How to Get Contractor Leads from Building Permits
Every building permit is a public record that a property owner is starting a project. Contractors get leads from permits by watching their city's newly issued permits, filtering to their trade, ranking by project value, and reaching the owner within a few days with a specific, helpful offer.
By Matt K, Founder & CEO, PermitWire · Updated November 11, 2026
Why permits are some of the best leads in the trades
A permit means a project is real: someone has budgeted for it, often hired a designer or a lead contractor, and asked the city for approval. That's stronger intent than a web form, and it's not a shared lead sold to five competitors.
Permits also reveal follow-on work. A kitchen remodel often needs an electrician and a plumber. A new addition needs HVAC. A reroof is a natural moment to talk about solar, gutters or attic insulation.
Step 1: Find your city's permit data
Most large U.S. cities publish issued permits on an open-data portal (usually Socrata, ArcGIS, CKAN or CARTO). Search for your city name plus "building permits open data". Smaller jurisdictions may only offer a search page or a weekly PDF report.
Step 2: Filter to your trade
Permit descriptions are free text, so filtering by permit type alone misses jobs. Search the description for trade words: "reroof" and "shingle" for roofing, "condenser" and "furnace" for HVAC, "panel upgrade" for electrical, "photovoltaic" for solar. Exclude look-alikes, such as solar permits when you want roofing.
Step 3: Rank by value and fit
Not every permit is worth a call. Rank by declared project value, residential versus commercial, and how clearly the description matches your work. PermitWire's 0-100 lead score ranks every permit by value and record quality so the best ones are at the top.
Step 4: Reach the owner fast, and the right way
Speed matters: owners collect quotes in the first week or two. Mail and door hangers are the simplest compliant channels. Calls and texts are regulated (TCPA, Do Not Call, and state laws), so get consent before automated outreach.
Make it specific: "I saw your permit for a water heater replacement on Elm St; we offer free second opinions on installs" beats a generic flyer.
Step 5: Track what converts
Keep a simple log of which permit types and neighborhoods turn into jobs, and double down there. PermitWire's My Leads page lets you search and export everything you've received.
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