Building permit search: What it is and why it matters

Whether you’re buying a new home, planning a renovation, or investing in real estate, a building permit search should be high on your checklist. Knowing the permit history of a property via a thorough building permit search can save you time, money, and serious headaches down the road. 

In this guide, we’ll explain why building permits matter, how to search for them, and how Kukun’s powerful building permit data helps homeowners and investors make smarter, faster decisions.

What is a building permit?

A building permit is a legal document issued by a local government. It authorizes the construction, renovation, or demolition of a structure. Permits ensure that projects meet local building codes, safety standards, zoning laws, and environmental regulations. Remember, permit requirements vary by city, county, and state. What’s exempt in one location might require full approval in another. That’s why it’s important to check with your local building department before beginning work on a home improvement project or buying a new house. 

What are the types of work that typically require permits?

Not all home projects need a permit, but many do—especially those that affect structural integrity, utilities, or safety systems. Here’s a look at the types of projects that usually require a permit:

• Room additions and conversions that alter the structure of your home: Structural work must meet code to ensure safety during natural disasters such as earthquakes or heavy storms.
• Electrical work when adding or altering circuits: Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires. So, this work must be inspected.
• HVAC installations (replacing or adding major systems): These systems affect air quality, energy efficiency, and safety (especially gas lines).
• Plumbing work that modifies the system or adds new fixtures: Improper plumbing can cause flooding, water damage, or sanitation issues.
• Roofing and siding replacements if they alter the property or could impact neighbors: Local codes often regulate property lines, drainage, and structural stability.
• Fireplace and chimney work: These features must meet strict fire safety and ventilation codes.
• Major interior renovations such as kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, or replacing windows or doors: If your project changes energy usage, egress paths, or safety systems, a permit is likely needed.

Keep in mind that small, cosmetic updates such as painting, flooring replacement, cabinetry, or wallpapering usually don’t need permits—unless they involve wiring, plumbing, or structural changes.

Why is a building permit search important?

Here’s why doing a building or construction permit lookup is essential:

• Confirming legal compliance: If work was done without the proper permits, it could be deemed illegal, and the new owner might have to tear it down or pay penalties.
• Uncovering hidden renovations: Permit records can reveal whether the home had structural work, rewiring, or plumbing overhauls—info that isn’t always visible or disclosed.
• Evaluating property value: Permit history gives insight into how much was invested in the property over time. This is especially useful for real estate investors.
• Planning future projects: If you plan to remodel, knowing what permits have already been pulled can help with planning, budgeting, and getting approvals.

How to search for building permits effectively?

Most local governments have a building department or permitting office that keeps these records. However, this is a time-consuming process that may require an in-person visit. Moreover, some records might not be digitized, especially for older homes or smaller towns. 

For a faster, more comprehensive search—especially across multiple properties, Kukun, with its proprietary building permit data, offers a smarter solution.

How does Kukun simplify building permit search?

Instead of calling multiple city offices or digging through outdated portals, Kukun gives you nationwide access to millions of building permits instantly. It collects and normalizes permit data from over 2,000 municipalities across the U.S.

You get real-time access at the click of a button. Simply search by address and instantly view a property’s renovation and permit history—what kind of work was done, when, how much it cost, and how it affects home value.

This information provides smart investment insights, perfect for property investors with portfolios in multiple states or cities.

The best part is that you can combine this building permit search by address with other crucial real estate data to get a full picture of a property’s condition. These include:

• AVM and forecast
• Property Condition Score (PICO) and average effective age of property
• Renovation costs by address
• Rebuild/replacement costs by address and by price per square foot
• Property records, including assessor records

Best reasons to choose Kukun for building permit searches

Kukun’s Building Permit Data and Analytics System isn’t just about looking up permits—it’s a full-featured intelligence platform. Here’s what sets it apart:

• Massive coverage: Kukun collects building permits from thousands of U.S. cities and counties through automated, semi-automated, and manual methods.
• Clean, standardized data: It turns messy, inconsistent permit records into structured, searchable formats, making complex analysis simple.
• National permit taxonomy: Kukun applies a universal classification system, allowing consistent comparisons across cities and states.
• Project impact insights: Large-scale or high-impact projects (such as hospitals or restaurants) are highlighted for their neighborhood significance.
• Residential permit deep-dives: Residential work is categorized into core activities for better visibility into home improvement trends.
• Geo-driven relevance: Permits are mapped to show how developments affect local communities—ideal for urban planning or market analysis.
• Commercial activity categorization: Permits are tagged by type (e.g., new builds, conversions, demolitions) for business and city planning relevance.
• Business type identification: Retail, education, industrial, and hospitality permits are clearly categorized, from restaurants to warehouses.
• Brand-level tracking: It enables you to get insights into specific companies—track expansions, closures, and trends for banks, fast-food chains, and more.
• Integrated reports: Combine all commercial, business-type, and geographical data for custom reports via API or flat file.

Who should use Kukun’s Building Data Search (by address)?

• Homebuyers: To avoid surprises before closing on a home.
• Homeowners: So as to stay compliant and know your home’s history.
• Real estate agents: Provide clients with added value and peace of mind.
• Investors and house flippers: Assess risk and evaluate ROI before buying.

Key takeaway: Don’t skip the permit check

Searching for building permits isn’t just due diligence; it’s a smart way to protect your investment. Whether you’re buying, selling, or renovating, knowing a property’s permit history can be the difference between smooth sailing and a renovation or investment disaster.

So start your building permit search by address with Kukun and make the process easier and more informative than ever.

Written by Ramona Sinha. May 25, 2025

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.