The Best Resources for Commercial and Residential Building Permit Data
Building permit data can be found through local government offices and specialized property data providers. While municipal sources remain the original record holders, third-party providers aggregate, standardize, and deliver building permit data at scale—making it easier to analyze construction activity across markets.
Below is a breakdown of the most reliable ways to access building permit data and leading providers in the U.S.
What Is Building Permit Data?
Building permit data records construction, renovation, and improvement activity for a property. These records typically include:
- Type of work performed (e.g., roofing, solar installation, remodel)
- Description and scope of the project
- Estimated project cost
- Contractor and permit issuer details
- Permit status (issued, completed, expired)
- Historical and current permit activity
Building permit data is commonly used by real estate professionals, insurers, lenders, investors, and analysts to understand property condition, risk, and market trends.
How Can You Find Building Permit Records?
1) Local Government and Municipal Offices
Most cities and counties maintain building permit records through their planning or building departments. These records can usually be searched by address via government websites or accessed in person.
Limitations:
- Data is fragmented by jurisdiction
- Search must be done address by address
- Coverage and formats vary widely
- Limited support for large-scale analysis
Best Building Permit Data Providers
BuildZoom (Primarily Commercial Focus)
BuildZoom tracks building activity associated with licensed contractors across the U.S. Their database includes historical permit data spanning multiple decades and can be explored by metro area, ZIP code, or state.
Best for: Contractor-focused insights and visualizing local construction trends.
CoreLogic Building Permit Data
CoreLogic provides access to residential, commercial, and industrial building permit data, often bundled with property and homeowner datasets.
Best for: Integrated property insights and risk/housing market analysis.
ATTOM Building Permit Data
ATTOM offers one of the most comprehensive building permit datasets in the U.S. It includes both residential and commercial permit activity and provides details such as:
- Permit classification and work type
- Permit status and timelines
- Project descriptions and costs
- Contractor details
- Coverage across U.S. markets
Best for: Nationwide coverage, enterprise analytics, modeling, and integration with other property data.
What Is the Best Source for Building Permit Data?
The best source depends on your use case:
- Single-property lookups: Local government websites
- Market analysis or large-scale research: Aggregated data providers
- Enterprise and analytics use cases: Nationwide datasets built for consistent access and standardization
Key Takeaway
Building permit data is essential for understanding construction activity, property condition, and market dynamics. Local governments maintain the original records, while third-party providers make building permit data easier to access, standardize, and use at scale.
