Browsing Permits
Central hub for exploring NYC construction permit data. Search, filter, and analyze 950,000+ permit filings across all five boroughs.
Page Overview
The Home page has two main tabs:
All Filed Permits
Browse the complete database of NYC DOB permit filings:
- Explore all construction activity
- Discover new projects
- Market research
- Competitive intelligence
Your Matching Permits
View permits that match your active alerts.
What's the difference? All Filed Permits shows everything. Your Matching Permits shows only what matched your alert criteria.
The Permits Table
The main table displays permit information in a sortable, filterable view.
Columns
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Address | Property location (house number + street name + borough) |
| Job Type | Type of work (Alteration, New Building, Demolition, etc.) |
| Status | Current filing status (e.g., "Permit Entire", "Initial") |
| Cost | Initial estimated project cost |
| Date Filed | When the permit was originally filed |
| Building Type | Property classification (residential, commercial, mixed-use) |
| Stories | Number of stories (existing → proposed) |
| Alert | Which alert matched (only in Matching Permits view) |
Row Actions
Click any row to open the Filing Detail Sheet with complete permit information.
Understanding Permit Counts
At the top of the table, you'll see permit counts:
- Total Count - All permits in the database (950,000+)
- Filtered Count - Permits matching your current filters
- Selected Count - Number of permits you've selected for export
Pagination
Results are paginated for performance:
- 25 per page by default
- Use the page controls at the bottom to navigate
- Page numbers show current position
Performance Tip: For large result sets, use filters to narrow your search before scrolling through pages.
Selecting Permits
Check the boxes to select specific permits for export:
- Click checkboxes next to individual permits
- Or use the header checkbox to select all on current page
- Selection count appears in the header
- Click Export to download selected permits
Quick Actions
Sorting
Click column headers to sort by that field:
- Click once: Ascending order
- Click twice: Descending order
- Most columns are sortable
See Sorting Results for details.
Filtering
Use the sidebar to filter permits by:
- Date range
- Permit type
- Cost range
- Property characteristics
- Filing status
See Filtering & Search for details.
Search Tips
Finding Specific Permits
Use the search box in the filter sidebar to find:
- By Address: Enter street number and name
- Example: "123 Broadway"
- By Job Number: Enter the NYC DOB job filing number
- Example: "M00123456"
- By Company: Search for contractor or owner names
- Example: "ABC Construction"
Combining Filters
Stack multiple filters for precise results:
- Set date range to "Last 30 Days"
- Select permit type "New Building"
- Set minimum cost $1M
- Choose borough "Manhattan"
- Click Apply Filters
Result: New building permits in Manhattan over $1M filed in the last month.
Performance Considerations
Initial Load
The first page loads 25 permits by default. Fast even with 950,000+ records.
Applying Filters
Filters are processed on the backend for speed. Complex filter combinations may take 1-2 seconds.
Exports
Large exports (10K+ permits) may take a few seconds to process. See Exporting Data for details.
Common Use Cases
Market Research
- Set date range to last 6-12 months
- Filter by permit type (e.g., "New Building")
- Set cost range based on your market segment
- Export for analysis
Competitive Intelligence
- Search for competitor company names
- View their project types and locations
- Analyze their market positioning
- Set up alerts for their future activity
Location Analysis
- Filter by specific borough or address
- Sort by date to see recent activity
- Click permits to see details
- Export for mapping or further analysis
Next Steps
- Master Filtering - Learn advanced filter techniques
- View Permit Details - Understand the detail sheet
- Export Data - Download permits for analysis
- Create Alerts - Automate monitoring
Need help? Check the FAQ or contact support.