The only API tracking U.S. residential building permits from 1980 to present. Clean single-family / multifamily split. Searchable to the city level. From $9/month.
Every competitor starts around 2000. PermitBase goes to 1980 — covering four full housing cycles, including the S&L boom, the dot-com era, and the 2008 crash. Context that changes analysis.
Single family, duplex, 3–4 unit, and 5+ unit permits tracked separately with unit counts, not just building counts. The data you need for supply analysis, zoning research, and market modeling.
Shovels.ai starts at $599/month. ATTOM and CoStar are $10,000+/year. PermitBase delivers the specific dataset researchers and developers actually need — without the enterprise price tag.
| Feature | PermitBase | Shovels.ai | ATTOM / CoStar | Census BPS (free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History back to 1980 | 1980–present | ~2000–present | ~2000–present | 1980–present |
| REST API access | Yes | Yes | Yes | No API |
| SF / MF unit split | Full breakdown | Property-level only | Yes | Yes (clunky) |
| City / place level | Yes | Yes | Yes | Requires download |
| Entry price | $9 / month | $599 / month | $10,000+ / year | Free (no API) |
| Bulk CSV export | Professional+ | Limited | Yes (enterprise) | Manual download |
PermitBase is infrastructure for AI agents, not just human analysts. Plug into Claude, GPT, or any LangChain agent in minutes.
Add PermitBase to Claude Desktop or any MCP-compatible agent. Ask permit questions in plain English — no API calls to construct.
{
"mcpServers": {
"permitbase": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["mcp_server.py"],
"env": {
"PERMITBASE_API_KEY": "pb_live_..."
}
}
}
}5 typed tools, one import. Drop into any LangChain or LangGraph agent. Works with GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, or any OpenAI-compatible model.
pip install langchain-permitbase
from langchain_permitbase import PermitBaseToolkit
tools = PermitBaseToolkit(
api_key="pb_live_..."
).get_tools()
# 6 tools ready for any agentThe /ask endpoint accepts plain English. Your agent doesn't need to know the schema — just ask.
GET /v1/permits/ask?q=
What does the supply pipeline
look like in Phoenix relative
to the 2005 bubble peak?
→ { data: [...], summary: "..." }Listed on Smithery.ai · OpenAI GPT Actions · Hugging Face Datasets
No credit card required for the free tier. Annual billing saves 20%. All plans include access to the full 1980–present dataset.
Embed 45 years of permit history into your housing platform. Build supply-side indicators, market cycle dashboards, or undersupply alerts. Clean JSON API — integrate in a day.
Housing economists, urban planners, and PhD students use PermitBase as the data layer for peer-reviewed research. Academic pricing available. Free tier for initial exploration.
Understand supply pipelines in your target markets. See where multifamily has historically concentrated, identify undersupplied markets, and benchmark your submarkets against history.
Add historical permit context to your underwriting models. Assess market cycle position, validate developer pipeline claims, and flag supply-risk markets before committing capital.
Sign up above — free tier requires no credit card. Your key is issued instantly.
Query annual permit trends for any state. Optionally filter to a specific county, city, or year range.
Clean JSON with typed fields. Every response includes rate limit headers so you always know where you stand.
Free tier. No credit card. 500 calls/month to explore 45 years of data.