---
title: "Building permits by parcel or point"
method: POST
path: "/api/locus_metro_permits"
tags: ["permits", "parcel", "metro", "read-only", "free", "free"]
---

# Building permits by parcel or point

`POST /api/locus_metro_permits`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.locus.report`
- URL: `https://api.locus.report/api/locus_metro_permits`
- Auth: none required

Perfect for: 'building permits at this address', 'construction near me', 'new construction within 500 m since last week', 'which contractors are working on my street'. Permits for an address, parcel, or point: newest or nearest first with distance, and in Chicago, New York City, Austin, and Seattle the contractor companies named plus cost, trade, and scope filters. For recurring checks send sinceDate=polling.nextSince and excludePermitIds. Exact subjects use the legal permitting authority (unincorporated Wake County via Tyler EnerGov); point-radius metros: cary, minneapolis, columbus, charlotte, chicago, austin, seattle, san francisco, los angeles, new york, mesa, miami, nashville, washington, san antonio, phoenix, denver, fort worth, buffalo, detroit, raleigh, cumming, durham. Records only; no construction, compliance, occupancy, value, or safety verdict.
Use this when you can call Locus free tools (REST tools/call or MCP).
Use locus-metro-permits instead when your client can only call paid x402 routes; it returns the same records. Direct flat-body route for this one free resource; no API key, payment, or catalog wrapper. Return only the cited bounded evidence described here; this route never produces a paid brief or full report.

## Request body

- object
  - `place` string: Street address to resolve parcel-first before selecting the legal permitting authority.
  - `city` string: Supported metro key for point mode (registry-verified: cary, minneapolis, columbus, charlotte, chicago, austin, seattle, san francisco, los angeles, new york, mesa, miami, nashville, washington, san antonio, phoenix, denver, fort worth, buffalo, detroit, raleigh, cumming, durham). Prefer place or parcelIds when checking an exact subject.
  - `latitude` number: Decimal latitude for point-radius mode; provide with longitude.
  - `longitude` number: Decimal longitude for point-radius mode; provide with latitude.
  - `parcelId` string: One exact public parcel identifier. Provide state and county.
  - `parcelIds` string[]: Up to 25 exact public parcel identifiers for one project. Provide state and county.
  - `state` string: Two-letter state code required with parcelId or parcelIds.
  - `county` string: County name required with parcelId or parcelIds.
  - `radiusMeters` integer: Optional search radius in meters for point mode; max 3000.
  - `sinceDate` string: Optional ISO date YYYY-MM-DD for point-mode sources; default is 1 year back. For a recurring check, send the previous response's polling.nextSince.
  - `order` 'newest' | 'nearest': Point mode: newest first (default) or nearest first by distance from the point.
  - `maxRecords` integer: Point mode: permits returned, default 25, max 100.
  - `excludePermitIds` string[]: Permit ids already seen on an earlier check. They are dropped before selection; polling.nothingNew is true when nothing else matched.
  - `minReportedCostUsd` number: Only permits whose reported cost as filed is at least this amount (Chicago, New York City, Austin, Seattle).
  - `trade` 'general' | 'electrical' | 'plumbing' | 'mechanical_hvac' | 'roofing' | 'masonry' | 'elevator' | 'solar' | 'fire_protection' | 'demolition' | 'concrete_foundation' | 'signs' | 'other': Only permits whose scope or named contractors involve this trade (Chicago, New York City, Austin, Seattle).
  - `scope` string[]: Only permits with one of these scope tags, e.g. new_construction, demolition, roof (Chicago, New York City, Austin, Seattle).

## Response `200`

Free cited evidence response.

- object

## Other responses

- `400`: Invalid request body.
- `429`: Rate limited.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api/revisions/ba7786b74adb?raw)