NYRezone vs. ZoLa, RegWatch, and Tectmind
Four ways to check NYC zoning, from free to $499+: NYC DCP's official ZoLa map, RegWatch's property-monitoring reports, Tectmind's consultative analysis, and NYRezone's $49 instant report. Here is what each one actually does, priced from each vendor's own site as of September 2026.
Side by Side
| NYRezone | ZoLa (NYC DCP) | RegWatch | Tectmind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 one-time | Free | $15 one-time, or $15–$100/mo | $499+ (consultation) |
| Delivery | Instant | Instant | Instant (report); alerts ongoing | Hours, via a scheduled call |
| Computes unused FAR vs. built | Yes | No — shows limits only | No — zoning lookup only | Yes, by a person |
| Flags City of Yes eligibility | Yes | No | No | Not published — ask |
| Distress signals (violations, liens) | Yes | No | Yes (core focus) | Not published — ask |
| Coverage | 5 boroughs + Westchester, Suffolk, Nassau | NYC only | NY, NJ, CT | NYC |
| Human involved | No | No | No | Yes — 60-min call |
| Subscription required? | No | No | No for one-time report; yes for monitoring | No |
Prices and features as published on each vendor's own site, checked 2026-09-24. RegWatch and Tectmind may change pricing; verify on their sites before deciding.
Who Each One Is Actually For
ZoLa — you just need the zoning district and FAR limit
NYC Planning's own map is free, authoritative, and the right first stop if all you need is a lot's zoning district and maximum allowed FAR. It won't tell you how much of that FAR is already used, whether City of Yes changed the number, or whether the property carries open violations.
RegWatch — you want ongoing property monitoring, not a one-off zoning check
RegWatch is built for watching a portfolio: deed history, owner contacts, and alerts across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. If you want a subscription that flags changes on buildings you track, it fits. It is not built specifically around FAR math or City of Yes eligibility.
Tectmind — you have a specific deal and want a person on the call
Tectmind's $499+ tier includes a 60-minute call with a person walking through the zoning calculation, plus three months of email support. That is worth paying for once you are serious about one specific site. It is not built for screening a list of ten lots in an afternoon.
NYRezone — you want the FAR math and City of Yes read, instantly, for $49
NYRezone sits between ZoLa and Tectmind: more than a raw zoning lookup, cheaper and faster than a consultative report. It computes unused FAR against what is built, flags City of Yes eligibility, and surfaces distress signals — without a subscription or a scheduled call.
Where NYRezone Stops
No human review. NYRezone is data, not advice. Tectmind's call with a person catches context a database can't — use it once a lot is worth that spend.
Not permit-ready. None of these four tools, including NYRezone, replace a licensed architect's stamped drawings for an actual DOB filing. See the NYRezone vs. hiring an architect comparison for that step.
County data has no zoning or FAR. Westchester and Suffolk parcels carry assessment and ownership data but no zoning district or FAR. Nassau County is geometry-only. Full detail is on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free way to check NYC zoning?
Yes. NYC Department of City Planning's own ZoLa (Zoning & Land Use Map) is free and shows any lot's zoning district and FAR limits. It doesn't compute unused development rights against what's already built, flag City of Yes eligibility, or surface distress signals — it's a lookup, not an analysis. NYRezone's map is also free and does compute those; the $49 report adds ownership history and distress signals on top.
What's the difference between NYRezone and RegWatch?
RegWatch is a broader property-monitoring platform (NY, NJ, CT) built around deed history, ownership, and ongoing alerts, priced as a $15/month subscription (or a $15 one-time full report). NYRezone is narrower and one-time: a $49 zoning and FAR report focused specifically on City of Yes eligibility and unused development rights, with no subscription.
What's the difference between NYRezone and Tectmind?
Tectmind sells a consultative zoning analysis starting at $499, including a 60-minute call with a person and 3 months of email support — suited to a specific development deal that needs hand-holding. NYRezone is self-serve and instant at $49, with no call, suited to screening a lot before deciding whether that deeper engagement is worth it.
Read Next
See the full zoning analysis cost breakdown across all five tiers, or the step-by-step guide to what you can build on your lot.