Socrata README: APN->owner verified DEAD END for free (no LA County free owner source); paid Assessor extract is only bulk path

a08c195a0461a37fa9abe93bb7f86214f4c80c34 · 2026-08-10 22:17:26 -0700 · steve

Files touched

M ingest/socrata/README.md

Diff

commit a08c195a0461a37fa9abe93bb7f86214f4c80c34
Author: steve <steve@designerwallcoverings.com>
Date:   Mon Aug 10 22:17:26 2026 -0700

    Socrata README: APN->owner verified DEAD END for free (no LA County free owner source); paid Assessor extract is only bulk path
---
 ingest/socrata/README.md | 15 ++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/ingest/socrata/README.md b/ingest/socrata/README.md
index a0aa8cc..4fe10f4 100644
--- a/ingest/socrata/README.md
+++ b/ingest/socrata/README.md
@@ -34,9 +34,18 @@ Two LADBS permit datasets exist, with a real trade-off:
 prospecting. The permit window is computed relative to the dataset's own max
 `issue_date`, so `d9aa-v8bm` still yields its 2013–2023 contractors.
 
-**Recovery path for recent firm names:** `pi9x-tg5x` carries `apn` (assessor parcel #).
-A recent-commercial-permit pull → APN → LA County Assessor owner lookup would recover
-the OWNER on live projects (separate enrichment, not yet built). Meanwhile the
+**APN→owner recovery — VERIFIED DEAD END for free (la-research-agent, 2026-08-10).**
+`pi9x-tg5x` carries `apn`, but there is NO free, programmatic APN→owner-name source for
+LA County. Owner name is deliberately withheld from every free dataset — Assessor
+FeatureServer `70d93266…` (51 fields, no owner), the PAIS API
+`portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/api/parceldetail|parcel_ownershiphistory` (owner-less;
+ownership-history returns only RR/CC document numbers), the RR/CC grantor-grantee index
+(no online AIN search), NavigateLA layer 397, and ZIMAS — all confirmed owner-less.
+Owner name is gated behind the Assessor's PAID data-sale program
+(datasales@assessor.lacounty.gov). Do NOT build a free owner-enrichment pipeline.
+Compliance if the paid extract is bought: YELLOW (facts uncopyrightable + commercial
+entities out of CCPA scope; the gate is the paid extract's data-license review).
+Meanwhile the
 **Active Businesses** dataset stays the primary current firm-prospect engine.
 
 Scheduled refresh is a Steve-gated launchd install, drafted to pending-approval.

← 9cd4575 Socrata README: document current LADBS permit feed (pi9x-tg5 · back to Labj Cre Banks · labj-viewer: add /healthz route for fleet-consistent monitor d868fb3 →