How to look up building permits by address

Updated October 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Short answer

Building permit records are public. Find the building department for the address (the city inside city limits, otherwise usually the county), then search its online permit portal by street address. If there is no portal, ask the department for the permit history. For the cities listed below, PermitPeek searches the official records for free.

Three ways to do it

The city or county permit portal. Free and official. Every portal works differently, and some need the address typed exactly the way the city stores it.
A records request to the building department. This is the route where there is no portal, or for records older than the portal. It can take days, and some departments charge for copies.
PermitPeek, for the cities in the table below. One search box, the same official records, sorted into open, expired, closed and no status. Searching is free. The full report is $18.99.

What you need

The street address is enough. You do not need the owner's name, and most portals do not ask you to log in. Search the house number and street name, leave out the unit number, and try the common abbreviations (St, Ave, Blvd) if the first attempt finds nothing.

If the address has changed or the lot was split, the parcel number from the county assessor is the more reliable key. Most portals accept it.

What the record shows

The permit number and type: building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, demolition.
The date it was applied for or issued.
A description of the work.
The status, in the cities that publish one.
The contractor, in many cities.
The declared value of the work, in some cities.

Cities you can search on PermitPeek

Each link goes to that city's page, which shows how many permits are on file, where the records come from and how far back they go.

City or countyRecords fromPermits on file

Austin, TX building permitsNot stated2,374,294 permits on file
Baton Rouge, LA building permitsNot stated135,012 permits on file
Boston, MA building permitsRecords from 2009661,993 permits on file
Buffalo, NY building permitsRecords from 2000276,868 permits on file
Cambridge, MA building permitsNot stated14,186 permits on file
Chicago, IL building permitsRecords from 2006846,510 permits on file
Cincinnati, OH building permitsRecords from 2010179,887 permits on file
College Station, TX building permitsRecords from 1989177,146 permits on file
Corona, CA building permitsNot stated42,524 permits on file
Denver, CO building permitsRecords from 2012122,389 permits on file
Everett, WA building permitsNot stated176,279 permits on file
Kansas City, MO building permitsNot stated1,528,478 permits on file
Las Vegas, NV building permitsNot stated1,269,072 permits on file
Los Angeles, CA building permitsNot stated1,582,928 permits on file
Marin County, CA building permitsRecords from 200250,808 permits on file
Mesa, AZ building permitsRecords from 2003156,075 permits on file
Montgomery County, MD building permitsRecords from 2000228,260 permits on file
Nashville, TN building permitsNot stated29,395 permits on file
New Orleans, LA building permitsRecords from 2012463,157 permits on file
New York City, NY building permitsNot stated4,985,549 permits on file
Norfolk, VA building permitsRecords from 2012126,225 permits on file
Orlando, FL building permitsRecords from 19071,109,492 permits on file
Philadelphia, PA building permitsRecords from 2007933,668 permits on file
Phoenix Metro, AZ building permitsNot stated37,069 permits on file
Pierce County, WA building permitsRecords from 1985682,054 permits on file
Pittsburgh, PA building permitsRecords from June 201964,992 permits on file
Prince George's County, MD building permitsRecords from 2013461,535 permits on file
San Francisco, CA building permitsNot stated2,327,371 permits on file
Seattle, WA building permitsNot stated192,844 permits on file
Somerville, MA building permitsNot stated90,586 permits on file
Tempe, AZ building permitsNot stated20,305 permits on file
Virginia Beach, VA building permitsNot stated106,115 permits on file
Washington, DC building permitsRecords from 2009788,545 permits on file

If nothing comes up

Wrong department. An address outside city limits is usually handled by the county, even when the mailing address names the city.
Address format. Try the number and street name alone, without the suffix or direction.
The records are older than the online system. Ask the department for the paper or microfilm file.
No permit was ever filed. For an old house with a new kitchen or a finished basement, that is information in itself.

Common questions

Are building permit records public?

Yes. Permits are government records and are open to the public under state public records laws. Some details, such as floor plans, may be withheld.

Is it free to look up building permits?

Searching a city portal is free. Departments may charge for copies of documents or for staff time on a large records request. On PermitPeek, searching an address is free and the full report costs $18.99.

Can I look up permits for a house I do not own?

Yes. You do not need to own the property or have the owner's permission. Buyers, neighbors and agents look up permits routinely.

Can I search by owner name?

Some city portals allow it. PermitPeek searches by address only and does not show homeowner names.