Frequently asked questions.

What is PermitPipeline?

PermitPipeline is a daily email of newly filed construction projects in your city, scored by project value, scope, and trade fit. We pull from city building departments — DOB in NYC, BUILD in Chicago, DBI in San Francisco, and Miami-Dade — and surface the projects that are worth chasing, with the owner contact details, before the bid list closes.

Who is this built for?

General contractors and specialty subcontractors looking for new work — primarily estimators, business development managers, preconstruction teams, and the owners of smaller firms. Our typical user is a $1M–$100M GC or a $1M–$50M specialty sub. If you're hunting for projects, this is for you.

Do you sell permit data, or project leads?

Project leads. The difference matters. Permit data is raw and noisy — most contractors don't have time to filter through 200 daily filings to find the 10 that matter. We score every filing, drop the ones that aren't actionable, and deliver a short list tuned to your trade and price range.

Which cities do you cover?

NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami-Dade. We're adding cities monthly based on demand — if you want a city covered, email [email protected] and tell us which one.

Which trades do you support?

On the GC side: anyone bidding new construction, alterations, or major renovation. On the sub side: plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), electrical, sprinkler/fire protection, structural, demolition, roofing, finishes, and envelope. If your trade isn't on this list, ask — most can be added.

How are project leads scored?

Each filing gets an A+, A, or B grade based on project value, scope of work, the trade involved, the filing stage (pre-permit vs issued), and whether the owner is named. A+ leads are top-tier — large projects, clear scope, real owner contact. A and B are progressively less actionable.

How often is the data updated?

Every weekday. We pull fresh data from each city's building department overnight, score every new filing, and email subscribers their digest by the next morning. Weekends are quiet — most cities don't publish on Saturday or Sunday.

What does "estimated value" mean on a permit?

It's what the contractor or owner declared on the permit application — typically lower than the final construction cost. Expect actual costs to run 10–40% higher than declared. We surface declared value because it's the most consistent number across all four cities; treat it as a relative ranking, not an exact bid target.

What information comes with each lead?

Project address, neighborhood, work description, estimated value, filing date, status, the GC permittee (if assigned), the architect, and the owner's name + mailing address. We do not include phone numbers — those aren't on the public filings.

What does "GC permittee — not yet assigned" mean?

It means the permit was filed by an architect or engineer but no general contractor has been named yet. This is exactly the timing window the product is built for — you reach out to the owner or architect before the GC is locked in and the bid list closes.

What's the difference between the GC and Sub product?

The GC product surfaces leads where no general contractor has been named on the filing yet — the slot is still open and you have time to introduce yourself to the owner before the bid list closes. The Sub product surfaces leads scored for your specific trade, even when a GC is already named — you're going after the trade scope under that GC. Same data, different filter logic.

How much does it cost?

$99/month for the standard plan. Multi-city packages and annual prepay options run lower per month. Pricing is on the homepage.

Is there a free trial?

Yes — 14 days, no credit card required. You'll get the full daily digest tuned to your trade and city. If it's not for you, do nothing and the trial ends. If you want to keep it, you'll be prompted to add a card.

How do I cancel?

One click in your account settings, or reply to any email. We won't make you call. If you cancel mid-month, your access continues through the end of the billing period.

Why should I trust this is good data?

Because the data comes directly from city building departments — it's the same source municipal inspectors and developers use. We don't scrape or guess.

PermitPipeline was founded by a 20-year construction veteran (carpenter → estimator → project manager → owner's representative) who got tired of finding out about projects after they were already bid. Built for contractors. By contractors.