How to Download Municipal Zoning Data
A guide for urban planners and analysts on how to find and download municipal zoning GIS data from city and county open data portals.
Zoning data is the foundation of urban planning and real estate analysis. It dictates what can be built where, making it essential for site selection, development feasibility, and community advocacy.
Fortunately, most municipalities publish their zoning maps publicly. This guide explains how to find and download that data.
Where to Find Zoning Data
Zoning is almost always managed at the municipal or county level. Here are the most common places to look:
- City/County GIS Portal: Search for "[City Name] GIS open data".
- City Planning Department Website: Look for a "Maps and Data" section.
- ArcGIS Online: Many cities host their public zoning data on AGOL. Search for "[City Name] zoning" in the ArcGIS Hub or use our Discover tool.
- State Geospatial Portals: Some states aggregate municipal zoning data at the state level.
The Best Format: ArcGIS REST FeatureServer
The easiest way to download zoning data is if the city hosts it on an ArcGIS REST service. You will know you have found this if the URL contains `/FeatureServer` or `/MapServer`.
How to Download the Zoning Data
- Copy the FeatureServer URL for the zoning layer.
- Open Geo Server Data Downloader.
- Paste the URL and click Add Layer.
- Preview the zoning polygons on the map.
- Use the Export button to download the data as a Shapefile, GeoPackage, or GeoJSON.
Understanding Zoning Attributes
When you open the attribute table, you will typically see these fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| ZONE_CODE | The legal code (e.g., R-1, C-2, M-1). |
| ZONE_DESC | The full name of the zone (e.g., "Residential Single Family"). |
| ORDINANCE | The local law that established the zone. |
| ACRES | The size of the zone. |
Summary
Downloading municipal zoning data is straightforward if you know where to look. By identifying the underlying ArcGIS REST service, you can bypass clunky download portals and extract the data directly into your GIS software.
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