Lot assignment

Lot assignment is an option that defines the specialty of a lot type. In The Sims, lots are only distinguished between residential lot and community lot. In The Sims 2, in addition to the residential and community lots, the game recognizes the term as lot zoning that define special lots, such as dormitories, hotels, apartments, secret society lots, and so on. Lot zoning, however, is an advanced cheat, so it was not meant to be used freely.

Beginning in The Sims 3, players are able to set and define the type of a lot. The feature returns in The Sims 4. Lot assignment allows community lots to be distinct from each other, depending on the assignment they have. For example, a park is expected to be outdoors and have playground objects, while a lounge is expected to have bars and indoor amenities.

The Sims 3
In The Sims 3, players can set the lot assignment via Edit Town mode with patch 1.12. Prior to patch 1.12, players have no free control to set the lot assignment of a lot. Instead, to set a lot assignment, players have to edit the community lot and place the required objects in order to set the lot assignment. The lot assignments below have ascending priority order, so if a lot meets the requirements of an art gallery, it will not be considered a pool no matter how many swimming pools are on the lot:


 * Empty - none
 * Fishing spot - 1 fishing spawner
 * Small park - 3 park objects
 * Big park - 12 park objects
 * Beach - 1 beach object
 * Pool - 1 swimming pool


 * Art gallery - 16 paintings and sculptures in total
 * Library - 12 bookshelves
 * Gym - 4 gym objects
 * Graveyard - 4 tombstones and 1 mausoleum
 * Rabbit hole lot - any rabbit holes other than mausoleum

As of patch 1.12, the option to set the lot assignment to any lots are available on Edit Town mode. The default lot assignment of a community lot is No Visitors Allowed, but prior to patch 1.12, the default is empty / blank. This is noticeable as some lots in Sunset Valley have no lot assignment.

Different lot assignments attract different kind of Sims (by their age, type, traits, skills, career, celebrity status and NPC role), as well allow permit/forbid certain pets, define lot density and enforces associated activity/behavior (skill encouragement and object advertisement). Some lots could be a hotspot or a dead zone, where the lot would be deemed to have either higher or lower visitor density. In the full moon, the density of a lot will also increase.

Certain lot assignments are only found in certain sub-neighborhoods, such as market, and some lot assignments are hidden and only available in the Create a World or by unlocking them with  cheat. Lot assignments control what opportunities, gigs, or interactions are available. For example, some Mixology bar drinks are only available in certain lot assignments.

Residential
Residential is one of the two primary lot categories. Sims can live on residential lots.

Assignments in the residential category

 * Apartment lot (Home world only)
 * Non-Player Sims Only lot (Adventure destination only)
 * Ownable lot (Adventure destination and future world only)
 * Private lot (CAW only)
 * Regular lot

Community
Community is one of the two primary lot categories. Community lots serve a variety of purposes.

Assignments in the community category

 * Base game
 * Art gallery
 * Beach
 * Big park
 * Fishing spot
 * Graveyard
 * Library
 * Gym
 * No visitors allowed (unassigned, NPCs will not visit unless invited)
 * Pool
 * Small park
 * Visitors allowed (unassigned, NPCs will visit)


 * World Adventures
 * Academy
 * Base camp (Adventure destination only)
 * Chinese garden
 * Hidden tomb (Hidden/CAW)
 * Landmark tomb (Adventure destination only)
 * Market (Adventure destination only)
 * Nectary
 * Small market (Adventure destination only)


 * Ambitions
 * Consignment store
 * Fire station
 * Hangout
 * Junkyard
 * Junkyard with no visitors
 * Laundromat
 * Salon


 * Late Night
 * Bars
 * Dive bar
 * Local watering hole
 * Sports bar
 * Clubs
 * Dance club
 * Disco club
 * Poolside club
 * Lounges
 * Exclusive lounge
 * Fusion lounge
 * Vampire lounge


 * Pets
 * Cat jungle
 * Dog park
 * Equestrian center
 * Horse ranch
 * Pet store (requires Pet Shop register object)
 * Dive bar criminal (Hidden)


 * Showtime
 * Big show venue
 * Coffeehouse
 * Live show venue
 * Private venue


 * Supernatural
 * Elixir consignment store
 * Supernatural hangout


 * Seasons
 * Festival grounds


 * University Life
 * Arcade
 * Java hut
 * Dormitory (University world only)
 * Fraternity (University world only)
 * Group science park (University world only)
 * Nerd shop
 * Rebel hangout
 * Sorority (University world only)
 * Student union
 * University hangout


 * Island Paradise
 * Diving area (Hidden/CAW)
 * Port
 * Resort


 * Into the Future
 * Base camp (Future world only)
 * Bot emporium
 * Business park
 * Cafeteria
 * Dried up beach
 * Future lounge
 * Gallery shop
 * Plumbot competition arena
 * Recreational park (Future world only)
 * Wasteland

Assignments set by rabbit holes
These lot types are available in CAW but they are only assigned to the rabbit holes.


 * Big shop (used by grocery rabbit hole)
 * Day spa
 * City hall
 * Criminal hideout (used by abandoned warehouse rabbit hole)
 * Hospital
 * Military base
 * Police station (used by police department rabbit hole)
 * Restaurant (used by the diner and bistro rabbit hole)
 * Science lab
 * Small shop (use by bookstore rabbit hole)
 * Stadium
 * Theater
 * Equestrian center
 * Arboretum
 * Gypsy wagon
 * Mausoleum
 * Vault of Antiquity
 * Stellar observatory
 * ZEPHYR stop

Map tags
Map tags are colored markers that appear over lots in the Map View. By default, they will appear over all community lots and the residential lots of known Sims in the map view. They will also appear for active opportunities and adventures, and will also appear over the currently selected Sim's workplace or school. Clicking on a map tag allows the player to direct Sims to the lot without having to exit Map View; functionally, it provides the same options as clicking on the lot in live mode. If the currently selected Sim is on a lot, their plumbob will appear next to the map tag for the lot they are in.

Map tags are colored based on the type of lot they are attached to.
 * Green tags indicate the currently played household's home lot
 * Dark blue colors indicate community lots
 * Light blue tags with the career symbol on it indicate the selected Sim's place of work
 * Light blue tags with a star indicate opportunities
 * Orange tags indicate the residential lots of other Sims that the current Sim knows. Map tags will not appear for empty lots or for lots inhabited by unknown Sims.
 * Red tags indicate rabbit holes.

The Sims 4
In The Sims 4, lots require certain objects in order to determine its lot assignment properly. The presence of these objects cause NPCs such as bartenders to appear on the lot. At launch there were only nine lot types, but since launch new lot types have been included in various packs and patches. Modders have also successfully created new lot types.

In patch 42, lot traits were introduced. These traits along with lot types can characterize a lot's functionality and create an effect on the Sims that visit them.




 * Base game
 * Bar
 * Forgotten Grotto (Secret lot, hidden)
 * Generic
 * Gym
 * Library
 * Lounge
 * Museum
 * National park (Patch 9)
 * Nightclub
 * Park
 * Pool (Patch 27)
 * Residential
 * Sylvan Glade (Secret lot, hidden)


 * Outdoor Retreat
 * Hermit's hut (hidden)
 * Rental (only available in Granite Falls)


 * Get to Work
 * Alien party lot (hidden)
 * Hospital (hidden)
 * Police department (hidden)
 * Retail
 * Science lab (hidden)


 * Spa Day
 * Spa


 * Get Together
 * Ancient ruins (hidden)
 * Café
 * Chalet gardens (hidden)
 * Island bluff (hidden)


 * Dine Out
 * Restaurant


 * City Living
 * Apartment (only available in San Myshuno)
 * Arts center
 * Central park (hidden)
 * Karaoke bar
 * Penthouse (only available in San Myshuno)


 * Cats &amp; Dogs
 * Vet clinic


 * Jungle Adventure
 * Omiscan Royal Baths (hidden)
 * Rental (only available in Selvadorada)


 * Get Famous
 * Acting studio (hidden)


 * StrangerVille
 * Secret lab (hidden)


 * Island Living
 * Beach (added by patch 81 but only available in Sulani)


 * Realm of Magic
 * The Magic Realm (hidden)


 * Discover University
 * University housing