Methodology · Last reviewed July 31, 2026

Know what the screen knows—and what it does not.

Land to Yield is designed to preserve source, date, assumptions, and uncertainty. It creates a preliminary decision record; it does not convert public data into a legal determination.

Coverage

Current core screening focuses on parcels within the City of Los Angeles. Some sources cover the wider county or state, but that does not mean every Land to Yield workflow has parcel-level coverage outside the City. Each tool should state its own coverage.

Fail-closed rule: If the APN, current zoning, controlling map, or required legal evidence is unresolved, the product should label the result as screening-only and block final eligibility or offer recommendations.

Primary public sources

SourceUsed forBoundary
City of Los Angeles ZIMASParcel-linked zoning and planning information, adopted layers, reports, and maps.Current records and overlays still require parcel-specific review.
LA City Planning Zoning SearchOfficial guidance on using ZIMAS and checking additional planning controls.City Planning states that properties may be subject to overlays beyond base zoning.
LA City Planning Open DataSpatial planning datasets used for broad screening and mapping.Snapshots can lag adopted actions; check metadata and controlling maps.
LA County Assessor Property SearchAssessor identification and available property/assessment information.Assessment records are not zoning or developability determinations.
LA City Planning SB 79Local implementation materials, ordinances, maps, and updates.Statewide statutory summaries alone are insufficient for a City parcel conclusion.

Evidence hierarchy

1

Parcel identity

Match APN, address, geometry, and the exact site under review. Proximity-only matches do not establish eligibility.

2

Current controlling records

Prefer dated official parcel reports, adopted maps, ordinances, and agency publications over summaries or cached attributes.

3

Rules and assumptions

Separate sourced facts from derived calculations and user-entered assumptions. Display the as-of date.

4

Professional verification

Use qualified land-use, design, environmental, title, appraisal, tax, and lending professionals for the final decision.

What the output is—and is not

It is

A preliminary screen, assumption log, issue list, source index, and scenario comparison.

It is not

A legal opinion, zoning determination, survey, title report, appraisal, architectural test fit, environmental review, tax advice, or loan commitment.

Corrections

Report a conflicting parcel fact or source at trevor@clscre.com with the APN and supporting official source.