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Connect Nyc Buildings Dob Permits to ChatGPT and Claude

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Get instant access to NYC property and permit data.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

ChatGPTClaudeCursorPerplexityGeminiMicrosoft CopilotRaycastMeta AI

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

How Vinkius works: one connection, every tool, in any AI
V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Complete set · 8 capabilities

The complete NYC Open Data capability set.

These are the exact actions your AI can choose when you ask it to work with NYC Open Data.

Capability set01 / 02

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 8 available through NYC Open Data.

  1. 01

    Count permit activity

    This capability counts DOB permit filings based on your filters. Use it to gauge construction volume in a specific area before pulling individual records.

  2. 02

    Search dob complaints

    This capability searches public DOB complaints. You can filter by building number, street, or category to see if a property has open issues.

  3. 03

    Search dob permits

    This capability searches for NYC DOB building permit filings. It covers New Buildings, Alterations, and Changes of Occupancy using job numbers or BINs.

  4. 04

    Search dob violations

    This capability searches for DOB building violations. You can filter by building number, violation type, or date to find active code enforcement issues.

Capability set02 / 02

05-08

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 8 available through NYC Open Data.

  1. 05

    Search dobnow permits

    This capability searches the DOB NOW online permit pipeline. It retrieves approved permits for plumbing, wiring, and minor work.

  2. 06

    Search housing violations

    This capability searches for housing code violations from HCB inspections. It identifies issues like heat, hot water, or lead concerns by building ID.

  3. 07

    Search pluto

    This capability searches PLUTO parcel and property records. It provides zoning, building class, owner names, and assessed values for specific addresses or BBLs.

  4. 08

    Search vacant storefronts

    This capability searches the annual city survey of vacant commercial ground floors. It helps you analyze vacancy trends by borough or street.

One connector, every AI

NYC Open Data works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

ClaudeClaudeChatGPTChatGPTGeminiGeminiPerplexityPerplexityGrokGrokMicrosoft CopilotMicrosoft CopilotCursorCursorVS CodeVS CodeWindsurfWindsurfJetBrainsJetBrainsClineClineLangChainLangChainVercel AI SDKVercel AI SDKLovableLovableZ.aiZ.aiRaycastRaycastQwen CodeQwen CodeKimi CodeKimi CodeLe ChatLe Chat

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put NYC Open Data to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 8 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of NYC Open Data, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with NYC Open Data. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

NYC Open Data Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_eGeKbgdPQ4n203kA0moL1GprpEk6MX5HfH3UpB9K/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — NYC Open Data capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nyc-buildings-dob-permits-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_eGeKbgdPQ4n203kA0moL1GprpEk6MX5HfH3UpB9K/mcp"
    }
  }
}
  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? How to give Claude access to NYC Open Data

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work NYC Open Data owners hand off.

This MCP is built for professionals who need to pull real estate and construction data without manual searching.

  • 01

    Real Estate Researchers

    They use the AI to pull zoning and ownership data for property due diligence.

  • 02

    Construction Market Analysts

    They use the capability to track permit activity and construction trends across boroughs.

  • 03

    Code Enforcement Monitors

    They use the AI to quickly identify building violations and housing code issues.

FAQ

Questions NYC Open Data owners ask.

  • 01

    Do I need an API key to use this MCP?

    No. Vinkius hosts the MCP and manages all connections, so you can use it immediately without an API key.

  • 02

    Which AI clients can I use with this?

    You can use this MCP with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

  • 03

    Can I search for specific building owners?

    Yes. You can use the search_pluto capability to find the legal owner of a property using its address or BBL.

  • 04

    Does this include housing code violations?

    Yes. The search_housing_violations capability allows you to look up HCB inspections for issues like heat and hot water.

  • 05

    How recent is the permit data?

    The data is pulled from NYC Open Data, which includes the latest DOB permit filings and DOB NOW permits.

  • 06

    Do I need an API key?

    No. NYC Open Data serves all public datasets anonymously over its SODA API (data.cityofnewyork.us). This MCP defines no credentials and needs nothing configured.

  • 07

    What is a BIN?

    BIN (Building Identification Number) is the city's 10-digit id for one physical building, shared across the DOB and housing datasets. PLUTO keys buildings by borough+block+lot instead.

  • 08

    Borough values differ across datasets. how do I know the format?

    Formats are dataset-specific: 311 and shootings use UPPERCASE ("QUEENS"), food and sanitation use Title Case ("Queens"), DOT potholes use single-letter codes. Capability descriptions state the expected values, and the errors from a mismatched value are reported verbatim by the platform.

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