OpenStreetMap Tagging Schema

This MCP server connects AI agents to the OpenStreetMap tagging knowledge base, enabling tag querying, preset discovery, and validation through a stable, programmatic interface. It is designed for seamless integration with LLMs and AI copilots to enrich OSM tagging workflows.

How to use

Use this MCP server with an MCP client to access OSM tagging knowledge from AI agents. You can run the server locally for development or connect via production endpoints for integration with Claude Code/Claude Desktop or other MCP clients. Access enables tag value queries, preset discovery, and validations to be performed as part of your AI-assisted tagging workflows.

How to install

Prerequisites you need before installation:

• Node.js and npm installed on your machine.

Follow one of these primary installation methods.

Installation steps

# Quick start with npx (recommended)
# No installation needed, run directly
npx @gander-tools/osm-tagging-schema-mcp

# Alternative: run via Docker
# Run with stdio transport
docker run -i ghcr.io/gander-tools/osm-tagging-schema-mcp:latest

Transition to production endpoints

For production deployments, you can use the MCP URL to connect AI agents to this server. The public endpoint is ready for integration and discovery by MCP clients.

Configuration and examples

Configure your MCP client to connect to both a remote MCP endpoint and a local stdio instance if you want to run the server directly from your tooling. The following configuration demonstrates both connection methods.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "osm_tagging_schema": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.gander.tools/osm-tagging/",
      "args": []
    },
    "osm_tagging_schema_stdio": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@gander-tools/osm-tagging-schema-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Using the server with Claude Code or Claude Desktop

Add the stdio-based MCP server to Claude Code or Claude Desktop to begin conversations that leverage OSM tagging capabilities. The stdio configuration runs locally and communicates through standard input/output with your AI tooling.

Claude Code example usage (implicit) shows how to add the MCP server to your workspace and reference the server by its name. Claude Desktop users can place a similar JSON configuration within their client settings.

Available tools

tag_query_values

Query available values for a specific OSM tag to understand accepted keys and value domains.

tag_search

Search tags based on keywords, categories, or value constraints to discover relevant tagging options.

preset_discovery_search

Search and explore OSM presets with detailed configurations to understand applicability.

preset_discovery_explore

Explore presets and their configurations to learn usage scenarios and tag combinations.

tag_validation

Validate a set of tags against the OpenStreetMap tagging schema to ensure correctness.

deprecated_tags_check

Identify deprecated or superseded tags and suggest up-to-date alternatives.

tag_improvement_suggestions

Provide recommendations to improve tag selections and consistency across mappings.