get_data
[Data Portal] Access data and metadata to learn more about the city and its underlying information.
LABSCO SUMMARY
The whole server is one tool, and it behaves like a query console on a city's data.
get_data takes SoQL clauses directly, so filtering and aggregation happen at the portal instead of after the rows arrive. When building a query clause by clause gets awkward, soqlQuery accepts a complete one, and q covers plain text search. DATA_PORTAL_URL sets the portal, while domain and datasetId aim an individual call.
What it is
A single-tool front end to a city open data portal, reaching both the data and the metadata that describes it.
What you get
- Data and metadata access through get_data, aimed by datasetId and domain.
- Filtering and aggregation carried out at the portal through select, where, group, having and order, with limit and offset for paging.
- Free-text lookup through q, or a complete query handed over as soqlQuery when clause-by-clause construction is not enough.
Requirements
DATA_PORTAL_URL, set to the open data portal you want to query. No account or key beyond that.
Setup effort
One command — npx -y opengov-mcp-server@latest
USE CASES
01
Settling an argument about a city with the dataset behind it
The question goes to the portal as a query rather than as a download, so the aggregation happens server-side and only the rows that answer it come back. Metadata is reachable through the same call when the right dataset is not yet known.
1 tool
Counted once with only startup setup. Other versions, modes or optional credentials may expose a different list.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
1 tool when we connected. get_data covers seven operations through its type parameter, from catalog search to SoQL queries. Results default to 10 rows; DATA_PORTAL_URL sets the portal, and a domain parameter can target another Socrata portal.
Requires
npx on PATH
Where it runs
Both documented setups run the server on your machine.
CONTEXT COST
Light Standing cost
Rated by the size of the one tool definition that rides along on every turn
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Server setup
TERMINAL
npx -y opengov-mcp-server@latestMCP Clients
Claude Desktop — npx
CLAUDE DESKTOP — NPX · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"opengov": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"opengov-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"DATA_PORTAL_URL": "https://data.cityofchicago.org"
}
}
}
}Claude Desktop — local build
CLAUDE DESKTOP — LOCAL BUILD · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"opengov": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"<YOUR_PATH_TO_OPENGOV_MCP_SERVER>/dist/index.js"
],
"env": {
"DATA_PORTAL_URL": "https://data.cityofchicago.org"
}
}
}
}
