How to Look Up Eviction Records in New York 2026

Where to Search New York Eviction Records

In New York, an eviction record lives wherever the case was filed: the Housing Court (NYC) / Town, Village, or City Court (upstate) / County Court that handled the summary proceeding. There is no single statewide search. New York has online tools like NY eCourts, but reliable, complete access to eviction filings is handled at the county level, through the local court clerk. Coverage and online availability vary from court to court, so the practical path is to identify the right court and search where the case actually sits.

Just as important: New York has no statutory right to expunge an eviction record. A landlord-tenant filing generally stays in the court file and can surface in tenant-screening reports, which makes it critical to read a record correctly rather than reacting to its mere existence. Below we walk through finding a record, interpreting the disposition, the sealing reality, and a tenant's options.

How to look up a New York eviction record

Start by identifying the court that would have heard the case. In New York City, summary eviction proceedings run through the Housing Court in the borough where the property sits. Outside the city, the case lives in the local Town, Village, or City Court, or in County Court depending on the locality. Because New York has no statewide eviction portal, the dependable route is the county-level court clerk for that court.

You can sometimes preview case information through NY eCourts, but for a definitive search, and for certified copies, contact the clerk of the court that handled the matter. Search by the tenant's name and, where possible, the property address. Certified copies of court records run $0.65 per page. Confirm the fee and any per-document minimum with the specific clerk before requesting.

Reading the result: a filing is not a judgment

The single most common mistake is treating a case number as proof a tenant was evicted. A filing is not a judgment. A landlord can commence a nonpayment or holdover proceeding that is later settled, dismissed, discontinued, or decided for the tenant, and the docket will show exactly that if you read it.

Look for the disposition: the final entry that says how the case ended. A warrant of eviction that was issued and executed is very different from a stipulation where the tenant cured the arrears and the case was discontinued. Check whether a money judgment was entered, whether it was vacated, and whether the case was sealed or restricted. When a docket is ambiguous, request the certified record from the clerk rather than guessing from a one-line summary in a third-party report.

Expungement and sealing: the New York reality

New York provides no general statutory right to expunge an eviction record. Unlike states that automatically seal filings, the default here is that a summary proceeding remains part of the court file. Some records may be restricted or sealed in limited circumstances at the court's discretion, but tenants cannot rely on an across-the-board cleansing of an eviction history.

For landlords, that makes screening discipline essential. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), tenant-screening reports must be accurate and you must follow adverse-action procedures when a report drives a denial. Never act on a record a court has sealed or restricted, and don't treat a dismissed or discontinued filing as an eviction. Verify the disposition against the court record before making a decision.

A tenant's options

If you're a tenant, begin by pulling your own case from the local court clerk so you know precisely what the record says, many disputes come from a screening report that misreads a settled or dismissed case. If the disposition is wrong (for example, a discontinued case shown as an eviction), that is a factual error you can dispute with the screening company under the FCRA, and you can use the certified court record as proof.

Because New York has no broad expungement statute, ask the clerk or, where appropriate, the court whether your specific case qualifies for sealing or restriction. If a record was sealed, confirm it is no longer being reported. Keep your certified copies, at $0.65 per page they are inexpensive evidence when you need to correct the record with a prospective landlord.

Step-by-Step: How to Search New York Eviction Records

1. Go to NY eCourts. Open https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/HomePage in your browser.
2. Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
3. Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
4. Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
5. Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is, most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5-7 years.
6. Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Housing Court (NYC) / Town, Village, or City Court (upstate) / County Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.65/page.

This page was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team using New York court-access practices administered through the state's trial courts (Housing Court in New York City and local Town, Village, City, and County Courts, with case data surfaced via NY eCourts). New York has no statutory eviction-record expungement provision, so no citation is given. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; for guidance on a specific case or sealing request, consult a licensed New York attorney or the relevant court clerk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up an eviction record in New York?

Identify the court that heard the case. Housing Court in New York City, or the local Town, Village, City, or County Court upstate, and search through that court's clerk. New York has no statewide eviction portal, so records are searched county-by-county. NY eCourts may show some case data, but the county-level clerk is the dependable source for a complete record and certified copies.

Are New York eviction records public?

Yes, in general. Summary eviction proceedings are court records and are typically available for inspection through the clerk of the court that handled the case, unless a particular file has been sealed or restricted. Remember that a filing is not a judgment, a public record may show a case that was dismissed, settled, or decided in the tenant's favor, so always read the disposition.

Can a tenant expunge an eviction in New York?

There is no general statutory right to expunge an eviction record in New York. The case ordinarily stays in the court file. A record may be sealed or restricted in limited situations, but tenants cannot count on a blanket expungement. If a screening report misstates how a case ended, that error can be disputed under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act using the certified court record.

How much does a certified copy of a New York eviction record cost?

Certified copies of New York court records run $0.65 per page. The total depends on the length of the file, and a specific clerk may apply a per-document minimum or additional certification fee, so confirm the cost with the clerk of the court that handled your case before requesting copies.

Related New York Landlord Guides

Court portal information sourced from the New York court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published New York statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.