Jamaica
Major Queens transit hub and commercial center with a large African-American and Caribbean community, improving significantly with new development.
Jamaica Building Violation Profile
Measured from HPD violations and 311 complaints filed in the 12 months to September 2026, matched to this area's buildings. Use it to set expectations before you sign or hire.
Rodent complaints ran 8.3 per 1,000 apartments, close to the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Jamaica ran 143.2 per 1,000 apartments over that year, above the citywide 125.7.
The median Jamaica apartment building went up in 1955, 24.5% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 18.4% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Jamaica
HPD issued 24.7 violations per 100 apartments in Jamaica over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 8.2 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 38.1% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 745 buildings holding 18,992 apartments, so check the specific address before you sign: one building's record can sit far from its neighborhood's average.
What the Records Show in Jamaica
Buildings in Jamaica averaged 24.7 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 8.2 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 38.1% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Jamaica | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 745 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 18,992 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 24.7 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 8.2 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 38.1% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 24.5% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 18.4% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Jamaica, using HPD violations inspected in the 12 months to September 2026 and city lot records. Citywide figures use the same method. Search a specific address for that building’s own record.
Building Grades in Jamaica
745 apartment buildings in Jamaica were scored on October 8, 2026. 25.4% graded D or F, above the citywide 19.8%, and 61.9% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 76.2 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Jamaica
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90-37 179 Place11432 · 10 apartments · built 1997 | F | 0 | 30 | 38 | 0 | none |
| 2 | 148-05 88 Avenue11435 · 8 apartments · built 1970 | F | 0 | 13 | 45 | 0 | 17 heat complaints |
| 3 | 88-22 172 Street11432 · 12 apartments · built 1963 | F | 0 | 26 | 42 | 0 | none |
| 4 | 90-38 170 Street11432 · 41 apartments · built 1928 | F | 0 | 84 | 106 | 5 | AEP7 heat complaints |
| 5 | 88-14 161 Street11432 · 6 apartments · built 1935 | F | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0 | none |
| 6 | 148-03 88 Avenue11435 · 8 apartments · built 1970 | F | 0 | 9 | 39 | 0 | none |
| 7 | 168-09 89 Avenue11432 · 16 apartments · built 1926 | F | 0 | 37 | 13 | 0 | 6 heat complaints |
| 8 | 90-16 150 Street11435 · 19 apartments · built 1931 | F | 0 | 37 | 21 | 0 | none |
| 9 | 146-17 Hillside Avenue11435 · 23 apartments · built 1931 | F | 0 | 28 | 79 | 1 | 5 heat complaints |
| 10 | 172-32 Jamaica Avenue11433 · 16 apartments · built 1931 | F | 0 | 31 | 14 | 1 | 65 heat complaints |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Jamaica
178 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 11,373 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 1.7% from 2018 to 2024. Check whether a specific building is on the list with the rent-stabilization checker.
| Building | Stabilized units 2018 | Stabilized units 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-34 171 Street11432 | 36 | 18 | -18 |
| 90-36 149 Street11435 | 111 | 95 | -16 |
| 90-10 149 Street11435 | 90 | 76 | -14 |
| 89-15 Parsons Boulevard11432 | 28 | 20 | -8 |
| 166-33 89 Avenue11432 | 114 | 106 | -8 |
Scores use the formula on the methodology page, applied to every lot with three or more apartments; the table ranks buildings with six or more. Stabilized unit counts are building totals from the DOF tax bill, compiled by nycdb, and say nothing about any individual apartment. See the most distressed buildings in the borough.
Services in Jamaica
Each service page is tailored to Jamaica’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Jamaica buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Jamaica building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Apartment buildings, two-family homes, new mixed-use developments near transit
Major transit hub, diverse, commercial center, improving amenities, community history
E/J/Z (Jamaica), LIRR (Jamaica), AirTrain to JFK, Q buses
Some high-crime areas, varying building quality, rapid change