Checkr accesses multiple data sources, including national criminal databases with millions of records, courthouses across all 3,200 counties in the United States, state sex offender registries, the Federal Court PACER system, and state Department of Motor Vehicles.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/Hitzelberger Erik is an excellent resource in this department for Louisville KY market.  

simply do not take anyone's word for this landlock situation.. open escrow get a title commitment and see it it is actually landlocked.. if it is your remedy in the real world. is1. getting a neighbor to grant you the proper easement you will need.2. confirm from the city or county that you can access the property from this new easement..despite common statements folks will make that no property can be landlocked.. and there are remedies this simply is not true.. properties can be landlocked... owners do it to themselves.. not common but it does happen.As for the old house.. sometimes if there is no lead or asbestos fire department will burn them down as an exercise.. ( sometimes)biggest issue in many markets now is the lead paint and Asbestos remediation during the demo.. some areas they don't car.

If so, what department do I contact to ask?

Having recently transferred to a new department, I am able to take advantage of the radio silence in the machine and listen to 7-8 Bigger Pockets Podcasts per shift!

I know they sound similar but trust me, using Line of Credit will get you to the commercial department and HELOC is for residential homes (meaning your primary home).   

A simple search on the NY Department of buildings and Finance websites will give you an understanding of how many units this house is legally.

I would check with the LA City Planning Department. 

Then we just had him split them into 4 separate plans and we dropped them at the building department on a unit by unit basis- when we were finishing up one, we dropped another for approval and went down the line.

I wouldn't spend much in cosmetic department.