# Charlotte & Mecklenburg Permit Leads (`flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads`) Actor

New building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits from Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte and surrounding towns), refreshed daily from the county's current Accela system. Flags projects that don't have an electrical, HVAC or plumbing permit yet.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads.md
- **Developed by:** [Jordon Penninger](https://apify.com/flecked_coffee) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $5.00 / 1,000 permits

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Building Permits Scraper

Get new building, electrical, mechanical (HVAC) and plumbing permits from **Mecklenburg County, North Carolina**: Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville. Data comes from the county's current **Accela** permit system, which replaced the older POSSE system in 2025. Scrapers built on the old feed now see only a few percent of new permits.

About **11,000 permits a month**, usually posted within 1 to 3 business days of issue.

**Need other cities?** [US Building Permit Leads](https://apify.com/flecked_coffee/us-permit-leads) covers Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and Seattle with the same fields and the same open-trade check.

### What makes it different: open-trade leads

For every project permit (new building, addition, upfit, shell, pool, accessory building…), the Actor looks up the trade permits already pulled under it and reports which trades **don't have a permit yet**. Set **Only projects still missing this trade** to `Electrical`, `Mechanical` or `Plumbing` to get just the jobs where that sub may still be open.

### Who uses it

- **Electricians, HVAC and plumbing contractors** finding jobs before the trade work is awarded
- **Suppliers and distributors** tracking new construction by ZIP code
- **Solar, generator, EV-charger and low-voltage installers** using keyword filters
- **Real-estate, lending and market researchers** measuring construction activity

### Input

| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Days back / Start date / End date | Issue-date range. Default: last 7 days. |
| Only projects still missing this trade | `Electrical`, `Mechanical` or `Plumbing` |
| Work types | e.g. `New`, `Addition`, `Upfit`, `PoolSpa`, `Electrical`, `SolarPV`, `Equipment Changeout` |
| Residential or commercial | Both, Residential or Commercial |
| Towns / ZIP codes | Limit the area |
| Minimum project value | Declared construction cost |
| Keywords | Match description, project name or building use (e.g. `generator`, `restaurant`) |
| Max results | Cap the number of results (and the cost) |

### Output

One item per permit:

```json
{
  "permitNumber": "COM-NEW-26-000488",
  "issueDate": "2026-10-30",
  "status": "Inspection Phase",
  "workType": "New",
  "category": "Commercial",
  "description": "Stair Tower Catoe & Nalley Industrial Solutions, Inc.",
  "projectValue": 282320,
  "address": "9635 INDUSTRIAL DR PINEVILLE NC 28134",
  "zipCode": "28134",
  "jurisdiction": "Pineville",
  "parcelId": "20509309",
  "latitude": 35.10214725,
  "longitude": -80.88645937,
  "mapUrl": "https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.10214725,-80.88645937",
  "isProjectPermit": true,
  "tradePermitsOnFile": [],
  "tradesNotYetPermitted": ["Electrical", "Mechanical", "Plumbing"]
}
```

Also included: heated and total square feet, unit count, building use code, parent permit, and a link to the county permit lookup. Download as JSON, CSV or Excel, or connect it to Google Sheets, Zapier or Make.

### Tips

- **Daily lead list:** schedule a run each morning with `Days back = 2` and send the dataset to Google Sheets or email.
- Many trade-only permits have no declared value, so setting a minimum value mostly keeps project permits.
- "No electrical permit yet" means none has been issued under that project so far. The builder may already have a sub who hasn't pulled it. Treat it as a lead, not a guarantee.

### Data and privacy

Public permit records published by Mecklenburg County. Owner names, phone numbers and email addresses in the source are **not** collected. This Actor is not affiliated with Mecklenburg County.

# Actor input Schema

## `daysBack` (type: `integer`):

How many days of issued permits to return, ending today. Ignored if you set a start date.

## `startDate` (type: `string`):

Optional. First issue date to include (YYYY-MM-DD).

## `endDate` (type: `string`):

Optional. Last issue date to include (YYYY-MM-DD). Defaults to today.

## `onlyProjectsMissingTrade` (type: `string`):

Return only project permits (new buildings, additions, upfits, pools, accessory buildings...) that don't have this trade's permit on file yet. Good for finding jobs that still need a sub.

## `workTypes` (type: `array`):

Leave empty for all. Trade permits: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Equipment Changeout, Roofing, SolarPV. Project permits: New, Alteration, Addition, Upfit, Shell, StandaloneBuilding, PoolSpa, Accessory, Demolition, Site Works.

## `category` (type: `string`):

Keep only residential (RES-) or commercial (COM-) permits, or both.

## `jurisdictions` (type: `array`):

Leave empty for the whole county. Options: Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Mecklenburg (unincorporated).

## `zipCodes` (type: `array`):

Leave empty for all ZIP codes.

## `minProjectValue` (type: `integer`):

Skip permits with a declared construction cost below this. Many trade permits have no value and are skipped when this is set.

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

Keep permits whose description, project name or building use contains any of these words, e.g. generator, EV charger, panel, restaurant.

## `includeClosed` (type: `boolean`):

Also return permits the county marked cancelled, withdrawn, denied or expired.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many permits. 0 means no limit.

## `county` (type: `string`):

Which county's permit system to read. Mecklenburg County, NC is the only one so far.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "daysBack": 7,
  "onlyProjectsMissingTrade": "none",
  "workTypes": [
    "New",
    "Addition",
    "Upfit"
  ],
  "category": "any",
  "includeClosed": false,
  "maxItems": 0,
  "county": "mecklenburg"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `permits` (type: `string`):

One item per permit: issue date, permit number, work type, value, address, town and which trades are not permitted yet.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "workTypes": [
        "New",
        "Addition",
        "Upfit"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "workTypes": [
        "New",
        "Addition",
        "Upfit",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "workTypes": [
    "New",
    "Addition",
    "Upfit"
  ]
}' |
apify call flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,flecked_coffee/charlotte-permit-leads"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/xtBhptZxtfgqTem3S/builds/FtbkHg7vEZIZcodAC/openapi.json