Illegal conversion / occupancy
What this record is, who signs or acts on it, and what it can hold up — taken from the City's own pages, with the source linked.
Last checked: 2026-08-10 · Based on official NYC websites; sources at the end
What it is
Using or occupying a building in a way its Certificate of Occupancy does not permit — the classic case being extra apartments, or a cellar rented as living space. An immediately hazardous illegal conversion violation can accrue additional penalties of $1,000 per day, so certifying correction quickly is what limits the cost.
Chinese term used on our Chinese report:非法改建、非法居住用途
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