What to do when they won't give you the building code violation list?

[Sean Dezoysa]

I've heard it's hard to get the building code violation list and that you generally have to drop references to the "Freedom of Information Act" to get to it. Not the preferred way for me to deal with people I'll be talking to regularly, but I'll do the strong-arm stuff if it's the only option.

The person I talked to on the phone for my target city said that I have to name a specific property, and only then would they say if that property was in violation. Obviously this is not what I want, so I'll need to be more pushy to get that list.

Has anyone dealt with this? What did you say to get the list?

[Ibrahim Hughes]

No need to be confrontational. Go to the city's website and they should have a 'Freedom Of Information Act-like form (here in NJ ours is called an 'OPRA' [Open Public Records Act).] request form). Follow the instructions. They may simply want you to fax it in.