# HdL Municipal Business License Lookup (`fried_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator`) Actor Search municipal business-license records for HdL Companies cities (Pomona, Hayward, El Cajon & more) by name or address -- account #, issue/expiry dates, address. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fried\_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator.md - **Developed by:** [ByteMe](https://apify.com/fried_calamaries) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation - **Stats:** 3 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $0.004 / business-license records 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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## HdL Municipal Business License Lookup ### Pain points - Every city's HdL business-license portal is its own manual, one-search-at-a-time web form. - New local business registrations often show up here before a state filing or incorporation record exists. - There's no bulk or API access -- checking many businesses (or many cities) means repeating the same search by hand. ### What we solve - Search a city's HdL business-license portal by business name or address in one call. - Returns account #, issue date, expiration date, and address for every match. - Same actor works across every HdL city we've confirmed reachable -- just change the city input. - Pay per result; searches with no matches are free. ### Summary Search any HdL Companies municipal business-license portal -- Pomona, Hayward, El Cajon, and dozens more California cities run the same HdL system -- by business name or address and get back the account number, issue date, expiration date, and address for every match. One actor, parameterized by city, instead of clicking through a different city portal one search at a time. ### Who it's for - Local B2B marketing agencies prospecting newly-licensed businesses - Hyper-local service providers (janitorial, IT, accounting) sourcing new-business leads - Commercial real-estate brokers tracking new tenants/occupants in a city - RevOps and BD teams enriching a lead list with a city's official license record ### How to use Set the input, run the actor, and collect results from the run's dataset (export to JSON/CSV/Excel, or pull via the Apify API). Example input: ```json { "citySubdomain": "pomona", "query": "Nail", "searchType": "Business Name", "maxResults": 100 } ```` See **Inputs** below for every available field. ### What you get One row per record: | Field | Description | |---|---| | `jurisdiction` | The HdL city instance searched (e.g. 'Pomona') | | `account_number` | The city's business-license account number | | `business_name` | Licensed business name | | `issue_date` | License start/issue date | | `expiration_date` | License expiration date | | `address` | Street address, when the city publishes it | | `city` | Address city -- may differ from the jurisdiction searched | | `state` | Address state | | `zip_code` | Address ZIP code | | `matched_by` | Which search index matched: 'Business Name' or 'Business Address' | | `source_url` | The HdL city search endpoint this record came from | Sample: ```json { "jurisdiction": "Pomona", "account_number": "00204231", "business_name": "BEE POLISHED NAILS SPA", "issue_date": "4/24/2019", "expiration_date": "3/31/2027", "address": "663 E FOOTHILL BLVD", "city": "POMONA", "state": "CA", "zip_code": "91767", "matched_by": "Business Name", "source_url": "https://pomona.hdlgov.com/Search/SearchBy" } ``` ### Inputs | Field | Required | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `citySubdomain` | no | string | `"pomona"` | The HdL Companies city subdomain to search, e.g. 'pomona' for pomona.hdlgov.com. Confirmed reachable: pomona, hayward, elcajon. Many other hdlgov.com cities share the same search schema; some sit behind a Cloudflare challenge and can't be reached with a plain HTTP request -- the run fails with a clear message if so. | | `query` | yes | string | `"Nail"` | A business name (or address) fragment to search for, e.g. 'Nail' or '123 Foothill'. Matches are partial/substring, not exact. | | `searchType` | no | string | `"Business Name"` | Search the business name index or the business address index. | | `maxResults` | no | integer | `200` | Cap on the number of license records returned in a single run. A broad query (e.g. a single letter) can match thousands of licenses -- narrow the query rather than raising this for routine lookups. | | `proxyConfiguration` | no | object | `{"useApifyProxy": false}` | Optional. HdL city portals are usually reachable directly; enable a proxy only if a run is blocked from a datacenter IP. Does not help against a Cloudflare-challenged city -- pick a different citySubdomain instead. | ### Pricing (Pay Per Event) You pay per result (`dataset-item`) — **no charge for empty runs**. Example: **100 business-license records** at *$0.004/result* ≈ **$0.40**. Illustrative -- the final per-result price is set at publish time. Apify platform usage (compute) is billed separately per your plan. ### Use cases - Local lead generation -- a marketing agency pulls newly-licensed businesses in a city before they show up anywhere else. - New-tenant tracking -- a commercial broker checks which businesses just took out a license at a given address. - Vetting -- confirm a business actually holds an active municipal license before doing business with it. - Record enrichment -- turn a business name or address into a structured license record for a CRM. ### Why this actor - Straight from each city's official HdL Companies business-license system, not a stale copy. - One actor covers every HdL city we've confirmed reachable -- just change the city input. - Pay per result; searches with no matches are free. ### Limitations & updates Covers HdL Companies municipal business-license portals only, one city per run. A city's address field sometimes reads '--ON FILE--' when the licensee's address isn't public (returned as null rather than parsed). Some hdlgov.com cities front their portal with a Cloudflare challenge that a plain HTTP request can't pass -- the run fails with a clear message naming a confirmed-reachable alternative rather than returning wrong data. A broad query (e.g. a single letter) can match thousands of records; narrow the query for a routine lookup. ### FAQ **Where does the data come from?** Each city's own public HdL Companies business-license search portal (e.g. pomona.hdlgov.com) -- the same system dozens of California municipalities use. **Which cities are supported?** Any hdlgov.com city can be searched via the citySubdomain input. Pomona, Hayward, and El Cajon are confirmed reachable directly; some other HdL cities sit behind a Cloudflare challenge and the run fails with a clear message if you pick one of those. **What can I search by?** A business name or a street address fragment (partial/substring match, e.g. 'Nail' or '123 Foothill'). **How am I charged?** Pay-per-result -- per business-license record returned. No charge for searches with no matches. **Is this personal data?** No -- it's public commercial/DBA business-license data (business name, account #, dates, business address), not consumer PII. **How current is it?** It reflects the live city portal at lookup time. ### Which actor to choose Part of the license/registry lookup suite -- pick the one that fits your goal: - **California Contractor License Lookup & Verify (CSLB)** — You need a California contractor's state license verified, not a city business-license record. - **Florida Contractor License Lookup & Verify (DBPR)** — You're verifying a Florida contractor or tradesperson's state license (DBPR). # Actor input Schema ## `citySubdomain` (type: `string`): The HdL Companies city subdomain to search, e.g. 'pomona' for pomona.hdlgov.com. Confirmed reachable: pomona, hayward, elcajon. Many other hdlgov.com cities share the same search schema; some sit behind a Cloudflare challenge and can't be reached with a plain HTTP request -- the run fails with a clear message if so. ## `query` (type: `string`): A business name (or address) fragment to search for, e.g. 'Nail' or '123 Foothill'. Matches are partial/substring, not exact. ## `searchType` (type: `string`): Search the business name index or the business address index. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Cap on the number of license records returned in a single run. A broad query (e.g. a single letter) can match thousands of licenses -- narrow the query rather than raising this for routine lookups. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. HdL city portals are usually reachable directly; enable a proxy only if a run is blocked from a datacenter IP. Does not help against a Cloudflare-challenged city -- pick a different citySubdomain instead. ## Actor input object example ```json { "citySubdomain": "pomona", "query": "Nail", "searchType": "Business Name", "maxResults": 200, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `matches` (type: `string`): The matched business licenses -- account #, name, issue/expiration dates, and address. # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "citySubdomain": "pomona", "query": "Nail" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fried_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "citySubdomain": "pomona", "query": "Nail", } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fried_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "citySubdomain": "pomona", "query": "Nail" }' | apify call fried_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fried_calamaries/hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "HdL Municipal Business License Lookup", "description": "Search municipal business-license records for HdL Companies cities (Pomona, Hayward, El Cajon & more) by name or address -- account #, issue/expiry dates, address.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "koKayRvgSwqaFtKUV" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fried_calamaries~hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fried_calamaries-hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/fried_calamaries~hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fried_calamaries-hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/fried_calamaries~hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fried_calamaries-hdl-municipal-business-license-aggregator", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "query" ], "properties": { "citySubdomain": { "title": "City (hdlgov.com subdomain)", "type": "string", "description": "The HdL Companies city subdomain to search, e.g. 'pomona' for pomona.hdlgov.com. Confirmed reachable: pomona, hayward, elcajon. Many other hdlgov.com cities share the same search schema; some sit behind a Cloudflare challenge and can't be reached with a plain HTTP request -- the run fails with a clear message if so." }, "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "A business name (or address) fragment to search for, e.g. 'Nail' or '123 Foothill'. Matches are partial/substring, not exact." }, "searchType": { "title": "Search by", "enum": [ "Business Name", "Business Address" ], "type": "string", "description": "Search the business name index or the business address index.", "default": "Business Name" }, "maxResults": { "title": "Maximum results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 5000, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on the number of license records returned in a single run. A broad query (e.g. a single letter) can match thousands of licenses -- narrow the query rather than raising this for routine lookups.", "default": 200 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. HdL city portals are usually reachable directly; enable a proxy only if a run is blocked from a datacenter IP. Does not help against a Cloudflare-challenged city -- pick a different citySubdomain instead.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```