# Building Permit & Project Intelligence Tracker (`ramsford/building-permit-tracker`) Actor Monitors building permit applications and approvals across major US city open-data portals. Returns structured permit records with contractor, owner, address, type, valuation, and status — ideal for B2B lead generation in construction, real estate, and related verticals. - **URL**: https://apify.com/ramsford/building-permit-tracker.md - **Developed by:** [Don Johnson](https://apify.com/ramsford) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $100.00 / 1,000 permit 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 ## Building Permit & Project Intelligence Tracker Monitor building permit applications and approvals across major US city open-data portals. Returns structured permit records ideal for B2B lead generation in construction, real estate, and related industries. ### What It Does Connects to official municipal open-data APIs (primarily Socrata-based city portals) and returns permit records including: - **Contractor name** — identify active contractors bidding on new work - **Owner/applicant** — track who is building or renovating - **Address** — geographic filtering and territory management - **Permit type** — new construction, addition, renovation, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more - **Estimated valuation** — filter by project size - **Permit status** — applied, approved, inspection, final ### Who Uses This | Customer | Use Case | |---|---| | General contractors | Find bidding opportunities before public announcement | | Subcontractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) | Discover new project leads by trade type | | Building materials suppliers | Anticipate future material demand | | Real estate developers | Track competitive construction activity | | Architecture firms | Monitor market activity and competitor projects | | Insurance companies | Identify new construction for underwriting leads | ### Supported Cities | City | State | Data Source | |---|---|---| | Chicago | IL | City of Chicago Open Data | | Houston | TX | Houston Open Data | | Phoenix | AZ | Phoenix Open Data | | Philadelphia | PA | CARTO / City of Philadelphia | | San Antonio | TX | San Antonio Open Data | | Dallas | TX | Dallas Open Data | | San Jose | CA | San Jose Open Data | | Austin | TX | Austin Open Data | | Seattle | WA | Seattle Open Data | | Denver | CO | Denver Open Data | | Portland | OR | Portland Open Data | ### Input Parameters ```json { "cities": ["chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "philadelphia", "san antonio"], "permitTypes": [], "minValuation": 0, "daysBack": 7 } ```` | Parameter | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `cities` | array | 5 major cities | City names to scan (lowercase) | | `permitTypes` | array | \[] (all) | Filter by type: `new_construction`, `addition`, `renovation`, `alteration`, `demolition`, `electrical`, `plumbing`, `hvac`, `roofing`, `fence`, `pool`, `sign` | | `minValuation` | integer | 0 | Minimum estimated project value in USD | | `daysBack` | integer | 7 | How many days back to scan | ### Output Format Each permit record: ```json { "permitNumber": "B2024-01234", "city": "Chicago, IL", "cityKey": "chicago", "address": "123 W Michigan Ave", "permitType": "new_construction", "permitTypeRaw": "NEW CONSTRUCTION - COMMERCIAL", "workDescription": "New 5-story mixed-use building with retail on ground floor", "contractor": "ABC Construction LLC", "owner": "Midwest Development Corp", "valuation": 2500000, "status": "permit issued", "latitude": 41.8826, "longitude": -87.6226, "scrapedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z", "sourceUrl": "https://data.cityofchicago.org/resource/ydr8-ztqk.json" } ``` The final record in each run is a `_type: "digest"` summary: ```json { "_type": "digest", "generatedAt": "2024-01-15T10:35:00.000Z", "parameters": { "cities": ["chicago", "houston"], "permitTypes": [], "minValuation": 50000, "daysBack": 7 }, "summary": { "citiesScanned": 2, "totalPermits": 847, "byCity": { "Chicago, IL": 412, "Houston, TX": 435 }, "byType": { "new_construction": 89, "renovation": 312, "electrical": 201, "plumbing": 245 } } } ``` ### Example Run: New Construction Leads, $500K+ **Input:** ```json { "cities": ["chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "dallas", "austin"], "permitTypes": ["new_construction", "addition"], "minValuation": 500000, "daysBack": 7 } ``` **Sample output record:** ```json { "permitNumber": "H2024-089341", "city": "Houston, TX", "address": "4400 Post Oak Pkwy", "permitType": "new_construction", "workDescription": "New commercial office building, 12 stories, 180,000 sqft", "contractor": "Turner Construction Company", "owner": "Post Oak Development Partners LLC", "valuation": 45000000, "status": "approved", "scrapedAt": "2024-01-15T10:31:22.000Z" } ``` ### Example Run: HVAC/Mechanical Contractor Leads **Input:** ```json { "cities": ["chicago", "philadelphia", "seattle", "portland", "denver"], "permitTypes": ["hvac", "mechanical", "electrical"], "minValuation": 10000, "daysBack": 14 } ``` ### Pricing This actor uses Pay-Per-Event (PPE) billing: | Event | Price | |---|---| | Per municipality scanned | $1.25 | | Per permit record extracted | $0.10 | | Per city weekly digest | $2.50 | A typical run scanning 5 cities returning 500 permits costs approximately **$6.25 + $50.00 = ~$56.25**. ### Notes - Data is sourced from official city open-data portals. Availability and freshness vary by city. - Some cities update permit data daily; others weekly. The `daysBack` parameter ensures you capture all recent activity regardless of exact update cadence. - Contractor and owner names are normalized (whitespace, common suffixes) but not deduplicated across records. - `valuation` is the owner-reported estimated project cost, which may differ from final construction cost. # Actor input Schema ## `cities` (type: `array`): List of US cities to scan. Supported: chicago, houston, phoenix, philadelphia, san antonio, dallas, san jose, austin, seattle, denver, portland. ## `permitTypes` (type: `array`): Filter by permit type(s). Leave empty to return all types. Options: new\_construction, addition, renovation, alteration, demolition, electrical, plumbing, hvac, roofing, fence, pool, sign. ## `minValuation` (type: `integer`): Only return permits with estimated project value at or above this dollar amount. Set to 0 for all permits. ## `daysBack` (type: `integer`): How many days back to scan from today. Default is 7 (one week). ## Actor input object example ```json { "cities": [ "chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "philadelphia", "san antonio" ], "permitTypes": [], "daysBack": 7 } ``` # 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 = { "cities": [ "chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "philadelphia", "san antonio" ], "permitTypes": [], "minValuation": 0, "daysBack": 7 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("ramsford/building-permit-tracker").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 = { "cities": [ "chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "philadelphia", "san antonio", ], "permitTypes": [], "minValuation": 0, "daysBack": 7, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("ramsford/building-permit-tracker").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 '{ "cities": [ "chicago", "houston", "phoenix", "philadelphia", "san antonio" ], "permitTypes": [], "minValuation": 0, "daysBack": 7 }' | apify call ramsford/building-permit-tracker --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=ramsford/building-permit-tracker", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Building Permit & Project Intelligence Tracker", "description": "Monitors building permit applications and approvals across major US city open-data portals. Returns structured permit records with contractor, owner, address, type, valuation, and status — ideal for B2B lead generation in construction, real estate, and related verticals.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "GXnxe9Vgw0g1DNUhm" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/ramsford~building-permit-tracker/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-ramsford-building-permit-tracker", "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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/ramsford~building-permit-tracker/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-ramsford-building-permit-tracker", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/ramsford~building-permit-tracker/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-ramsford-building-permit-tracker", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "properties": { "cities": { "title": "Cities", "type": "array", "description": "List of US cities to scan. Supported: chicago, houston, phoenix, philadelphia, san antonio, dallas, san jose, austin, seattle, denver, portland.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "permitTypes": { "title": "Permit Types Filter", "type": "array", "description": "Filter by permit type(s). Leave empty to return all types. Options: new_construction, addition, renovation, alteration, demolition, electrical, plumbing, hvac, roofing, fence, pool, sign.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "minValuation": { "title": "Minimum Valuation ($)", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Only return permits with estimated project value at or above this dollar amount. Set to 0 for all permits." }, "daysBack": { "title": "Days Back", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 365, "type": "integer", "description": "How many days back to scan from today. Default is 7 (one week)." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```