ZoLa turns New York City’s zoning and land-use records into a public, searchable map. Launched in September 2011 by the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) and the Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (DoITT), it was designed to make information about individual properties and the city as a whole easier to find and compare.913
The application is a web-based geographic information system. Users can search by address, borough-block-lot number, intersection or place, then explore information at property, neighborhood, borough or citywide scale.239 Its map layers cover zoning districts and special designations, land use, environmental requirements, waterfront areas, landmarks and other planning-related information.2 Users can also consult records of zoning changes and proposals, including applications under public review and rezonings adopted since 2002.11
ZoLa brings together mapped information from city agencies and links users to related planning material; the original launch announcement described it as using the same core components as the city’s NYCityMap portal.914 The underlying zoning data is available for download, and DCP says it is updated monthly or as needed to reflect recent zoning changes.12 The current user guide describes map themes and tools for exploring the city, while the application’s stated scope remains public access to current zoning and related information.23
The project has also been revised over time. A 2019 update added faster performance, custom map printing, formatted property profiles, street-width information and links to additional property and zoning resources.15 Together, these features make ZoLa a practical reference for residents, property owners and others seeking to understand how zoning rules and land-use decisions apply across New York City.26