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Zone maps & designation

Opportunity Zone maps and data tools

The official public map of Opportunity Zones is the CDFI Fund's CIMS mapping tool, supported by CDFI Fund data files, the Census Geocoder for finding an address's census tract, and Census TIGER/Line shapefiles for GIS work. As of October 20, 2026, the zones that take effect January 1, 2027 were still being certified state by state, so any 2027 map is provisional until Treasury publishes the certified list. Third-party maps are useful for screening but should always be checked against the government source.

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Sources
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Key takeaways

  • CDFI Fund CIMS is the standard official map for designated zones; the CDFI Fund also posts a shapefile and a convenience spreadsheet.
  • The Census Geocoder converts addresses to 11-digit tract GEOIDs and handles batches of up to 10,000 addresses.
  • Census TIGER/Line shapefiles provide tract boundaries for overlaying parcels, transmission and other site data.
  • For the January 1, 2027 map, Rev. Proc. 2026-14 lists 25,332 eligible tracts, but final designations were pending certification as of October 20, 2026.
  • Data center screening adds public layers for electricity (EIA), broadband (FCC), interconnection (PeeringDB), flood (FEMA) and seismic risk (USGS).

What are the best Opportunity Zone map tools?

Start with the government tools: the CDFI Fund's CIMS map to see designated zones, the Census Geocoder to find a property's tract, and TIGER/Line shapefiles for boundaries.1,4,5 Then use third-party maps for overlays and the 2027 transition.

Core Opportunity Zone mapping and lookup tools
ToolPublisherUse it forOfficial?
CIMS mapping toolCDFI Fund (Treasury)Viewing designated zones by address or areaYes
Opportunity Zones resources pageCDFI FundDesignated-tract spreadsheet and GIS shapefileConvenience copy; IRS lists are official
Opportunity Zones datasetHUD via data.govDesignated tract boundaries (geodatabase, shapefile)Government data
Census GeocoderU.S. Census BureauAddress to 11-digit tract GEOID; batch up to 10,000Yes, for tract lookup
TIGER/Line shapefilesU.S. Census BureauTract boundaries for GISYes, for boundaries
Rev. Proc. 2026-14 eligible listIRSTracts eligible for the 2027 mapYes, eligibility only
Opportunity Zones mapping tool for the 2027 mapNovogradacLikely-eligible 2027 tracts, rural overlays, investment dataNo
Opportunity zones mapping toolBaker TillyThird-party map for screeningNo
State nomination trackerOpportunityZones.comNomination and certification status by stateNo

Which Opportunity Zone tools are official?

The government tools are the CDFI Fund's CIMS map and data files, the IRS-published lists of designated tracts, and the Census Bureau's tract tools.1,2,3

  • CDFI Fund CIMS. The Community Investment Mapping System lets you search an address or browse an area and see designated Qualified Opportunity Zones. The CDFI Fund's mapping system page explains the available layers.1,2
  • CDFI Fund resources page. It offers a spreadsheet of designated tracts and a zip file containing a GIS shapefile. The CDFI Fund calls the spreadsheet a convenience copy and points to the IRS-published lists as official.3
  • HUD Opportunity Zones dataset on data.gov. Designated tract boundaries in geodatabase and shapefile formats, useful for analysts who want to load the zones into their own GIS.6
  • Census Geocoder. Enter an address and choose Find Geographies to get the state, county and tract codes. Batch mode handles up to 10,000 addresses.4
  • TIGER/Line shapefiles. The Census Bureau's boundary files, including census tracts, for overlay analysis.5

For a step-by-step lookup, see how to check if a property is in an Opportunity Zone.

Is there a map of the new 2027 Opportunity Zones yet?

Not a final one. As of October 20, 2026, governors were still submitting nominations ahead of the extended deadline of about October 28, 2026, Treasury was certifying state lists as they arrived, and no consolidated national list of the zones taking effect January 1, 2027 had been published.8,9

Until then, three kinds of sources help, each with limits:

  1. 1.Treasury's eligible list. The appendix to Rev. Proc. 2026-14 lists the 25,332 tracts eligible for nomination, 8,334 of them wholly rural.7 Eligible is not designated: each state may designate only about a quarter of its eligible tracts.
  2. 2.State nomination lists. Several governors have published their nominations, for example Texas's 605-tract list.10 A nominated tract becomes a zone only when Treasury certifies it.
  3. 3.Third-party trackers and maps. The Novogradac mapping tool for the new zones shows likely-eligible tracts using 2020 to 2024 ACS data, with rural overlays.11 The OpportunityZones.com tracker follows nomination and certification status by state and estimates about 6,575 designations.9

For what the new map will change, see the new Opportunity Zone maps taking effect in 2027 and how governors choose Opportunity Zones.

Can you rely on third-party Opportunity Zone maps?

Use them to screen, not to decide. Third-party maps from accounting firms, data vendors and trackers can be faster and add useful layers, but they can lag official changes or mix eligible, nominated and designated tracts.11,12

Fig. 1Official tools vs. third-party maps

Confirm

Official government tools

  • Show only designated tracts
  • Tied to IRS-published designations
  • Updated after Treasury certifies
  • Basic overlays only
  • Record for the file

Screen

Third-party maps

  • May show eligible or nominated tracts
  • Rich overlays and investment data
  • Can move faster than official tools
  • Can lag or mislabel changes
  • Not authority for a tax position
Use third-party maps for speed and context, then confirm every site against the government list for the right designation period.

Which public data tools help screen a data center site in an Opportunity Zone?

For data centers, the zone map is one layer among several. Power, fiber, flood and seismic risk decide whether a site in a zone can actually host a facility.

Public site-screening layers for an Opportunity Zone data center
QuestionToolNotes
What does power cost and who supplies it?EIA electricity data and state profilesGeneration, retail sales and prices by state and sector
Where are transmission lines?EIA FAQ pointing to HIFLD dataLines of 69 to 765 kV are published; substation locations are not
How long is the interconnection queue?LBNL Queued UpGenerator queue data; median request-to-operation time exceeds 4 years
Is there fiber and broadband?FCC National Broadband MapFixed and mobile availability by location
Where are carrier hotels and exchanges?PeeringDBInterconnection facilities and networks
Is the site in a flood zone?FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerFlood zones and FIRMettes
What is the seismic risk?USGS earthquake hazard mapsNational seismic hazard models

EIA's electricity data and state profiles show prices and sales by sector.13 EIA explains that transmission line data of 69 to 765 kV come from the HIFLD dataset and that substation locations are not published.14 LBNL's Queued Up report found the median time from interconnection request to commercial operation exceeded four years for projects built from 2018 to 2024.15 The FCC National Broadband Map shows service availability, PeeringDB lists interconnection facilities, FEMA's flood layer shows flood zones, and USGS publishes seismic hazard maps.16,17,18,19

These layers feed directly into Opportunity Zone timing. Power is usually the critical path, and the 31-month working capital safe harbor starts when cash arrives. See data center site selection inside Opportunity Zones and power interconnection for Opportunity Zone data centers.

What is a good workflow for checking Opportunity Zone data?

Screen broadly with third-party tools, confirm with government sources, and document the tract, its vintage and the designation period for every site.

Fig. 2A defensible Opportunity Zone data workflow

  1. 01

    Screen

    Third-party map and eligible list

  2. 02

    Geocode

    Census Geocoder, matching vintage

  3. 03

    Overlay

    Parcels on TIGER/Line tracts

  4. 04

    Confirm

    CDFI CIMS and IRS-published list

  5. 05

    Document

    Save exports with dates

Each step leaves a record. Proposed regulations would require census-tract-level reporting on Form 8996, so the tract number becomes part of the fund's filing.

Fig. 3Common data mistakes and how to avoid them

  • FailTreating an eligible tract as designatedOnly about a quarter of eligible tracts will be designated.
  • WatchTreating a nominated tract as designatedWait for Treasury certification.
  • WatchMixing tract boundary vintagesTract numbers change at each decennial census.
  • FailUsing ZIP codesZIP codes do not align with tracts.
  • WatchRelying on a cached or exported mapRe-check close to closing.
  • PassConfirming rural status from the IRS listRequired for the 50% rule and QROF step-up.
Most map errors come from mixing lists or vintages. These checks catch them before they reach a tax return.

Rural status deserves its own check because it drives two benefits: the 50% substantial improvement threshold and the 30% step-up for a Qualified Rural Opportunity Fund. For tract mechanics, see census tracts and Opportunity Zones.

Common questions

What is the official Opportunity Zone map?

The CDFI Fund's CIMS mapping tool is the standard government map of designated zones. The CDFI Fund also posts a GIS shapefile and a spreadsheet of designated tracts, and the IRS publishes the official lists.

Where can I see the 2027 Opportunity Zones?

As of October 20, 2026 there was no final national map. Treasury was certifying state nominations, with the extended nomination deadline around October 28, 2026. Rev. Proc. 2026-14 lists eligible tracts, and some states have published nominations, but only certified tracts become zones on January 1, 2027.

How do I find the census tract for an address?

Use the Census Bureau's Census Geocoder, choose Find Geographies, enter the address, and read the state, county and tract codes. Combine them into the 11-digit GEOID.

Are Novogradac and other third-party maps accurate?

They are widely used for screening and add helpful overlays, but they are not official. Confirm every site against the CDFI Fund map and the IRS-published list for the correct designation period.

Can I download Opportunity Zone boundaries for GIS?

Yes. The CDFI Fund posts a shapefile of designated tracts, HUD publishes an Opportunity Zones dataset on data.gov, and the Census Bureau provides TIGER/Line tract boundaries.

Is there a public map of substations for data center siting?

Not from EIA. EIA explains that transmission line data come from HIFLD and that substation locations are not published, so substation capacity usually has to come from the utility.

Sources

Every numbered note in this guide links to the source below.

  1. 1.CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury, “CIMS Mapping Tool,” n.d. cdfifund.gov
  2. 2.CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Mapping System,” n.d. cdfifund.gov
  3. 3.CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Opportunity Zones Resources,” n.d. cdfifund.gov
  4. 4.U.S. Census Bureau, “How do I search by address using the Census Geocoder?,” n.d. census.gov
  5. 5.U.S. Census Bureau, “Where can I download Shapefiles?,” n.d. census.gov
  6. 6.U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (data.gov), “Opportunity Zones dataset,” n.d. catalog.data.gov
  7. 7.Internal Revenue Service, “Treasury, IRS provide guidance to States for nominating census tracts as qualified opportunity zones,” 2026. irs.gov
  8. 8.OpportunityZones.com, “OZ 2.0 Nominations: Where Things Stand After the 90-Day Deadline,” 2026. opportunityzones.com
  9. 9.OpportunityZones.com, “OZ 2.0 State Tracker,” 2026. opportunityzones.com
  10. 10.Office of the Texas Governor, “Federal Opportunity Zones in Texas,” n.d. gov.texas.gov
  11. 11.Novogradac, “Novogradac Opportunity Zones 2.0 Mapping Tool,” 2026. novoco.com
  12. 12.Baker Tilly, “Opportunity zones mapping tool,” n.d. connect.bakertilly.com
  13. 13.U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Electricity data,” n.d. eia.gov
  14. 14.U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Does EIA publish the location of electric power plants and transmission lines?,” n.d. eia.gov
  15. 15.Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “Queued Up: 2025 Edition,” 2025. emp.lbl.gov
  16. 16.Federal Communications Commission, “How to Use the FCC's National Broadband Map,” n.d. help.bdc.fcc.gov
  17. 17.PeeringDB, “About PeeringDB,” n.d. peeringdb.com
  18. 18.Federal Emergency Management Agency, “National Flood Hazard Layer,” n.d. hazards.fema.gov
  19. 19.U.S. Geological Survey, “Earthquake Hazards Program: Hazards,” n.d. usgs.gov

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This website is for general information only. It is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. Any offering will be made only through confidential offering documents, to eligible investors, where permitted by law. Opportunity Zone tax benefits depend on each investor's circumstances and on rules that can change; consult your own tax and legal advisers.