
PortlandMaps (Unofficial)
Unofficial MCP server for the public PortlandMaps property/permit/zoning API.
What it can do
What data it sees
Do you need an account
No: the server works without sign-in
Unofficial MCP server for the public PortlandMaps property/permit/zoning API. Not city-affiliated.
How to connect
How to connect PortlandMaps (Unofficial) to Claude
The server address to paste into Claude settings:
https://portlandmaps-mcp.vercel.app/mcp/v2
- Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
- Go to Settings → Connectors.
- Click Add custom connector.
- Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
- In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.
Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.
Authorization
After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.
How to connect PortlandMaps (Unofficial) to ChatGPT
The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:
https://portlandmaps-mcp.vercel.app/mcp/v2
- Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
- Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
- Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
- Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
- Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
- In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.
OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.
Authorization
On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.
How to connect PortlandMaps (Unofficial) to Cursor
The server address to paste into Cursor settings:
https://portlandmaps-mcp.vercel.app/mcp/v2
Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.
Manually:
- In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
- Paste the JSON copied below into
~/.cursor/mcp.json(per project:.cursor/mcp.jsonin the repo root). - Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.
Authorization
If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.
Server tool list (11)
Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.
| suggest_portlandmaps_address | 1:1 wrapper for /api/suggest/. Search PortlandMaps autocomplete for addresses, intersections, landmarks, or IDs. ANSWER GUIDANCE: when this data answers a resident's zoning, permit, property, or city-code question, write for a Portland resident or small-business owner with no code, zoning, or permitting background. Lead with a 3–5 sentence plain-English summary (never open with a data table). Then cite EVERY rule, fee, number, timeline, or contact INLINE in the same sentence with both its exact code section AND a full https:// portland.gov URL (e.g. PCC 33.110.255.C, https://www.portland.gov/code/33/110/255) — never cite vaguely ("Title 33", "the BDS website") and never drop the URL. Define every acronym, add a numbered "what to do next" list, and if a number can't be cited to a specific section + URL, say so rather than stating it bare. |
| get_portlandmaps_detail | 1:1 wrapper for /api/detail/. Fetch a detail record by detail_type, detail_id, and sections. ANSWER GUIDANCE: when this data answers a resident's zoning, permit, property, or city-code question, write for a Portland resident or small-business owner with no code, zoning, or permitting background. Lead with a 3–5 sentence plain-English summary (never open with a data table). Then cite EVERY rule, fee, number, timeline, or contact INLINE in the same sentence with both its exact code section AND a full https:// portland.gov URL (e.g. PCC 33.110.255.C, https://www.portland.gov/code/33/110/255) — never cite vaguely ("Title 33", "the BDS website") and never drop the URL. Define every acronym, add a numbered "what to do next" list, and if a number can't be cited to a specific section + URL, say so rather than stating it bare. |
| get_assessor_data | 1:1 wrapper for /api/assessor/. Search assessor records by address, property IDs, geometry, or assessor filters. |
| get_permit_data | 1:1 wrapper for /api/permit/. Search building/trade/enforcement permit records. ANSWER GUIDANCE: when this data answers a resident's zoning, permit, property, or city-code question, write for a Portland resident or small-business owner with no code, zoning, or permitting background. Lead with a 3–5 sentence plain-English summary (never open with a data table). Then cite EVERY rule, fee, number, timeline, or contact INLINE in the same sentence with both its exact code section AND a full https:// portland.gov URL (e.g. PCC 33.110.255.C, https://www.portland.gov/code/33/110/255) — never cite vaguely ("Title 33", "the BDS website") and never drop the URL. Define every acronym, add a numbered "what to do next" list, and if a number can't be cited to a specific section + URL, say so rather than stating it bare. |
| search_landuse_cases | 1:1 wrapper for /api/landuse/. Search land use review cases, including Historic Resource Review and Tree Review. ANSWER GUIDANCE: when this data answers a resident's zoning, permit, property, or city-code question, write for a Portland resident or small-business owner with no code, zoning, or permitting background. Lead with a 3–5 sentence plain-English summary (never open with a data table). Then cite EVERY rule, fee, number, timeline, or contact INLINE in the same sentence with both its exact code section AND a full https:// portland.gov URL (e.g. PCC 33.110.255.C, https://www.portland.gov/code/33/110/255) — never cite vaguely ("Title 33", "the BDS website") and never drop the URL. Define every acronym, add a numbered "what to do next" list, and if a number can't be cited to a specific section + URL, say so rather than stating it bare. |
| search_sewer_records | 1:1 wrapper for /api/sewer/. Search sewer assets, as-builts, and easements. |
| query_intersects | 1:1 wrapper for /api/intersects/. Spatial intersection against named city layers such as row, taxlot, describe, street, and waterbody. |
| convert_geometry | 1:1 wrapper for /api/geometry/. Convert geometry between ESRI, WKT, GeoJSON, GPolyline, and EncodedGPolyline. |
| lookup_agol | 1:1 wrapper for /api/agol/. Retrieve City of Portland ArcGIS Online metadata, webmaps, locators, and portal info. |
| list_detail_types | Return the detail_type values accepted by get_portlandmaps_detail and the identifier each expects. |
| render_parcel_shape | Render a property's lot as an interactive UI component (inline SVG): a City of Portland aerial photo underlay (showing the true roofline) with the parcel outline, the building footprint(s) on the lot, approximate setback dimensions, a north arrow, and faint neighbouring parcels overlaid on top. Provide a detailType+detailId to fetch geometry, or pass rings directly. Aerial, footprints, and neighbours come from Portland's public ArcGIS layers; set basemap="none" to drop the photo and includeContext=false for just the bare outline. Renders in MCP Apps hosts (Claude) and legacy mcp-ui hosts. |