Are Building Permits Public Record? A State-by-State Guide
Yes. Issued building permits are public records in every U.S. state. They're available under each state's public records law, and most large cities publish them online as open data, including the job address, a description of the work and usually the declared value.
By Matt K, Founder & CEO, PermitWire · Updated November 11, 2026
What a permit record usually includes
The property address, permit number and type, a description of the work, issue date, declared project value, and often the contractor of record. Some cities also publish inspection results and status.
What it usually doesn't include
Homeowner phone numbers and email addresses are rarely published. Owner names appear in some cities' data but not others. Cities may redact information for security or privacy.
The law in each PermitWire city
| State | PermitWire city | Public records law |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Austin | Texas Public Information Act (Gov't Code ch. 552) |
| Illinois | Chicago | Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) |
| Washington | Seattle | Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) |
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) |
| California | San Francisco | California Public Records Act (Gov't Code § 7920.000 et seq.) |
| Massachusetts | Boston | Massachusetts Public Records Law (G.L. c. 66, § 10) |
| New York | New York City | New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law art. 6) |
| Tennessee | Nashville | Tennessee Public Records Act (T.C.A. § 10-7-503) |
| Florida | Orlando | Florida Public Records Law (F.S. ch. 119) |
| Louisiana | New Orleans | Louisiana Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1 et seq.) |
Public doesn't mean unregulated outreach
Access to the record is one question; how you contact people is another. Calls and texts fall under the federal TCPA and Do Not Call rules plus state laws, and some cities limit door-to-door solicitation. Mail is generally the simplest channel. This is general information, not legal advice.
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