Filings vs Permits
The difference between permit filings and issued permits affects when you see data and what it means.
Quick Summary
| Aspect | Permit Filing | Issued Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Filed with DOB (earliest stage) | Approved by DOB (later stage) |
| Status | Initial, Under Review, etc. | Approved, Issued, Expired |
| Data Source | NYC DOB Filings Dataset | NYC DOB Issued Permits Dataset |
| Visibility | See projects immediately | See after approval |
| PermitZap Use | Primary data source | Supplementary data |
PermitZap Default: When you browse permits, you're seeing permit filings - the earliest possible visibility into construction activity.
Permit Filings Explained
What Is a Filing?
Initial submission to NYC Department of Buildings requesting permission to perform construction work.
Filing Lifecycle
- Filed: Applicant submits plans and documentation
- Under Review: DOB reviews submission
- Objections/Amendments: Back-and-forth between applicant and DOB
- Approved: DOB approves the filing
- Permit Issued: Work permit is issued (becomes "issued permit")
Why Filings Matter
Early Intelligence:
- See projects 2-12 months before work begins
- Track pipeline projects
- Identify opportunities early
- Monitor market trends
Example Timeline:
- Month 0: Filing submitted ← You see it in PermitZap
- Month 3: Objections resolved
- Month 6: Approved by DOB
- Month 6: Permit issued ← Traditional permit tracking sees it here
- Month 7: Construction begins
Competitive Advantage: PermitZap shows you filings immediately, giving you months of lead time over competitors who only track issued permits.
Filing Data Fields
Key information in filings:
- Address and building details
- Job type and work description
- Estimated cost
- Applicant and filing representative
- Property owner
- Current status and dates
- Building specifications (stories, units, etc.)
Issued Permits Explained
What Is an Issued Permit?
Actual work authorization after DOB approval. Allows construction to legally begin.
When Permits Are Issued
After the filing is approved:
- DOB issues the permit
- Permit includes work authorization
- Contractor can begin work
- Inspections are scheduled
Issued Permit Data
Additional information available:
- Actual permit issuance date
- Permit expiration date
- Permit tracking number (unique ID)
- Sequence number (for renewals)
- Specific work authorizations
Permit Renewals
Permits expire and must be renewed:
Example:
- Seq 1: Initial permit (issued 2022-02-07, expired 2022-03-13)
- Seq 2: First renewal (issued 2022-03-25, expired 2023-03-13)
- Seq 3: Second renewal (issued 2023-03-17, expired 2024-03-17)
- Seq 4: Third renewal (issued 2024-03-07, expired 2025-03-07)
Each renewal shares the same job filing number but has a unique tracking number.
How PermitZap Uses Both
Primary: Filings
PermitZap primarily uses permit filings:
- ✅ Earliest visibility
- ✅ Comprehensive project information
- ✅ Status tracking throughout review process
- ✅ Better for alerts and monitoring
Supplementary: Issued Permits
Also includes issued permits:
- ✅ Exact issuance dates
- ✅ Permit expiration information
- ✅ Renewal tracking
- ✅ Work authorization details
In the UI
When viewing permit details:
- Filing Information is shown in the main section
- Issued Permits appear in a supplementary section (if available)
- You see both the filing date and issuance date
Common Questions
Why don't all filings have issued permits?
Many reasons:
- Filing is still under review
- Filing was withdrawn
- Filing was denied
- Work hasn't been authorized yet
Normal Situation: Most recent filings (last 30-90 days) won't have issued permits yet because they're still under review.
Can a filing have multiple issued permits?
Yes! For several reasons:
- Renewals: Same work, permit expired and renewed
- Phased Work: Different phases authorized separately
- Different Work Types: Multiple permits for different trades
Which should I track?
Track Filings if you want:
- Early intelligence
- Market research
- Competitive monitoring
- Lead generation
Track Issued Permits if you want:
- Active construction projects
- When work is actually starting
- Permit compliance
- Inspection scheduling
Default: PermitZap tracks filings for earliest and most complete view.
Searching by Type
Search Only Filings
This is the default in PermitZap - you're already doing this!
Include Issued Permit Data
When viewing permit details:
- Click any permit to open detail sheet
- Scroll to Issued Permits section
- See all issued permits for that filing
Filter by Status
Use status filters to find permits at specific stages:
- "Initial" - Recently filed
- "Permit Entire" - Approved and ready for issuance
- "Issued" - Work authorized
- "Expired" - Permit lapsed
See Permit Statuses for complete list.
Data Freshness
Filings
- Updated daily from NYC Open Data
- See new filings within 24 hours of submission
- Status updates reflected daily
Issued Permits
- Updated daily from NYC Open Data
- See new issuances within 24 hours
- Renewals and expirations tracked
Related Concepts
- Permit Types - Understanding job types
- Permit Statuses - Filing status meanings
- Viewing Details - How to access both datasets
PermitZap uses filings as the primary data source for earliest intelligence, with issued permits as supplementary data.