Public Record Help Center

FAQs

How do I search for zoning codes?

You can find the Zoning filter under the Filters Button in the Search Filters section. Upon clicking the filter, you will be able to select zoning codes by specific jurisdictions. In order to select a zoning code, a jurisdiction must be identified first.

In other words, you can search for C-4 zoning in Washington, D.C., but you cannot search for all C-4 zoning without first selecting every jurisdiction with a C-4 zoning.

Can I identify a parcel by its polygon?

Yes, Public Record allows you to click on both the parcel pin and the parcel polygon. This allows you to see the entire polygon even if it is split into multiple parts.

Is there any standardization applied to land use?

In an effort to standardize different land use definitions from over 3,000 jurisdictions, parcels have been organized into 22 Primary Land Uses and 249 Secondary Land Uses.

Can I view single family parcels?

At this time CoStar is only supporting searches for commercial parcels.

Can I view CoStar research data associated with a specific parcel?

Yes, when associated CoStar Property data is available, you can view it by clicking on the CoStar Property Detail tab.

Why do some parcels only have Public Record information while other have both Public Record information and CoStar Property information?

CoStar researches and tracks approximately five million commercial real estate properties in the US, while Public Record contains 38 million parcel records. As a result, not all records will have associated Costar Property data.

Some records have more related CoStar Properties than can fit across the top of the Detail Page. How can I view the properties that are not displayed?

At the far right of the bar, there will be a icon. By clicking this icon, you can select additional properties to view.

Can I search for Public Record transactions?

Yes, there is a section in the filters dedicated to both sales and loans. The results can be viewed on the Transactions tab in List View and in the Sale/Loan History section of a parcel’s Detail Page.

What type of contact information is available in Public Record?

The recorded owner and any principals associated with the record owner.

How do I acquire the descriptions associated with zoning codes?

Descriptions of zoning codes can usually be found in the ordinance of the jurisdiction. At this point, it is recommended that you Google them.

How do I look for specific types of parcels?

There are a number of fields that can be used to identify specific types of parcels. The easiest to use are the Primary and Secondary Land Use fields. These fields contain the current use of the parcel. Zoning can also be used to identify parcels. If available, a Zoning search will return parcels that have specific approved uses. However, you need to know the local area's zoning codes to do a proper Zoning search. The best way to review a jurisdiction’s zoning is to do an online search for the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance.

Why is some information available for one parcel and not for another?

Not all jurisdictions collect or report the same information in Public Record. As a result, the available parcel information will vary between jurisdictions.

How do I export data?

You can find the Export button on the upper right of the page. If you cannot find the Export button, it will be housed within the More menu. (The More menu is only displayed when the header gets too crowded.)

Upon clicking the Export button, you will be asked to select a file type. Once you make your selection, CoStar will generate a file of that type that contains the data in the current List View.

To change the content in the table or how it is ordered, you can click the Modify Table button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

What reports can I print from Public Record?

At this time, there are no reports associated with the Public Record search.

Can I save my results set?

Yes, you can save a search by using the Save button on the upper right of the screen. If you do not see the Save button, look for the More button. The More button appears when the header gets too crowded.

Once you save a search, you can access it at any time from the Saved Searches dashboard in the Menu or from the Save button’s drop-down menu in Public Record.

How do I remove parcels I don’t want from my results set?

Use the Remove button. The button looks like a minus sign within a circle and can be found on the result to the right of the map in Map View, or on the result in List View. Hover over the result in either view to make the minus sign appear.

Can I change the way my result set is sorted in both the List and Map views?

Yes, there is a Sort button at the top of both pages. Additionally, in List View, all the columns are sortable.

How can I acquire copies of the images associated with a parcel?

You can download an associated image by clicking on it within the parcel’s Detail Page.

I have some suggestions to make the Public Record Search better. Who do I send my suggestions to?

At the top of every page, there is a icon. By clicking on the icon, you can find help for Public Record, request training and submit feedback.

Why are zoning codes missing for some jurisdictions?

First, not all jurisdictions have zoning ordinances. Even then, Public Record data is collected from the assessors’ offices. If the assessors don’t collect information from their corresponding planning departments, CoStar will not receive zoning for those jurisdictions.

Why can’t I search for public record information in certain areas?

While CoStar tries to collect as much public record information as possible, not all jurisdictions allow us to redistribute their data and not all jurisdictions have electronic files. As a result, their information will not be available in Public Record.