How do I determine if my apartment is a legal residence?

Categories: C of O

Hi there,

It has recently occurred to me that I may be living in an apartment that can not legally be used as a private residence. I have searched for a CofO on the NYC Department of Buildings website, and the search came back with “THERE ARE NO CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY ON FILE FOR THIS ADDRESS”. It is also zoned by the the Dept. of Finance as G1 (garage or gas station) even though this may not be the same as the legal use of the structure.

Can someone please confirm whether the information I found is correct or how/where to go to confirm this information?

If it true that I am not living in a legal residence, is this solid ground on which to get out of a lease?

By clintonhillbilly | 12/06/2008 12:20 PM