permits-and-planning

Query Montréal building permits, zoning, property assessments, and land use datasets via CKAN API.

1|Updated Mar 13, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/alistaircroll/montreal-open-data --skill permits-and-planning-alistaircroll
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: permits-and-planning
Source: https://github.com/alistaircroll/montreal-open-data/tree/main/skills/domains/permits-and-planning
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/alistaircroll/montreal-open-data --skill permits-and-planning-alistaircroll

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Finding and querying Montréal's construction permit, zoning, property assessment, and urban planning data requires knowing which datasets exist, their resource IDs, field names, and formats. This Skill provides that context so an AI agent can answer questions about permits, property values, and land use directly. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Building Permit Queries: SQL patterns for the permis-construction DataStore resource, including filtering by borough, permit type, and estimated cost aggregation. - Property Assessment Access: Guidance on the unites-evaluation-fonciere dataset with CUBF codes and assessed values, plus the caveat that assessments are not market values. - Zoning and Building Data: Pointers to land use GeoJSON, 2D/3D building footprints, and urban plan datasets, with format-specific handling notes. - Use Case: A resident asks "Were any demolition permits issued near my street this year?" The agent locates the DataStore resource ID, runs a filtered SQL query on TYPE_PERMIS and date, and returns the matching permits. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to show recent building permits issued in a specific Montréal borough using the permis-construction dataset.

Frequently Asked Questions about permits-and-planning

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I query Montréal building permit data?

Use the permis-construction dataset on Montréal's CKAN portal. Call package_show to find the DataStore-active resource ID, then run SQL queries filtering by borough (ARROND), permit type, or issue date.

What datasets cover zoning and land use in Montréal?

The affectation-du-sol dataset provides zoning and land use designations as GeoJSON, available as a download only since it is not in the DataStore. Related urban plan datasets cover transportation schemas and mixed-use regulation maps.

Does Montréal property assessment data show market value?

No. The unites-evaluation-fonciere dataset contains municipal assessments done every three years for tax purposes, which may not reflect current sale prices. It also has no legal value for cadastral boundaries.

Why do permit query field names not match the documentation?

Field names in the permits dataset can vary from published descriptions. Always verify actual column names via the datastore_info endpoint before writing SQL queries against the resource.

Can I analyze Montréal 3D building data with standard tools?

No. The 3D building maquette is distributed in CityGML format, which requires specialized GIS tools like QGIS, FME, or CesiumJS rather than standard data analysis libraries.