Ridgewood
Working-class neighborhood on Brooklyn border with historic row houses and growing arts scene.
Ridgewood 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 14.6 per 1,000 apartments, above the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Ridgewood ran 60.4 per 1,000 apartments over that year, below the citywide 125.7.
The median Ridgewood apartment building went up in 1930, 90.2% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 97.9% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Ridgewood
HPD issued 32.4 violations per 100 apartments in Ridgewood over the 12 months to September 2026, close to the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 8.3 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 49% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 3,608 buildings holding 18,322 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 Ridgewood
Buildings in Ridgewood averaged 32.4 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, close to the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 8.3 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 49% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Ridgewood | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 3,608 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 18,322 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 32.4 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 8.3 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 49% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 90.2% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 97.9% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1930 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood
3,608 apartment buildings in Ridgewood were scored on October 8, 2026. 10.8% graded D or F, below the citywide 19.8%, and 74.2% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 88.3 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Ridgewood
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1819 George Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1927 | F | 0 | 140 | 91 | 1 | 185 heat complaints |
| 2 | 1717 Putnam Avenue11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 74 | 79 | 0 | AEP |
| 3 | 1853 Madison Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1913 | F | 0 | 57 | 69 | 0 | AEP |
| 4 | 1870 Palmetto Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 34 | 102 | 3 | none |
| 5 | 17-14 Linden Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 39 | 63 | 0 | none |
| 6 | 1671 Palmetto Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 33 | 46 | 0 | AEP |
| 7 | 1708 Palmetto Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 33 | 44 | 0 | none |
| 8 | 1711 Madison Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 18 | 93 | 0 | none |
| 9 | 61-14 Palmetto Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 34 | 36 | 0 | none |
| 10 | 1674 Woodbine Street11385 · 6 apartments · built 1930 | F | 0 | 28 | 44 | 0 | none |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Ridgewood
1,004 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 6,837 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 2.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 484 Seneca Avenue11385 | 21 | 7 | -14 |
| 1674 Woodbine Street11385 | 18 | 6 | -12 |
| 179 Woodward Avenue11385 | 6 | 1 | -5 |
| 2034 Palmetto Street11385 | 6 | 1 | -5 |
| 61-17 68 Avenue11385 | 31 | 26 | -5 |
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 Ridgewood
Each service page is tailored to Ridgewood’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Ridgewood buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Ridgewood building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Historic row houses, walk-ups, limestone buildings
Affordable, historic architecture, emerging arts scene, quiet
M train (multiple stops), L train (Halsey)
Limited subway options, far from Manhattan, gentrifying