Geocode property addresses for accurate map placement and lookups

Steps

1. Choose a geocoding provider appropriate for your volume and accuracy needs (Google Maps Geocoding API, Mapbox Geocoding API, or Census Bureau Geocoding API for US addresses).
2. Send the full address string (street, city, state, zip) to the geocoding endpoint and parse the returned latitude and longitude.
3. Check the result's accuracy indicator: Google returns a location_type (ROOFTOP, RANGE_INTERPOLATED, GEOMETRIC_CENTER); prefer ROOFTOP for property-level precision.
4. Store the geocoded coordinates alongside the address in your database and include the provider and precision level for auditability.
5. For bulk address geocoding, use batch geocoding endpoints where available (Census Bureau offers a free batch geocoder for up to 10,000 addresses) to reduce cost and latency.
6. Implement a fallback chain: attempt rooftop geocoding first; if precision is insufficient, fall back to parcel centroid from assessor data.