METHOD
How the catalog checks a contractor
This page explains what the record can show, what it cannot show, and why the date and source link appear next to every check.
Sources and matching
We use public records from DCWP, NYS DOS, DOB NOW, legacy BIS, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the New York Workers' Compensation Board. A company project is called confirmed only when an address published by the company matches a DOB record by BIN, not by address text alone.
What a record note means
A record note is a statement about a dated public source, not a verdict on a company. An expired home improvement license is a fact about a register entry. A missing workers' compensation result can also be consistent with a sole proprietor who has no employees.
What absence does not mean
No matching permit does not prove that work was not done. Residential masonry can be performed without a permit, and subcontracted work can appear under another company's license. The catalog says only what the cited record supports.
Independence and updates
Brownstone Contractor Check is a reference, not a recommendation. No company pays to be listed, ranked, or removed. The published catalog currently contains 60 companies and was last checked on September 23, 2026.
USE THE METHOD
Apply the public-record method
These guides turn the methodology into repeatable checks for a contractor, permit, or address. They link back to the official source rather than replacing it.
Use DOB NOW, BIS, LPC, DCWP, and address identifiers to research NYC facade work without treating a filing as proof of quality or completion.
Focused guide · 8 sourcesNYC DOB permit status: issued, expired or signed-offRead NYC DOB permit status in DOB NOW and BIS. Compare Permit Issued, Signed-off and expiration dates, then verify the contractor, scope and building.
Complete guide · 7 sourcesHow to vet a NYC facade contractorVet a NYC facade contractor by matching identity, license status, permit history, insurance records, project evidence, and the written scope.