Documentation
Quick Start
Get up and running with Rescope in under 5 minutes. This guide walks you through creating your account, running your first analysis, and understanding your results.
1. Create Your Account
Sign up at app.rescope.ai with your email or SSO provider. Verify your email to unlock all features. Your first property analysis is free—no credit card required.
2. Search an Address
Enter any property address in the search bar. Rescope will instantly retrieve parcel data, current zoning designation, and overlay districts. Addresses are auto-completed using official county parcel data.
3. Run Your Analysis
Select the type of analysis you need: Zoning Feasibility for development potential, or Plan Compliance for permit-ready projects. Click "Analyze" and results appear within minutes.
4. Review Your Report
Your report includes zoning designation, allowed uses, dimensional requirements (setbacks, height, FAR), parking requirements, and any applicable overlays. Red flags highlight potential issues requiring attention.
Address Search
Understanding how to search properties effectively will help you get the most accurate results from Rescope.
Supported Search Formats
Rescope accepts full street addresses, APN (Assessor Parcel Numbers), or coordinates. For best results, include the city and state. Examples: "123 Main St, Los Angeles, CA" or "4315-001-001".
Multi-Parcel Projects
For projects spanning multiple parcels, search each parcel individually then use the "Combine Parcels" feature to merge them into a single project. This ensures accurate lot line and setback calculations.
Checking Coverage
Not all jurisdictions are supported yet. If you search an address outside our coverage area, you'll see a "Coverage Unavailable" message with an option to request that jurisdiction be added to our roadmap.
Reading Reports
Rescope reports are designed to give you actionable information quickly. Here's how to interpret each section.
Zoning Summary
The top of your report shows the base zoning designation (e.g., R1, C2, M1) along with any overlay zones. Click the zoning code to see the full municipal code section.
Allowed Uses
Uses are categorized as Permitted (by-right), Conditional (requires CUP), or Prohibited. For conditional uses, we show typical approval requirements and timelines based on historical data.
Development Standards
This section details setbacks (front, side, rear), maximum height, lot coverage, and FAR. Values are calculated for your specific parcel, accounting for lot size and shape.
Flags & Issues
Red flags indicate potential problems—like insufficient lot size for a proposed use or conflicts with overlay restrictions. Orange warnings highlight items requiring additional review. Green checkmarks confirm compliance.
Plan Upload & Review
Use Rescope Recode to check your construction documents against building codes before submitting to the jurisdiction.
File Requirements
Upload plans in PDF, DWG, DXF, or RVT format. Files should be under 500MB per upload. For Revit files, we recommend exporting with linked files included for complete analysis.
Upload Process
Drag and drop your files or use the file browser. Rescope automatically organizes sheets by discipline (architectural, structural, MEP) and extracts relevant details for code checking.
Review Results
Code check results are organized by discipline and severity. Each finding links to the specific code section and includes recommendations for resolution. Export findings as a checklist for your team.
API Basics
Integrate Rescope analysis into your own applications using our REST API. Available on Team and Enterprise plans.
Authentication
API requests require a bearer token. Generate tokens from your account settings under "API Access". Tokens can be scoped to specific permissions and set to expire.
curl -X GET "https://api.rescope.ai/v1/zoning?address=123+Main+St,+LA,+CA" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN"Core Endpoints
Primary endpoints include /v1/zoning for zoning analysis, /v1/permits for permit tracking, and /v1/compliance for plan checking. Full API documentation is available at api.rescope.ai/docs.
// Zoning Analysis
GET /v1/zoning?address={address}
GET /v1/zoning?apn={apn}
// Permit Tracking
GET /v1/permits?project_id={id}
POST /v1/permits/track
// Plan Compliance
POST /v1/compliance/checkRate Limits
API requests are rate-limited based on your plan: 100 requests/hour for Team, 1000 requests/hour for Enterprise. Rate limit headers are included in every response.
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
Address Not Found
If your address returns no results, try searching by APN instead. You can find your APN on your property tax bill or county assessor website. Also verify the address is within a supported jurisdiction.
Zoning Information Seems Outdated
Rescope updates zoning data monthly. If you believe our data is outdated, use the "Report Issue" button on your report. Include the source of the correct information and we'll verify and update within 48 hours.
Plan Upload Failures
Large files may time out on slower connections. Try splitting your plans into smaller batches. If specific file types fail, ensure they're not password-protected or corrupted.
Ready to get started?
Create your free account and run your first zoning analysis in minutes.