Quick Start Guide

Get started with PermitZap in under 5 minutes.

1. Create Your Account

Visit permitzap.co (opens in a new tab) and sign up:

1. Click Sign Up in the top right
2. Choose your sign-up method:
   • Email address
   • Google account
   • GitHub account
3. Complete the verification process

2. Complete Onboarding

After signing up, you'll be guided through a quick onboarding flow:

1. Tell us about yourself - Help us understand your role
2. Explore key features - Take a quick tour
3. Upgrade for alerts (optional) - Enable AI-powered monitoring

You can skip onboarding and explore on your own - it's always accessible from your profile menu.

3. Explore Key Features

Search All Permits

Navigate to the Home page to browse all NYC permit filings:

• View 950,000+ permit filings
• Use filters to narrow results (date, type, cost, location)
• Click any permit to see full details
• Export filtered results to CSV

Create an Alert (Premium Feature)

Go to Alerts to create your first AI-powered watch:

1. Upgrade to Premium if needed
2. Click Create New Alert
3. Describe what you want to monitor in natural language
   • Example: "Major alterations in Manhattan over $1M"
   • Be specific! For new buildings, specify "groundbreaking filings" not just "new building"
4. Configure notification preferences
5. Click Create Alert

The system automatically matches new permits and notifies you.

Lookup an Address

Go to Addresses to search across 150,000+ tracked addresses:

1. Enter a street address (e.g., "123 Broadway")
2. Select from autocomplete results
3. View complete filing history at that location

Search Companies

Go to Companies to research across 55,000+ tracked companies:

1. Search by company name or license number
2. View leaderboards (by job count or pass rate)
3. Click any company to see their complete project history

4. Understanding Your Dashboard

Navigation

The main navigation is on the left side:

• Home - Browse all permits
• Alerts - Manage your alerts and view matches
• Addresses - Address lookup
• Companies - Company search and leaderboards
• Jobs - Direct job number lookup
• Workspace - Organization features (Premium)

Tabs

Many pages have tabs to switch between views:

• Home Page: "All Filed Permits" vs "Your Matching Permits"
• Alerts Page: "Active Alerts" vs "Matching Permits Timeline"

Filter Sidebar

The filter sidebar appears on the Home page:

• Adjust filters as needed
• Click Apply Filters to search
• Use Clear Filters to reset

5. Tips for Success

Writing Effective Alerts

Be specific in your alert queries:

✅ Good Examples:

• "New buildings in Brooklyn over $5M with 10+ stories"
• "Alterations at commercial properties in Manhattan"
• "Projects by ABC Construction Company"

❌ Vague Examples:

• "Interesting permits"
• "Big projects"
• "Construction stuff"

Using Filters Effectively

Combine multiple filters for precise results:

1. Date Range - Focus on recent activity
2. Permit Type - Narrow to specific work types
3. Cost Range - Filter by project size
4. Location - Target specific boroughs or addresses

Exporting Data

Use the Export button to download filtered permit data:

1. Select permits (or leave unselected for all filtered results)
2. Click Export
3. Review the preview
4. Click Download CSV

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these guides:

• Create Your First Alert - Detailed alert guide
• Advanced Filtering - Master the filter sidebar
• Understanding Permits - Learn about NYC permit data
• Company Research - Advanced company analysis

Need help? Check the FAQ or contact support.