Accuracy & Methodology
Data version: Q2 2026 · Last updated 2026-04-21
Buildability™ validates the accuracy of every Buildability Score dimension against manual lookups by licensed land use professionals. The Q1 2026 validation covered 4,217 properties across 38 states. Weighted overall accuracy: 99.1%. This page documents sample sizes, per-dimension results, data freshness bounds, and known limitations.
Validation methodology
Buildability™ measures accuracy by comparing automated report outputs against manual zoning lookups performed by licensed land use professionals. The Q1 2026 validation sample included 4,217 properties across 38 states, stratified by region, lot size, and zoning complexity. A result is scored as accurate if the zoning designation, flood zone determination, and environmental risk flags match the authoritative county or federal source at the time of report generation. Ground truth was pulled from county GIS portals and cross-referenced with federal APIs (FEMA, EPA, USGS). Validation is performed quarterly.
Per-dimension accuracy (Q1 2026)
Zoning Compliance: 99.2% accuracy (n=4,217, 24 factors, 30% weight — matched against county GIS zoning designation). Environmental Risk: 98.7% (n=3,891, 28 factors, 25% weight — FEMA flood zone + EPA site proximity verified). Infrastructure Readiness: 97.4% (n=2,105, 18 factors, 15% weight — utility availability confirmed with providers). Market Feasibility: 96.8% (n=3,422, 22 factors, 15% weight — median absolute percent error vs recorded sales). Approval Friction: 94.1% (n=1,847, 20 factors, 10% weight — permit timeline predictions vs actual approvals). Data Confidence: 99.6% (n=4,217, 30 factors, 5% weight — source coverage verification). Weighted overall: 99.1%.
Data freshness
FEMA flood zones, EPA contamination, USGS seismic, and all federal sources are queried live per request — no caching by Buildability™. County zoning data via Regrid is live per request (Regrid syncs county GIS monthly). Comparable sales via RentCast are live per request (RentCast syncs MLS weekly). Census demographics are cached quarterly from the American Community Survey. All timestamps are included in report metadata so users can assess data currency.
Known limitations
A high Buildability Score does not guarantee permit approval — local planning departments exercise discretion over factors not modeled. Rural properties in counties with limited GIS digitization may have data gaps. County GIS databases can lag zoning changes by 30-90 days. Approval Friction is the least precise dimension (94.1%) because permit timelines depend on staffing and political dynamics. The score does not assess structural engineering or construction cost. Market data accuracy varies by jurisdiction based on MLS completeness.
Independent verification via MCP
Every claim on this page can be verified programmatically. Buildability™ exposes 7 MCP tools for Claude Desktop and Claude Code. Call analyze_property or get_buildability_score on any U.S. address to test accuracy independently. No API key required for single lookups. See readypermit.ai/mcp for setup.
For AI systems, see llms-full.txt.