Does Your Project Need a Permit?
Skip the guesswork. Avoid fines and stop-work orders. Get a code-backed answer in 60 seconds.
Free for homeowners, contractors, and realtors. No sign-up required. Learn how it works.
How It Works
Get a clear answer about your building permit requirements in under 60 seconds.
Enter your ZIP code
We identify your city and match it to local building code data.
Select your project type
Choose from 28 common home improvement projects and answer a few quick questions.
Get your answer
See if a permit is required, estimated fees, timeline, and building department contact info — with code citations.
See It in Action
Here's a real example of what you'll get — instantly, for free.
No permit required. Fences up to 6 feet in the rear yard are exempt from permit requirements in Kansas City.
Source: Kansas City Municipal Code §10-125
This is a real result from our database. See full fence permit details for Kansas City →
Already Own a Home? Look Up Its Permit History
Search any address to see building permits on file — what work was done, who did it, and how much it cost. Free, instant, sourced from official city records.
See if past renovations were properly permitted before you close.
See what permits neighbors pulled for similar work — realistic cost and timeline data.
See their permit history — how many they've pulled and for what work.
Available in 30+ cities: Chicago, NYC, Denver, Portland, DC, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Jose, and more.
Permit #2015-COMMCON-0000914 · Alteration/Tenant Finish · Cheesman Park
What Homeowners Are Saying
"Saved me a trip to city hall. I was about to build a 6-foot fence without a permit — turns out my city requires one for anything over 4 feet."
"I've been putting off finishing my basement because I didn't know where to start with permits. PermitMint gave me fees, timeline, and the building department number in 30 seconds."
"Found out my shed didn't need a permit after all. Was about to pay a contractor $200 just to find that out. Great free tool."
"I use PermitMint before every bid now. Clients love that I can tell them exactly what permits they'll need and what it'll cost — saves me an hour per estimate."
How Our Data Works
Researched from local codes
Every rule is sourced from official city and county building codes with specific code section citations.
Verified against departments
Cross-checked against building department websites. Each result shows its verification date.
Transparent confidence levels
Every result shows its source, when it was last verified, and whether it's from local data or the IRC baseline.
Browse Permit Requirements by City
Select a city to view local building permit rules, fees, and department contacts.
View all states and cities → | Compare cities side by side →
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, completely free. You can check whether your project needs a permit, see estimated fees and timelines, and get building department contact info at no cost. No sign-up required.
Our data is researched from official building codes and verified against local building department information. We show the verification date and confidence level for every result. However, requirements can change — always confirm with your local building department before starting work.
If we don't have specific local rules for your city, we'll show results based on the International Residential Code (IRC) that most US cities follow. We'll clearly indicate when a result is based on the baseline code rather than your specific local rules.
It depends on the project. Many small projects like painting, replacing faucets, or building a small shed are exempt. But larger projects like room additions, electrical panel upgrades, or in-ground pools almost always require permits. Doing unpermitted work can lead to fines, having to tear out work, and problems when selling your home.
It's worth verifying independently. Some contractors skip permits to save time or reduce costs, but you — the homeowner — are ultimately responsible for unpermitted work. Check with your local building department, and use PermitMint as a quick reference to see what your city's building code actually requires.