NYC HPD Property Registration: Who Must Register, Deadlines, and Penalties for Non-Compliance
7 min read · Updated 2025-01-15
NYC HPD requires annual property registration for multiple dwellings. Learn who must register, the annual deadline, information required, and penalties for failure to register.
HPD Registration Requirements
What is HPD property registration and who must file?
The NYC Multiple Dwelling Law requires owners of multiple dwellings (buildings with three or more units) to register annually with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The registration provides HPD with current contact information for the property owner and the managing agent (if different from the owner). This information is used for service of violations and other official communications. Single-family and two-family homes are not covered.
What information is required for HPD registration?
The registration requires: the property owner's name, mailing address, phone, and email; the managing agent's name, address, phone, and email (if different from owner); and an emergency contact who can be reached 24/7 for urgent building matters. For LLC or corporate owners, the members or officers must be identified (one individual must be named). All contact information must be current — outdated information delays HPD communications and can result in violations.
What is the HPD registration deadline?
Annual registration is due by September 1 each year. Late registrations are still accepted but result in a building violation. If you newly acquire a property, you must register within 30 days of taking title. There is no fee for registration itself, but there is a registration fee for buildings with nine or more units that includes a payment towards HPD housing programs — this is separate from the compliance registration.
What happens if I fail to register with HPD?
Failure to register results in an HPD violation, which is an infraction of the Housing Maintenance Code. The building is listed as unregistered in HPD's public database. Unregistered buildings cannot apply for certain permits or approvals. Additionally, in a housing court proceeding (e.g., a non-payment case against a tenant), a tenant may raise the lack of registration as a defense. HPD can also impose civil penalties for non-registration.
Can I register multiple buildings at once?
Yes. HPD Online allows portfolio managers to manage registrations for multiple buildings under one account. This is helpful for property management companies that manage properties on behalf of multiple owners. However, each building must be registered separately with its own owner of record information. The managing agent can be the same across multiple buildings.
What is the difference between HPD registration and DHCR registration?
HPD registration (Annual Building Registration) is about identifying the owner and managing agent for the building as a whole and is required of all multiple dwellings. DHCR registration (Annual Building and Apartment Registration) is specific to rent-stabilized buildings and reports the rent and tenant information for each stabilized apartment. Both are required for rent-stabilized multiple dwellings — one to HPD, one to DHCR.
Does HPD registration apply to commercial buildings or mixed-use buildings?
HPD registration applies to multiple dwellings — buildings primarily used for residential purposes with three or more units. Mixed-use buildings with residential units meet this definition. Pure commercial buildings without any residential apartments are not subject to HPD registration. However, if even a few floors of a commercial building are converted to residential use, that portion may trigger the multiple dwelling classification and registration requirement.
What happens when a building changes ownership — who files the new registration?
The new owner must file a new HPD registration within 30 days of acquiring the property. The seller's registration doesn't automatically transfer. At closing, the buyer's attorney should confirm the HPD registration status of the property and ensure the buyer files a new registration promptly. For buildings managed by property managers, the property manager typically handles the registration on behalf of the owner.