Feasibility starts with scattered lot data
Zoning maps, PLUTO, and DOB NOW each answer part of the first question: what is on this lot and what has been filed.
For architects, engineers, and filing representatives
Lot facts, zoning designations, and filing history before the first site visit.
See lot area, floor area, floors, units, year built, zoning districts, overlays, special districts, and historic or landmark flags from PLUTO, alongside the DOB NOW filings and permits on the same lot. Every value can be traced to its source release.
Free account, no credit card. Or start with the free BBL lookup without an account.
The problem
Where the time goes today
Prior and open jobs shape scope
An in-progress alteration, a recent new-building filing, or an open permit on the lot changes what you can file next.
Every number in a memo needs a source
Lot area and floor area figures get reused for months. Knowing which PLUTO release they came from keeps a memo defensible.
A working session
How architects and expediters use LotContext
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1
Resolve the lot
Confirm the BBL and BIN. Split lots, through-lots, and condominium billing lots are common sources of error.
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2
Read the lot facts
Review PLUTO lot area, building floor area, floors, units, building class, and year built. Open the evidence for any value before you rely on it.
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3
Check zoning designations
Note zoning districts, commercial overlays, special purpose districts, and historic or landmark indicators, then confirm against the Zoning Resolution and ZoLa.
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4
Review filing history
List DOB NOW job filings by type, status, and filing date, and the approved permits on the lot.
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5
File the evidence
Save a dated brief to the project file so the team works from the same sourced snapshot.
Try it on a real property
Worked example
See a dated research example with DOB NOW filings, permits, recorded documents, and the coverage limits stated next to each source.
Explore the sample report →Available now
What you get, and where it comes from
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Free BBL & BIN lookup
Resolve an address to borough, block, lot, and BIN before you compare records. No account needed.
Available now Learn more about Free BBL & BIN lookup
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PLUTO lot and building facts
Lot area, building floor area, floors, units, year built, building class, and land use, each linked to its PLUTO release.
Available now Learn more about PLUTO lot and building facts
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Zoning designations
Zoning districts, commercial overlays, special purpose districts, historic district, and landmark indicators as reported per tax lot.
Available now Learn more about Zoning designations
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DOB NOW filings and permits
Job filings with type, status, and filing date, plus approved permits with work type and issue date.
Available now Learn more about DOB NOW filings and permits
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Source status on every report
Each source shows whether it returned records, returned nothing, or was unavailable, with the time LotContext retrieved it.
Available now Learn more about Source status on every report
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Dated, shareable property briefs
Save a snapshot, share it with an opaque link that opens without an account, or print and save as PDF.
Available now Learn more about Dated, shareable property briefs
Sources and freshness
LotContext reuses recently collected evidence and collects new or stale properties when you request records. Each source retains its retrieval time. Catalog publication dates below describe the dataset's latest publication in LotContext, not freshness for every property. Check the source status and timestamps in your own report.
| Source | Publisher updates | Latest LotContext publication |
|---|---|---|
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Primary Land Use Tax Lot Output (PLUTO)
Department of City Planning (DCP) |
Quarterly | Oct 17, 2026 |
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Digital Tax Map: Tax Lot Polygons
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Weekly publication | Oct 12, 2026 |
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HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
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DOB NOW: Build – Job Application Filings
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 21, 2026 |
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DOB NOW: Build – Approved Permits
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
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ACRIS Recorded Documents (master, legals, parties, codes)
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Monthly publication | Oct 21, 2026 |
Plainly stated
What LotContext does not do
- Zoning fields are PLUTO tax-lot designations. LotContext does not calculate FAR, analyze split lots, or give a zoning opinion.
- Legacy BIS filings and certificates of occupancy are not in the current collection.
- PLUTO is published quarterly and can lag recent mergers, apportionments, and new construction.
LotContext is research support from public records. It is not legal, title, engineering, or municipal advice, and missing records do not prove compliance or safety. See the methodology.
Questions
Common questions
- Does LotContext calculate buildable floor area?
- No. It reports PLUTO lot area, existing floor area, and zoning designations with their sources. Buildable floor area depends on the Zoning Resolution and a professional analysis.
- Which PLUTO release is a value from?
- Each fact links to its evidence, including the source release and when LotContext published it.
- Are BIS jobs included?
- Not yet. The current collection covers DOB NOW job filings and approved permits. Use DOB BIS for older jobs.
Run your next property through LotContext.
Start free, or tell us about your team's workload and we will walk through a property you choose.
Related guides
- NYC zoning lookup: how to read a lot's zoning designations
- DOB NOW vs. BIS: where to search NYC building records
- How to find and read an NYC Certificate of Occupancy
Other professions: Brokers and agentsProperty managersInvestorsDevelopers and buildersReal-estate attorneys
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026.