Williamsburg
Once the epicenter of Brooklyn's creative scene, now a mature upscale neighborhood.
Williamsburg 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 7.2 per 1,000 apartments, below the citywide 8.8.
Heat and hot water complaints in Williamsburg ran 53.1 per 1,000 apartments over that year, below the citywide 125.7.
The median Williamsburg apartment building went up in 1910, 46.9% of apartments sit in buildings from before 1940 (citywide 45.8%), and 35.7% are in buildings of five floors or fewer (citywide 37.1%).
Most common HPD issues in Williamsburg
HPD issued 17.1 violations per 100 apartments in Williamsburg over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 4.5 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 48.2% of buildings recorded none.
Area figures describe 2,035 buildings holding 31,792 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 Williamsburg
Buildings in Williamsburg averaged 17.1 HPD violations per 100 apartments over the 12 months to September 2026, below the citywide 30.1. Immediately hazardous Class C conditions ran 4.5 per 100 apartments against 9.2 citywide, and 48.2% of buildings recorded none at all.
| Measure | Williamsburg | Citywide |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment buildings | 2,035 | 172,071 |
| Apartments | 31,792 | 2,846,490 |
| HPD violations per 100 apartments | 17.1 | 30.1 |
| Class C (immediately hazardous) per 100 | 4.5 | 9.2 |
| Buildings with no violations | 48.2% | 45.3% |
| Apartments in pre-1940 buildings | 46.9% | 45.8% |
| Apartments in buildings of 5 floors or fewer | 35.7% | 37.1% |
| Median year built | 1910 | n/a |
Figures cover buildings with three or more apartments in Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg
2,041 apartment buildings in Williamsburg were scored on October 8, 2026. 15.1% graded D or F, below the citywide 19.8%, and 65.3% graded A against 65.8% citywide. The average score was 84.5 out of 100.
Lowest-Scoring Buildings in Williamsburg
| # | Building | Grade | Score | Open Class C | Open Class B | Open HPD cases | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 380 South 2 Street11211 · 6 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 41 | 42 | 0 | 7 heat complaints |
| 2 | 340 South 3 Street11211 · 41 apartments · built 1925 | F | 0 | 204 | 422 | 2 | AEP28 heat complaints |
| 3 | 212 North 8 Street11211 · 8 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 19 | 65 | 0 | none |
| 4 | 233 South 4 Street11211 · 11 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 22 | 71 | 0 | none |
| 5 | 192 Grand Street11211 · 6 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 11 | 41 | 1 | 12 heat complaints |
| 6 | 298 North 8 Street11211 · 15 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 43 | 30 | 1 | 7 heat complaints |
| 7 | 156 South 9 Street11211 · 59 apartments · built 1926 | F | 0 | 128 | 133 | 2 | AEP |
| 8 | 316 Bedford Avenue11249 · 33 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 48 | 109 | 1 | 30 heat complaints |
| 9 | 418 South 4 Street11211 · 6 apartments · built 1910 | F | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1 | none |
| 10 | 329 South 1 Street11211 · 6 apartments · built 1899 | F | 0 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7 heat complaints |
Rent-Stabilized Apartments in Williamsburg
578 buildings here were billed the rent-stabilization fee for 13,761 apartments on the 2024 property tax bill. Among buildings billed in both years, the count fell 4.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 184 Kent Avenue11249 | 219 | 3 | -216 |
| 448 Union Avenue11211 | 24 | 5 | -19 |
| 190 South 8 Street11211 | 41 | 25 | -16 |
| 321 Wythe Avenue11249 | 51 | 39 | -12 |
| 373 South 5 Street11211 | 27 | 15 | -12 |
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 Williamsburg
Each service page is tailored to Williamsburg’s building stock and common violation patterns.
Violation-Linked Repairs
For when Williamsburg buildings already have open violations
Pre-Lease & Investigation
Audit a Williamsburg building before you commit
Move-In Essentials
For after you’ve checked the building
Building Stock & Character
Converted warehouses, new luxury towers, older walk-ups
Trendy, excellent food/nightlife, waterfront parks, young professionals
L train (multiple stops), G train (at Metropolitan), J/M/Z (south)
Expensive, L train dependent, crowded on weekends