Site screening is repetitive
Every candidate site needs the same first answers: lot size, zoning designations, what stands there now, and what has been filed.
For real-estate developers and builders (not the API)
Site screening and job monitoring for small development teams.
Compare candidate sites on lot area, zoning designations, existing building facts, DOB NOW filing history, and recorded documents. After you acquire a site, follow the permits on your own jobs.
Free account, no credit card. Or start with the free BBL lookup without an account.
The problem
Where the time goes today
Neighboring and prior jobs matter
An existing new-building or demolition filing on the lot changes both the timeline and the price.
Partners and lenders want a package
A dated, sourced site summary is easier to circulate than a set of screenshots.
A working session
How developers and builders use LotContext
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1
Screen the site
Review lot area, zoning districts, overlays, special districts, building class, and year built.
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2
Check existing jobs
List DOB NOW filings and permits on the lot, including new-building and demolition work types where filed.
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3
Review recorded documents
Scan ACRIS document types and dates for the lot before engaging counsel.
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4
Circulate a site brief
Share a dated brief with partners or lenders, or save it as PDF for the deal file.
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5
Follow your jobs
After acquisition, save the property so new filings and permits surface on refresh.
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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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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ACRIS document history
Recorded-document metadata (type, recorded date) and parties by the role recorded on the document. Never inferred ownership.
Available now Learn more about ACRIS document history
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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
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Saved properties and alerts
Save a property and LotContext tells you about records it newly observes when the property is refreshed.
Available now Learn more about Saved properties and alerts
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary Land Use Tax Lot Output (PLUTO)
Department of City Planning (DCP) |
Quarterly | Oct 17, 2026 |
|
Digital Tax Map: Tax Lot Polygons
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Weekly publication | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
HPD Housing Maintenance Code Violations
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
DOB NOW: Build – Job Application Filings
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 21, 2026 |
|
DOB NOW: Build – Approved Permits
Department of Buildings (DOB) |
Daily | Oct 12, 2026 |
|
ACRIS Recorded Documents (master, legals, parties, codes)
Department of Finance (DOF) |
Monthly publication | Oct 21, 2026 |
Plainly stated
What LotContext does not do
- There is no FAR, development-rights, or zoning analysis, and no environmental records.
- DOB violations, ECB/OATH, and legacy BIS jobs are not in the current collection.
- Looking for programmatic access? The LotContext data API is documented separately at /developers.
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
- Is this the API page?
- No. This page is for real-estate developers. The data API for software developers is documented at /developers.
- Can LotContext tell me what I can build?
- No. It shows zoning designations and lot facts with their sources. Development potential needs a zoning analysis by a professional.
- Can I monitor permits on my jobs?
- Yes. Save the property. Newly observed DOB NOW filings and permits surface when it is refreshed.
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
- How to research NYC DOB permits and job filings
- NYC building permit history: how to trace work on a building
Other professions: Brokers and agentsProperty managersArchitects and expeditersInvestorsReal-estate attorneys
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026.