Kings County Property Search
In Kings County (Brooklyn Borough), property records are formal documents that carry important information about local properties, including ownership and assessment data. These records are preserved by the Office of the City Register, a New York City Department of Finance division.
Interested persons conduct property searches through the Office of the City Register in various situations - especially when buying real estate in Kings County/Brooklyn. A property search can provide information on real estate title chains, liens, mortgages, and tax assessments. An inquirer can also request these documents to settle legal disputes involving property lines, right-of-way, ownership, construction repairs, and zoning.
Are Kings County Property Records Public?
Yes. Kings County property records are public records under the New York Freedom of Information Law. Like other Kings County Public Records, inquirers can request to inspect or copy them. However, while many property records are available to the public per the FOIL, certain records are deemed confidential to members of the public. Examples include financial data, social security numbers, and records whose disclosure would violate privacy or endanger a person's life.
What Do Kings County Property Records Contain?
A Kings County property record may contain the following information:
- Document type
- Recording date
- Property data (borough, block, lot, type, unit, and address)
- Names of parties involved (e.g., a grantor or grantee, a mortgagor or mortgagee, etc.)
- Property ownership information
- Property market and taxable values
- City register file number
- Legal description
- Property characteristics (number of rooms, square footage, building year, materials used)
- Lien information (type of lien, the lienor and lienee, the incident causing the attachment of the lien, etc.)
- Mortgage details
Where to Perform a Kings County Property Lookup
Kings County (Brooklyn Borough) property records can be obtained online, via mail, or in person from the Department of Finance's Office of the City Register.
Online
Members of the public can use the "Property Records Search'' feature of the Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) to find property records in Kings County (see search instructions). The system can be searched with a party name, parcel identifier (block, borough, or lot), document type, city register file number or document ID, transaction number, reel and page, or federal lien file number/UCC.
In Person
Persons unable to use ACRIS can schedule an appointment to search, review, and print property records (limited to an hour) or request certified copies of documents. Below is the register's office location in Kings County:
210 Joralemon Street
2nd floor
Brooklyn NY 11201
Note: Kings County's real property books are located at the Queens Business Center, but microfilm records are available at the Brooklyn location. An inquirer can call the ACRIS Help Line at (212) 487-6300 or email the help desk.
Individuals interested in finding Kings County property records can find helpful information on the NYC Department of Finance website.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Kings County
Property record researchers can find out who owns a property in Kings County through the New York City Department of Finance (DOF). The DOF provides a Property Tax Public Access portal that interested parties can search with the details below to find property ownership information:
- A property address
- BBL (borough, block, and lot) number, or
- REUC (Real Estate of Utility Companies) number
Alternatively, one can visit, mail, or contact the New York City Department of Finance for assistance.
How to Find Kings County Property Records Online
Although the NYC Department of Finance provides Kings County property records online, members of the public can still find these records on third-party aggregate websites.
Third-party websites are maintained by independent (non-government) companies. These sites offer a variety of public records to interested persons, including property records from different counties and states in the United States.
Many third-party sites allow visitors to obtain limited property information at no charge. However, almost all websites charge a fee for a comprehensive property report. The fee may be charged on a one-time basis, monthly, or yearly.
How to Find Property Owner by Address Free
Persons who want to find a Kings County property owner by address for free should access the NYC Department of Finance's Property Tax Public Access web portal. They can use the platform's Property Address Search feature to search for a property's owner.
Kings County Property Tax Lookup
One type of research that every budding property owner in Kings County should conduct is a property tax lookup. Properties in the Brooklyn Borough are subject to taxes, which help the city generate revenue to fund public amenities like fire and emergency medical services. The amount in taxes each property owner pays differs and can change upon specific home improvements and after new legislation. As a result, prospective and current property owners look up tax information for various reasons.
One common reason to look up property tax information is to determine how much taxes a property will pay. Another is to check that property tax payments are current, and that one's property is not tax delinquent.
Kings County property tax records are disseminated by the NYC Department of Finance. Individuals interested in performing a property tax lookup can access the agency's Property Tax Public Access portal. Alternatively, they can contact the Department of Finance online for property tax inquiries. The agency also accepts mail, in-person, and telephone inquiries.
How to Find Kings County Property Appraiser
A property appraiser in Kings County determines the value of real estate for a client. The professional inspects and compares properties to determine fair market values and can assist local government agencies in conducting property assessments for taxation purposes, among other services.
Property appraisers in Kings County must be licensed by the New York Department of State (NYSDOS). For this reason, anyone looking for a local appraiser should search the Department's Licensee Portal or the Open NY Appraiser Portal.
Kings County Property Assessor
Generally, an assessor is a government official responsible for identifying real estate within a county and estimating their taxable values. The property assessor in Kings County is the New York City Department of Finance (DOF). Other duties of the office include:
- Providing homeowners and landlords with information on property tax assessments
- Generating tax assessment roll data annually
- Determining properties that qualify for tax exemptions
- Recording renovations, alterations, and improvements on buildings
- Reassessment of local properties for taxation purposes
The DOF's office location in Kings County (Brooklyn) and contact information are available on the agency's website. One can also call 311, (212) 639-9675 or 212-NEW-YORK (Out-of-City callers), or (212) 639-9675 (TTY) for general inquiries.
