Building Permit Records

Address-level permit lookups, with the local portal linked first.

Building Permit Records

Building permit records

Quick answer. A building permit record is the city’s file for a specific job: who applied, what work was allowed, which inspections passed, and whether a certificate of occupancy issued. Search by address in that city.

Official office

USA.gov — State governments

Open the official search

Steps

  1. Search the address on the city portal

    Try with and without unit numbers if the first pass fails.

  2. Open each permit on that parcel

    A building can have many permits. Read the one that matches the work.

  3. Record inspection results

    Copy the city’s words and dates.

  4. Ask for the CO if occupancy is the question

    Do not infer it from a building permit alone.

Read the permit, then the inspections

The useful fields are the permit number, issue date, work description, contractor, and inspection results. A permit that was issued and never inspected is not the same as a finaled permit. Say which one you found.

Certificate of occupancy is often a separate document. Do not assume the permit printout is the CO. Ask the building department which document they treat as permission to occupy.

Historic records may be microfilm or a records request. “Not on the website” is not “no permit.” Note how you searched and what the clerk said.

Common mistakes

  • Reading only the newest permit.
  • Calling an issued permit final.
  • Mixing city and county jurisdiction.
  • Treating a realtor printout as the official file.

Questions

How do I look up building permits?

Use the building department for the city or county, and search the property address.

What if the portal is down?

Call the department or file a records request. Write that the website was unavailable.

Are permit records public?

Often yes, but each city sets its own access rules. Follow the portal and the clerk.

Sources reviewed

Guides on this site