Connect

Plug the public record into anything

One key works everywhere: in Claude and other AI assistants through MCP, in your own code through the REST API, and in spreadsheets through CSV. No key? You still get the free allowance.

Get a key Plans

StatusLive: api.sos.city and the MCP server are open now. Everything on this page is the final setup: copy it now and it will work on day one.

Step 1Get a key
Free works without one. For more, pick a plan; your key appears on the welcome page and in your account.
Step 2Choose how you connect
An AI assistant, your own code, or a spreadsheet. Pick a tab below.
Step 3Ask
Every answer names the publisher and links to the original, so you can show it to anyone.

Claude (claude.ai and the apps)

Open Settings → Connectors.
Choose Add custom connector.
Name it SOS.city and paste the server URL.

https://api.sos.city/mcp

Server URL

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http sos-city https://api.sos.city/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SOS_KEY"

One command in your terminal

Cursor

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sos-city": {
      "url": "https://api.sos.city/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_SOS_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "sos-city": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.sos.city/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_SOS_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Any desktop client using a config file

Bridges to the remote server with mcp-remote

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sos-city": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://api.sos.city/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer ${SOS_KEY}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SOS_KEY": "YOUR_SOS_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Any other MCP client

Use Streamable HTTP at the URL below and send your key as Authorization: Bearer. JSON responses; protocol 2025-06-18.

https://api.sos.city/mcp

What the assistant can do

Tool	What it does
search_library	Search the public record by question or keywords, scoped to a place (includes everything covering it) and a shelf.
get_source	Full details of one source: publisher, original link, API endpoint, licence, check status.
list_places	The atlas: world, countries, states, counties and cities, with their ids.
list_departments	The 15 shelves and what each covers.
list_gaps	Records people need that no one publishes yet. Check before saying a record doesn't exist.
request_record	Ask SOS.city to find a record that isn't in the library.

Try asking your assistant: "Using SOS.city, which datasets record building code cases in Los Angeles, and how do I pull them?"