I found the following on the NYC HPD website (http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/owners/property-reg-unit.shtml#property_registration)
The New York City Department of Buildings Preservation and Development (“HPD”) require buildings with three or more dwelling units must be registered annually.
One- and two-family dwellings where neither the owner nor any family member occupies the dwelling are also required to register annually with HPD. Building registrations for these properties must also be filed whenever ownership changes or whenever the information on a valid registration changes (example, new managing agent or site management). The fee for Property Registration is $13 annually. A Property Registration does not become valid until both the form is completed properly and payment is received.
THE DEADLINE FOR PROPERTY REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2013
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT HPD’S REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE ONLINE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. A NEW VERSION OF THE ONLINE REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER 2013, WITH ENHANCED FEATURES FOR CREATING PORTFOLIOS, COMPLETING FORMS, AND VIEWING HISTORY. IF YOU NEED A REGISTRATION FORM AT THIS TIME, E-MAIL HPD AT register@hpd.nyc.gov . INCLUDING THE PROPERTY ADDRESS AND THE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP (INDIVIDUAL, JOINT, CORPORATION, LLC, PARTNERSHIP, OR OTHER) IN YOUR EMAIL.
All properties required to register must do so annually between the end of May and August 31st. Owners or their agents will receive the re-registration form from HPD at the end of May or beginning of June each year. Instructions will be provided on the form. An owner is required to provide contact information about the owner or owning entity, the managing agent, the site management, the lessee (if there is one) and information about who can be contacted in the event that there is an emergency at the building. The business address for the managing agent is the address to which HPD sends all official correspondence, including re-registration forms and Notices of Violation so please make sure that this address is where you can retrieve your mail. HPD is also requesting e-mail addresses for the managing agent and owners because e-mail notices – for example, when complaints are filed or Notices of Violation are issued or registrations are required – can be sent to these individuals. You must submit the form with a copy of the Deed or a copy of a document that reflects your ownership interest in or responsibility for the property if this is the first time you are registering a particular property.
DO NOT SEND PAYMENT FOR PROPERTY REGISTRATION TO HPD. The fee for Property Registration is billed to the property by the Department of Finance (DOF) with the Statement of Account and is due on July 1st of each year. The Statement of Account is generally sent out in June (with a July 1 due date) to the person/organization that pays the property taxes. The $13 fee will be clearly marked as Property Registration. If you wish to apply your payment to only the Property Registration fee, you may pay online at nyc.gov/payonline or visit a DOF Business Center. You must pay DOF in addition to sending in a properly completed form to HPD in order to have a valid Property Registration. Changes to the form during the course of the year will not require any additional fee.
If your property is not currently validly registered or you have changes to the information and you need to file a Property Registration between September and May, you may do so by e-mailing HPD at register@hpd.nyc.gov or calling our Registration Assistance Unit at (212) 863-7000.
If a building does not have a valid Property Registration, a violation may be issued to the owner and the owner may be liable for civil penalties between $250-$500. Further, the owner will not be able to certify violations, request a Code Violation Dismissal or initiate a court action to recover possession of the premises for nonpayment of rent.