Challenges of Treating Information as a Public Resource: The Case of Parcel Data

Land parcels are the foundation for many aspects of public and community life. This report presents the findings of a study of information about land parcels in New York State. It identifies stakeholders and their interests as well as the needs and issues associated with the uses of parcel data in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We describe the attributes of parcel data, discuss its value to a variety of stakeholders, present typical data flows across organizational boundaries, and illustrate a wide range of uses. We then present the main issues and policy challenges associated with treating parcel data as a collective public resource, and conclude with a set of policy principles for guiding future investments.