Adaptation refers to how a system adjusts to environmental conditions, transforming its structure and functioning. In urban studies, this concept is particularly relevant for understanding how cities can change to address fundamental challenges. The adaptation of urban systems encompasses the strategies, processes, and actions through which cities adjust to enhance their resilience, sustainability, and the quality of life of their inhabitants. Although the debate on adaptation is extensive, the specific role of plot systems in adaptation processes is a recent topic in the literature, Briefly, the adaptation of plot systems involves reconfiguring their physical boundaries, the functionality of activities within each plot, and the management of these plots to respond to change. This line of research aims to identify different levels of plot adaptation in an urban system. A method is proposed that provides a quantitative approach to analysing the arrangement of plots in space and time, through plot morphology, functionality (considering different land uses), and the management of plot properties. The method is applied in one of the world’s most dynamic megacities, New York. The evolution of New York City’s five boroughs over the twenty-first century is examined, with evidence indicating that some plots are more likely to adapt than others - especially those located in areas of greater accessibility within the city’s urban system. Recognizing and identifying the adaptive potential of plots can significantly improve planning policies, programs, plans and projects, better addressing urban needs in both space and time.