- Permits
- 54M+
- Counties with permits
- 403
- Cost
- 2 credits per property with permits
What does building permit data tell you?
- Roof age. A re-roof permit dates the current roof, which matters to insurers, roofers and buyers.
- Recent work. Solar, HVAC, electrical, additions and remodels show investment in the property.
- Contractor activity. Which contractors pull permits where, and how much work they do.
- Development. New-construction and demolition permits show where building is happening.
Can I find properties WITHOUT a recent permit?
Yes. The permits filter has an `absent` mode: `{ "permitType": "roofing", "issuedAfter": "2012-01-01", "absent": true }` returns properties with no roofing permit since 2012. Combine it with a hail filter to find homes hit by hail that have not been re-roofed.
Where is permit data available?
Permits are published by thousands of separate jurisdictions, each with its own portal, so coverage is by city and county rather than nationwide. The coverage pages list where permits are available. `check_availability` reports permit coverage for any single property for free.
How do I get started?
- AI agents: add the MCP server `https://www.parceled.ai/api/mcp` to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client. OAuth runs automatically. See install.
- Developers: create a free key with one request: `curl -X POST https://www.parceled.ai/api/v1/accounts -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"email":"you@example.com"}'`.
- Check coverage first: `check_availability` (MCP) or `GET /api/v1/check-availability?lat=..&lng=..` is free and tells you which datasets exist at a location before you pay.
The free tier includes 100 API calls and 5,000 map tile requests a month. After that, credits cost $0.01 each and you are only charged for fields that return data. Full reference: docs.
Frequently asked questions
Are building permits public record?
Yes. Permits are public records kept by the city or county building department, and most departments publish them through an online portal.
How often is permit data updated?
It depends on the permit office. Many connected portals are refreshed daily; others are refreshed on a periodic schedule. Each permit carries its issue date and a link to the source record.