Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Editorial Staff
New York public records are government-created documents, filings, databases, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are generally accessible to the public under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at New York Public Officers Law §§84–90. The law establishes a presumption that all government records are open to any person unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Residents frequently perform a New York public records search — sometimes called a New York FOIL request, New York public records lookup, or New York government records search — to locate court filings, criminal records, property ownership information, business registrations, vital records, and other government documents.
Public records in New York are distributed across state agencies, 62 county-level offices, and New York City’s borough-level systems. New York relies on a combination of statewide portals and county-based systems, and researchers frequently need to navigate both. Understanding which agency maintains each record type — and whether to search at the state or county level — is the key to researching public records effectively in New York.
On This Page
- Quick Answer: Where to Search New York Public Records
- Legal Notice
- Why This Guide Is Reliable
- Why New York Public Records Law Is Distinctive
- The Legal Framework
- New York Court Records
- New York Criminal Records
- New York Property Records
- New York Business Records
- New York Vital Records
- New York Inmate and Corrections Records
- Professional License Records
- Charity and Nonprofit Records
- How to Submit a New York FOIL Request
- Free Government Databases for New York Public Records
- Common Mistakes When Researching New York Public Records
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
- Related Guides
- Disclaimer
Quick Answer: Where to Search New York Public Records
The most important free and low-cost government databases for researching New York public records include:
- New York eCourts (iapps.courts.state.ny.us) — statewide civil case search covering Supreme, County, and lower courts
- NY OCA Criminal History Record Search (ww2.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs) — statewide court conviction search ($95 fee)
- New York Sex Offender Registry (criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor) — free statewide sex offender registry
- NY DOCCS Inmate Lookup (doccs.ny.gov) — state prison inmate records
- ACRIS (a836-acris.nyc.gov) — NYC property records for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx
- NY Department of State — Entity Search (apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry) — business entity registrations statewide
- NY Department of Health — Vital Records (health.ny.gov/vital_records) — birth, death, marriage, and divorce records
- NY Office of Professions (op.nysed.gov) — professional license lookup
- NY AG Charities Bureau (charitiesnys.com) — charity registration and financial filings
- Open FOIL Portal (openfoil.ny.gov) — centralized portal for submitting FOIL requests to state agencies
These systems provide access to the majority of publicly searchable government records in New York.
⚠️ Legal Notice
New York public records law is governed primarily by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), New York Public Officers Law §§84–90. While the law presumes that all government records are open to the public, exemptions include law enforcement investigative records, records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, trade secrets, inter-agency or intra-agency materials, and records that if disclosed would endanger the life or safety of any person. Vital records are separately governed and are explicitly not available through FOIL.
This guide explains lawful public records research methods and does not constitute legal advice.
Why This Guide Is Reliable
inet-investigation.com publishes research-based guides built on primary government sources, investigative research methods, and public records law. All databases referenced in this guide link to official government websites whenever possible.
For jurisdiction-specific legal questions, consult a licensed New York attorney or the relevant government agency responsible for the record.
Why New York Public Records Law Is Distinctive
New York operates under a structured and well-enforced public records system with several features that distinguish it from most other states.
FOIL predates the federal FOIA and was one of the first state open records laws in the country. New York enacted its Freedom of Information Law in 1974, eight years after the federal Freedom of Information Act. Over the decades it has been substantially strengthened and today requires agencies to maintain records access officers, respond within fixed deadlines, and provide written explanations for any denial.
Mandatory two-stage response timelines are strictly defined. Under FOIL §89(3)(a), agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a written request — either granting access, denying access in writing, or acknowledging receipt and providing a specific date by which access will be granted or denied. That fulfillment date may not exceed twenty business days from the original acknowledgment unless the agency provides a written explanation for why more time is needed. Failure to respond at all within five business days constitutes a constructive denial that can be immediately appealed.
A formal administrative appeal process is built into the law. FOIL §89(4) requires that every denial of access include written instructions for how to appeal. Appeals must be filed with the designated appeals officer or agency head within thirty days of the denial. The appeals officer must respond within ten business days, either granting access or explaining the reasons for further denial. Failure to respond to an appeal within ten business days is itself a denial that can be challenged in court.
The Committee on Open Government provides independent oversight and advisory opinions. New York’s Committee on Open Government — housed within the Department of State — oversees compliance with FOIL and the Open Meetings Law, issues written advisory opinions on specific records access questions, and provides training to government agencies and the public. Its advisory opinions, while not binding, are widely followed by courts and agencies and represent the most accessible legal guidance on how FOIL applies to particular situations. The Committee’s opinion database is searchable at opengovernment.ny.gov.
A centralized FOIL portal exists for state agency requests. New York’s Open FOIL system at openfoil.ny.gov allows the public to submit, track, and manage FOIL requests to many state agencies through a single platform. This is more advanced than most states, which require requesters to contact each agency directly.
Official criminal history records are not public — but court conviction records are. New York is unusual in that the DCJS criminal history repository is explicitly exempt from FOIL and not accessible to the general public even by name. However, the New York State Office of Court Administration separately offers a public Criminal History Record Search of court convictions for $95 per name — a court-based alternative that covers open and pending cases plus convictions from all 62 counties. These are two distinct systems with different coverage and different legal status.
Police disciplinary records became public in 2020. The repeal of Civil Rights Law §50-a in June 2020 opened police, fire, and corrections officer disciplinary records to public disclosure for the first time. Previously, §50-a had been one of the broadest law enforcement secrecy provisions in the country. Its repeal was a significant expansion of New York’s open records landscape.
The Legal Framework
| Law | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| New York Public Officers Law §§84–90 | Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) — public access to government records; enacted 1974 |
| New York Public Officers Law §§100–111 | Open Meetings Law — public access to government meetings and deliberations |
| New York Public Officers Law §§91–99 | Personal Privacy Protection Law — governs agency collection and use of personal data |
| Executive Law §837 | Criminal history records — DCJS as central repository; records not subject to FOIL |
| Criminal Procedure Law §160.50 | Sealing of criminal records on termination of criminal action in favor of defendant |
| Civil Rights Law §50-a (repealed 2020) | Formerly shielded police disciplinary records; repeal made them subject to FOIL |
| Public Health Law §§4100–4174 | Vital statistics — birth, death, marriage, and dissolution records; not subject to FOIL |
→ Related guide: What Are Public Records?
→ Related guide: How FOIA Requests Work
New York Court Records
New York court records document civil, criminal, family, and surrogate’s (probate) cases filed throughout the state’s Unified Court System. The court structure includes the Supreme Court — which despite its name is the primary trial court of general jurisdiction — along with County Courts, Family Courts, Surrogate’s Courts, City Courts, Town Courts, and Village Courts. New York has 62 counties and a complex multi-tier court system that does not map neatly to a single statewide portal. Most public access to case information runs through the Unified Court System’s online tools, but coverage is uneven by court type and county.
New York eCourts — Civil Case Search
URL: iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain
Cost: Free
The eCourts system provides statewide online access to civil case information in Supreme Court and County Court civil terms. Search by party name, attorney name, or index number. Results include case type, filing date, parties, and docket entries. Document images are available for cases enrolled in the New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) system. Coverage is strong for Supreme Court civil cases but incomplete for lower courts.
New York State Courts Electronic Filing — NYSCEF
URL: iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef
Cost: Free to search
NYSCEF is the e-filing system for New York Supreme Court civil cases and certain other proceedings. Filed documents are publicly accessible online for most cases. Registration is required to file, but searching and viewing documents is free without registration. NYSCEF is mandatory for commercial division cases and many other Supreme Court matters in most counties.
WebCriminal — Criminal Case Information
URL: iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcrim_attorney/Login
Cost: Free (attorney registration required for full access; limited public access available)
WebCriminal provides case information for criminal cases in Supreme Court and County Court. Public access shows basic case status and appearance information. Attorneys of record have broader access to case documents. Not all courts report to WebCriminal — coverage is strongest in New York City and larger counties.
New York City Civil Court — eCourts NYC
URL: iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain (select NYC courts)
Cost: Free
New York City’s Civil Court handles civil cases under $50,000, small claims, and housing matters. Case information is searchable through the unified eCourts portal by selecting the relevant NYC borough court.
New York Courts of Appeal and Appellate Divisions
URL: nycourts.gov
Cost: Free
Published decisions from the Court of Appeals (New York’s highest court) and the four Appellate Divisions are available through the courts website. Opinions are searchable by party name, judge, or topic and are generally available without registration.
Federal Court Records
Federal cases filed in New York — including bankruptcy, civil rights, and federal criminal cases — are maintained by the U.S. District Courts. New York has four federal judicial districts: the Southern District (Manhattan and surrounding counties), the Eastern District (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island), the Northern District (Albany and upstate New York), and the Western District (Buffalo and western New York). Federal court records are searchable through PACER (pacer.gov), which requires free registration and charges $0.10 per page for documents.
New York Criminal Records
New York maintains two separate criminal history systems that are frequently confused with each other: the DCJS fingerprint-based repository (not public) and the OCA court-based conviction search (public, for a fee). Researchers need to understand which system serves which purpose before beginning a search.
DCJS Criminal History Records — Not Public
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains the official criminal history repository under Executive Law §837. DCJS records are explicitly not public records and cannot be obtained through FOIL. They are available only to the individual named in the record (for personal review), employers and licensing agencies specifically authorized by state or federal law, and law enforcement agencies. DCJS does not release records to third parties, background check companies, or the general public. The standard DCJS processing fee for authorized background checks is $75.
OCA Criminal History Record Search — Public Court Convictions
URL: ww2.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs
Cost: $95 per name search
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a separate public Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) that covers court conviction and pending case information from all 62 counties. Unlike DCJS, these are court records — not the official rap sheet. The search requires an exact match of name and date of birth and returns open/pending cases and convictions from County, Supreme, City, Town, and Village courts. Sealed records are not disclosed. Town and Village court data prior to 2007 is limited. Results are returned the next business day for records found and in real time for no-record results.
Important limitations: the OCA search does not include Family Court, Civil Court, or federal cases. It does not include non-criminal offenses (violations, infractions), youthful offender adjudications, or cases where the only conviction was a single misdemeanor more than ten years prior (Misdemeanor Redemption policy). Results are not certified.
New York Sex Offender Registry
URL: criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor
Cost: Free
DCJS maintains a publicly searchable Sex Offender Registry covering registered sex offenders in New York State. Search by name, zip code, or county. Risk levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) indicate the assessed likelihood of re-offense. Level 1 offenders are not included in the public directory but are registered with local law enforcement. Levels 2 and 3 are fully public with photographs and current address information.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in New York are available through court case records — an arrest that results in a court case will appear in eCourts or WebCriminal — and through local law enforcement agencies. Most New York City arrests are reflected in court case databases. County-level arrest logs and booking records vary by jurisdiction and may be accessible through county sheriff websites or by direct request to the arresting agency.
New York Clean Slate Act
New York’s Clean Slate Act, effective November 2024, provides for the automatic sealing of eligible conviction records after specified waiting periods — three years for eligible misdemeanors and eight years for eligible felonies after sentence completion. The New York State Office of Court Administration has up to three years to implement the sealing process. Sex crimes and certain serious felonies are excluded. Once implemented, sealed records will not appear in OCA’s public CHRS search.
What Is Not Public
- DCJS fingerprint-based criminal history records (never public, not subject to FOIL)
- Sealed records under CPL §160.50 (cases terminated in defendant’s favor) and §160.55
- Youthful offender adjudications
- Juvenile delinquency records (Family Court)
- Records sealed under the Clean Slate Act once implementation is complete
- Active criminal investigative materials
New York Property Records
New York property records are maintained at the county level through a two-office structure. In most of the state, the county assessor (or town assessor — assessment in New York is often handled at the town level) maintains ownership, valuation, and tax data, while the county clerk records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments in the official records. New York City operates differently: the NYC Department of Finance handles both assessment and the City Register function for four of the five boroughs, with Staten Island handled by the Richmond County Clerk.
ACRIS — NYC Property Records
URL: a836-acris.nyc.gov
Cost: Free
The Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) is the primary portal for property records in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It provides online access to property documents — deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, UCC filings, and federal tax liens — dating back to 1966. Search by party name (owner or lender name), borough/block/lot (BBL) number, document type, or address. Staten Island property records are not in ACRIS; they are maintained by the Richmond County Clerk separately.
NYC Department of Finance — Property Assessment
URL: nyc.gov/finance (Property section)
Cost: Free
NYC property assessment data — assessed value, tax class, exemptions, and tax history — is maintained by the NYC Department of Finance and searchable by address or BBL number through the NYC property portal.
County Clerk Portals — Outside New York City
For properties outside New York City, recorded instruments (deeds, mortgages, liens) are maintained by the county clerk of the county where the property is located. Assessment data is maintained by the town or city assessor. Major county clerk portals include:
- Nassau County Clerk — nassaucountyny.gov/clerk
- Suffolk County Clerk — suffolkcountyny.gov/clerk
- Westchester County Clerk — westchestercountyny.gov/clerk
- Erie County Clerk (Buffalo) — erie.gov/clerk
- Monroe County Clerk (Rochester) — monroecounty.gov/clerk
- Onondaga County Clerk (Syracuse) — ongov.net/clerk
What New York Property Records Contain
County assessor and clerk records typically include:
- Current and historical ownership information
- Legal property description, section/block/lot number
- Assessed and market value
- Sale history and deed transfers
- Mortgage recording and satisfaction history
- Liens, judgments, and lis pendens
- STAR (property tax exemption) and other exemption status
New York Business Records
New York Department of State — Entity Search
URL: apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry
Cost: Free for basic searches
The New York Department of State maintains the official registry of business entities formed or authorized to do business in New York. The public entity search covers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other registered entities. Search by entity name or DOS ID number. Results include entity status, formation date, registered agent, county of location, and filing history. Certificate of incorporation and other filed documents can be obtained for a fee.
New York UCC Filings
URL: dos.ny.gov/corps/ucc_search.html
Cost: Free for searches
UCC financing statements filed with the New York Department of State are searchable by debtor name. These filings document secured transactions — liens on personal property used as collateral for business loans. Note that UCC filings related to real property fixtures or cooperative interests may be filed at the county clerk level rather than the state level.
New York Vital Records
New York vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce — have a complex dual-track system: New York City maintains its own vital records system entirely separate from the rest of the state. Records for events in New York City are maintained by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for births and deaths, and by the NYC City Clerk for marriages. Records for events outside New York City are maintained by the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit in Albany. Requesting a record from the wrong office will result in no record found.
How to Request New York State Vital Records (Outside NYC)
Online/Phone: VitalChek — vitalchek.com — $45 per copy (includes $15 priority handling fee)
Mail: NYS Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602 — $30 per copy
Phone: (855) 322-1022
Records begin: 1880–81 for most of the state; earlier records exist for some cities
Birth Certificates
New York birth certificates are restricted records. Certified copies may only be issued to the registrant (if 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal representatives, and persons with a New York court order establishing entitlement. For genealogy research, uncertified copies of older birth records may be available from the state or local registrar. Birth records more than 75 years old held by the state are generally accessible for genealogical purposes.
Death Certificates
Death certificates in New York are restricted. Certified copies may be issued to a surviving spouse, child, parent, sibling, or legal representative. For genealogy, uncertified copies of records more than 50 years old are available from the state Department of Health. NYC death records transferred to the NYC Municipal Archives become fully public after a specified period (currently 1949 and earlier for most NYC deaths).
Marriage Records
Marriage records outside New York City are held primarily by the local registrar (town or city clerk) where the marriage license was issued. The state Department of Health holds copies of marriage records from 1880 forward. Certified copies are restricted to the parties named on the certificate and their legal representatives. Outside of NYC, marriage licenses are issued by city and town clerks, not county clerks.
Divorce Records
Divorce records are court records maintained by the Supreme Court clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. The state Department of Health maintains an index of divorces from 1963 forward and can issue certified abstract copies. Full divorce judgments must be obtained from the county court clerk.
New York City Vital Records
NYC birth and death records are maintained by the NYC DOHMH Office of Vital Records at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013 (phone: 311 or 212-639-9675 outside NYC). NYC marriage records from 1996 to present are available from any NYC City Clerk office; records from 1950–1995 from the Manhattan office only. NYC vital records prior to 1949 are held by the NYC Municipal Archives and are more broadly accessible to researchers.
New York Inmate and Corrections Records
NY DOCCS Incarcerated Individual Lookup
URL: doccs.ny.gov (Inmate Lookup)
Cost: Free
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) maintains a public lookup for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in New York State prisons. Search by name or DIN (Department Identification Number). Results include facility location for current inmates, crime of conviction, admission date, release date, and parole information. The database covers individuals sentenced to state prison — not county jails.
County Jail Rosters
Individuals held in county jails — including those recently arrested and awaiting trial — are managed by county sheriffs. Most major New York county sheriffs maintain online inmate lookup portals. New York City’s jail population (held at Rikers Island and borough facilities) is searchable through the NYC Department of Correction Inmate Lookup at nyc.gov/doc.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
URL: bop.gov/inmateloc
Cost: Free
Individuals incarcerated in federal prisons — including those convicted of federal crimes in New York’s four federal districts — are searchable through the BOP Inmate Locator by name or federal register number.
Professional License Records
New York licenses more than 50 professions through the New York State Education Department Office of Professions, which maintains a public license verification database covering most health, education, and business professions licensed under the Education Law.
URL: op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm
Cost: Free
Professions regulated through the Office of Professions include: physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, architects, engineers, land surveyors, real estate brokers and salespersons, certified public accountants, veterinarians, optometrists, chiropractors, and teachers (teaching certificates), among others.
Additional professional licenses outside the Office of Professions include:
- Attorneys — New York State Bar (attorneys are registered through OCA; check attorney registration at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney)
- Insurance agents and companies — NY Department of Financial Services (dfs.ny.gov)
- Contractors and trades — regulated at the county or municipal level; no statewide portal for general contractor licensing
- Financial advisors and broker-dealers — FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org) and NY DFS
Charity and Nonprofit Records
New York charities soliciting donations from New York residents must register with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. Registration records — including charity names, officers, annual financial filings (CHAR 500), and audit reports — are publicly accessible through the AG’s Charities Registry at charitiesnys.com. The registry is free to search and contains financial data for thousands of organizations operating in New York.
Federal tax-exempt organizations operating in New York file Form 990 with the IRS. These annual information returns — disclosing revenue, expenses, officer compensation, and program activities — are publicly available through:
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search — apps.irs.gov/app/eos
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — projects.propublica.org/nonprofits
- Candid (GuideStar) — candid.org
New York-incorporated nonprofit corporations are also registered with the New York Department of State and searchable through the entity search at apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry.
How to Submit a New York FOIL Request
Step 1 — Identify the Records Custodian
FOIL requests go directly to the agency that maintains the records — not to a central state office. Every covered agency is required to designate a Records Access Officer (RAO) to coordinate responses. To find the correct agency, identify which government body created or maintains the records you are seeking. For state agency records, the Open FOIL portal at openfoil.ny.gov provides a directory of participating agencies and their FOIL contacts. For court records, the Unified Court System’s records access procedures apply separately from FOIL. For county and municipal records, contact the Records Access Officer for that specific government entity.
Step 2 — Submit the Request
FOIL requests may be submitted in writing by mail, email, fax, or through an online portal. Unlike Florida, New York law does not permit verbal requests for records — requests must be in writing. However, agencies cannot require you to use a specific form or to explain your purpose. You do not need to identify yourself or state a reason for your request. A well-formed request should describe the records sought with sufficient detail for the agency to identify them, specify your preferred delivery format (electronic or paper), and include your contact information. New York’s Open FOIL portal at openfoil.ny.gov provides a sample request template.
Step 3 — Response Timeline
New York has one of the most precisely defined response timelines of any state:
- Agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a written request — either granting access, denying access in writing, or acknowledging receipt
- An acknowledgment must provide a specific date by which the request will be granted or denied — that date cannot exceed twenty business days from the acknowledgment
- Extensions beyond twenty business days require a written explanation of the reasons for the delay
- Failure to respond within five business days constitutes a constructive denial that can be appealed immediately
This structure is significantly more rigorous than Florida’s “reasonable time” standard and gives New York requesters clear benchmarks for when an agency is out of compliance.
Step 4 — Fees
New York agencies may charge fees under FOIL §89(1). Standard fees include:
- Paper copies: up to $0.25 per page
- Electronic records: typically no charge, or the actual cost of duplication (usually minimal)
- Certified copies: actual cost of certification
- Extensive use: agencies may charge for staff time required to search, retrieve, and review records when the request is unusually voluminous — the threshold and rate vary by agency
- Fee waivers: unlike Florida, New York law permits fee waivers. FOIL §87(1)(c) allows agencies to waive or reduce fees when the requester is a nonprofit organization or when disclosure is in the public interest. Fee waiver policies vary by agency — request a waiver in writing when submitting your FOIL request if applicable.
Step 5 — If Access Is Denied or Delayed
New York’s appeal and enforcement structure is more formal than most states:
- Administrative appeal — every denial must include written appeal instructions. File a written appeal with the agency’s designated appeals officer or head of the agency within thirty days of the denial. The appeals officer must respond within ten business days. This step is generally required before going to court.
- Committee on Open Government advisory opinion — you may request an advisory opinion from the Committee on Open Government (opengovernment.ny.gov) at any point. Opinions are not binding but are persuasive to courts and often prompt compliance by agencies.
- Article 78 court proceeding — if the administrative appeal is denied or not decided within ten business days, you may file an Article 78 petition in New York Supreme Court. The petition must be filed within 120 days of receiving the denial of your administrative appeal. Courts may award attorney fees and costs to a successful petitioner who substantially prevails.
Free Government Databases for New York Public Records
| Database | Record Type | URL | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY eCourts (Civil) | Civil court case search | iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil | Free |
| NYSCEF | Supreme Court e-filed documents | iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef | Free to search |
| OCA Criminal History Record Search | Statewide court conviction search | ww2.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs | $95 per name |
| DCJS Sex Offender Registry | Sex offender registry | criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor | Free |
| DOCCS Inmate Lookup | State prison inmates | doccs.ny.gov | Free |
| NYC DOC Inmate Lookup | NYC jail inmates | nyc.gov/doc | Free |
| ACRIS | NYC property records (4 boroughs) | a836-acris.nyc.gov | Free |
| NY DOS Entity Search | Business registrations | apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry | Free |
| NY DOS UCC Search | UCC financing statements | dos.ny.gov/corps/ucc_search.html | Free |
| Office of Professions License Lookup | Professional licenses | op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm | Free |
| NY AG Charities Registry | Charity registrations and filings | charitiesnys.com | Free |
| NY DOH Vital Records | Birth, death, marriage, divorce | health.ny.gov/vital_records | $30–$45 per copy |
| Open FOIL Portal | State agency FOIL requests | openfoil.ny.gov | Free |
| PACER | Federal court records (4 districts) | pacer.gov | $0.10/page |
Common Mistakes When Researching New York Public Records
Assuming DCJS criminal history records are publicly searchable. New York’s DCJS repository is explicitly not a public record and cannot be obtained under FOIL. The common mistake is to request a criminal background check and expect a name-based public result as in Florida or Texas. In New York, the public option is the OCA Criminal History Record Search ($95), which covers court convictions but not the full DCJS rap sheet. These are two different systems with different coverage — understanding which one you need before paying $95 is essential.
Searching only state-level records for property and forgetting NYC’s parallel system. New York has two distinct property record systems running in parallel: ACRIS for the four NYC boroughs, and county clerk portals for the rest of the state. A researcher looking for Manhattan property records who goes to a county clerk portal will find nothing — Manhattan deeds are in ACRIS, not a traditional county clerk system. The Richmond County Clerk (Staten Island) is the exception within the city.
Requesting vital records from the state office for events that occurred in New York City. New York City has always maintained its own vital records system entirely separate from the state Department of Health. Birth and death records for NYC events go to NYC DOHMH; marriage records go to the NYC City Clerk. Submitting a state DOH request for an NYC birth or death record will result in a “no record found” response even if the record exists — it simply isn’t in the state system.
Not distinguishing between eCourts (civil) and WebCriminal (criminal). New York’s court information systems are not unified. eCourts covers civil cases; WebCriminal covers criminal cases; NYSCEF covers civil filings with document access; and the OCA CHRS is a separate paid search. A researcher who finds no result in eCourts for a criminal case has not actually searched the criminal system — they have searched the wrong portal.
Assuming the five-business-day FOIL deadline means you will have records in five days. The five-business-day rule applies to the agency’s acknowledgment of the request — not to the production of records. The agency has up to twenty additional business days from that acknowledgment to produce records. For complex requests, it may take longer with a written explanation. Build in a realistic timeline of four to six weeks for non-urgent FOIL requests.
Filing a court petition without first exhausting the administrative appeal. New York courts generally require that you complete the administrative appeal process — filing the written appeal with the agency and receiving a denial — before bringing an Article 78 petition. Filing directly in court without completing the internal appeal may result in the petition being dismissed. The administrative appeal must be filed within thirty days of the denial and decided within ten business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are New York public records open to anyone?
Yes, with important exceptions. FOIL gives any person — regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose — the right to request records from New York state and local government agencies. You do not need to identify yourself or explain why you want the records. The presumption is that all records are open unless the agency can cite a specific FOIL exemption. However, certain categories of records — including vital records, DCJS criminal history, and sealed court records — are governed by separate statutes that impose access restrictions beyond FOIL.
Does New York have a FOIA law?
New York does not use the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which applies only to federal agencies. New York’s state equivalent is the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at New York Public Officers Law §§84–90. Enacted in 1974, FOIL governs access to records of New York State and local government agencies. The process for requesting New York state and local records is governed entirely by FOIL — not by the federal FOIA.
Are New York criminal records public?
Only to a limited extent, and through a specific channel. The official DCJS criminal history repository is not a public record and cannot be obtained under FOIL. The public alternative is the OCA Criminal History Record Search at ww2.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs, which costs $95 per name and returns court conviction and pending case information from all 62 counties. Sealed records, youthful offender adjudications, and records sealed under the Clean Slate Act are excluded from all public searches. Arrest records may be accessible through court records and local law enforcement agencies.
Where are New York property records searched?
It depends on the county. For properties in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, use ACRIS at a836-acris.nyc.gov for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens) — it is free and covers records back to 1966. For Staten Island, use the Richmond County Clerk. For properties anywhere outside New York City, recorded instruments are held by the county clerk of the county where the property is located. Assessment and ownership data is typically held by the town or city assessor — a separate office from the county clerk. Both systems must be searched for a complete property record picture.
Are New York arrest records public?
Arrest records in New York are accessible primarily through court records. An arrest that results in a court case will appear in eCourts or WebCriminal. Local law enforcement agencies may also maintain arrest logs. However, if charges were dismissed and the record was sealed under CPL §160.50, the record is not publicly accessible — New York seals many more records than other states, particularly for cases that end in dismissal or acquittal. Records sealed under the Clean Slate Act will also be removed from public access once implementation is complete.
Can a New York agency charge fees for FOIL records?
Yes. Agencies may charge up to $0.25 per paper copy and the actual cost of producing electronic records. For voluminous requests that require extensive staff time, agencies may assess an additional charge. Unlike Florida, New York permits fee waivers — FOIL §87(1)(c) allows agencies to waive or reduce fees when the requester is a nonprofit or when disclosure is in the public interest. If you believe your request qualifies, include a written fee waiver request when submitting your FOIL request. Waiver approval is at the agency’s discretion and varies widely in practice.
Final Thoughts
New York’s FOIL system is one of the most procedurally sophisticated open records frameworks in the United States. The mandatory five-business-day acknowledgment requirement, the twenty-business-day fulfillment deadline structure, the formal administrative appeal process, and the independent oversight provided by the Committee on Open Government give New York requesters clearer rights and stronger enforcement tools than most other states provide. The 2020 repeal of Civil Rights Law §50-a was a landmark expansion that opened police disciplinary records that had been sealed for decades.
The main practical challenges are navigational. New York’s court system is fragmented across eCourts, WebCriminal, NYSCEF, and the OCA CHRS — each covering different case types, different courts, and different levels of document access. Criminal records are split between the DCJS repository (not public) and the OCA court search (public, $95). Property records operate under entirely different systems for New York City versus the rest of the state. And vital records require knowing whether the event occurred within or outside the five boroughs.
For most research tasks: start with eCourts for civil court cases, the OCA CHRS ($95) for criminal history, ACRIS for NYC property records or the relevant county clerk portal for upstate property, and the DOS entity search for business records. For records held by a specific state agency, the Open FOIL portal at openfoil.ny.gov is the most efficient starting point.
Related Guides
- Texas Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
- Florida Public Records: A Complete Research Guide
- How to Search Property Records Step by Step
- How FOIA Requests Work
- Best Government Databases for Background Research
- Criminal Records Research
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws and agency procedures change over time. Always verify current law and agency requirements directly with the relevant government office or a licensed New York attorney before relying on this information for legal or official purposes.
3 thoughts on “New York Public Records: A Complete Research Guide”
Comments are closed.