when DOB BIS is not working?
Three reliable alternatives: (1) NYC GeoSearch at geosearch.planninglabs.nyc — enter the address and it returns the BIN instantly. (2) DOB NOW — search by address under the property lookup. (3) Fire PDF Pro — enter the address and the tool pulls BIN and full building data from the NYC DOB open data layer, independent of BIS availability.
Can I still generate FDNY forms when DOB BIS is down?
Yes, if you use Fire PDF Pro. The tool does not depend on DOB BIS. It queries the NYC DOB open data API and Geoclient API directly, which operate independently. You can pull building data and generate your TM-1, A-433, and B-45 forms without BIS being available.
Does NYC DOB notify contractors when BIS is down?
Not consistently. Planned maintenance is sometimes announced on the NYC DOB website or through the DOB NOW portal, but unplanned outages typically have no advance notification. Most contractors find out only when they try to access the system and it fails to load.

Stop Depending on DOB BIS

Fire PDF Pro pulls BIN, occupancy group, construction class, and building data directly — no BIS required. Generate your TM-1, A-433, and B-45 forms in seconds, even when BIS is down.

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Used by NYC fire alarm contractors and expeditors daily.