About PermitMint
The free permit lookup tool built for homeowners, contractors, and realtors.
What is PermitMint?
PermitMint is a free tool that helps homeowners answer a simple but frustrating question: "Do I need a permit for this project?"
Building codes vary by city. What's exempt in one jurisdiction might require a full permit in the next one over. PermitMint aggregates local building code information so you can get a quick answer without calling the building department or searching through code documents.
Whether you're planning a fence, replacing a water heater, finishing a basement, or adding a room, PermitMint checks your specific city's rules and tells you what you need to know — permit requirements, estimated fees, typical timelines, and where to apply.
Why we built this
Every year, millions of homeowners start renovation projects without knowing whether they need a permit. The information is out there — buried in municipal code PDFs, scattered across building department websites, and written in legal language that's hard to parse.
We built PermitMint to fix that. Instead of spending hours on the phone with your building department or deciphering code sections, you enter your zip code, pick your project, answer a few quick questions, and get a clear answer in under 60 seconds.
Our coverage currently spans 1,500+ cities across 400+ major US metros, with new cities added regularly. We cover 28 common project types from fences and decks to electrical panels and room additions.
How our data works
Our permit rules come from two sources:
Local Rules
Researched directly from city and county building codes, verified against building department websites, and entered by our team. Each rule includes the specific code section it comes from.
Baseline Rules (IRC)
Based on the International Residential Code, which most US cities adopt as their foundation. When we don't have local data, we fall back to the IRC and clearly tell you.
Every result shows its source, verification date, and confidence level. When local rules differ from the IRC baseline, we show you both so you can see exactly where your city's requirements diverge from the standard.
We encourage users to report inaccuracies so we can keep improving. Building codes get updated, fee schedules change, and new exemptions are added — staying current is an ongoing effort.
What you get for free
Every permit lookup on PermitMint is free and requires no sign-up. You get:
A clear permit required / not required answer for your project
The specific code section that applies to your project
Estimated permit fees based on your city's fee schedule
Typical approval timelines so you can plan accordingly
Your building department's contact info for final confirmation
Who's behind PermitMint
PermitMint was built by a small team of developers and homeowners who got tired of the same frustrating experience: searching through confusing municipal websites and making phone calls just to find out if a simple project needed a permit.
We're based in the US, and we personally research and verify the building codes for every city we cover. When we add a new jurisdiction, we read the actual code sections, check the building department website, and confirm fee schedules — no AI-generated guesses.
We're constantly expanding coverage and improving accuracy. If you have feedback, spot an error, or want your city added, drop us a line — we read every message.
Important disclaimer
PermitMint provides general information based on publicly available building codes. This is not legal advice. Building codes change, local amendments vary, and your specific project may have unique requirements that fall outside standard rules.
PermitMint focuses on building permit requirements. Zoning requirements — such as setbacks, lot coverage limits, and height restrictions — are separate from building permits and vary by zoning district. For projects that may involve zoning review (fences, sheds, additions, pools, etc.), we'll flag this in your results so you know to check with your local planning or zoning department.
Always confirm permit requirements with your local building department before starting work. We provide their contact information with every result to make this easy. If you're unsure, calling the building department is always free and usually takes just a few minutes.