Data Methodology
How PermitMagic sources, verifies, and maintains permit intelligence data.
What Is Permit Intelligence
PermitMagic organizes permit data into structured bundles that give builders a complete picture of what a permit requires. Each bundle includes:
Required Documents
Plans, applications, and supporting materials needed for submission.
Fee Schedules
Permit fees, plan review fees, and inspection charges with authority sources.
Workflow Steps
The step-by-step submission and review process for each jurisdiction.
Authority References
Direct links to government portals and official documentation.
Data Sources
All permit data in PermitMagic originates from official government sources. Our primary data sources include city government permit portals, published permit application guides and handouts, planning and building department documentation, fee schedules posted by permitting authorities, and municipal code sections related to building permits. We do not use user-generated or crowd-sourced data. Every data point is traceable to a specific government source.
Verification Process
Each permit intelligence bundle is curated and verified against official government sources. The verification process includes cross-referencing data across multiple government documents, confirming fee amounts against published fee schedules, validating submission portals and contact information, and recording verification timestamps for every data point. Bundles that cannot be adequately verified are flagged and excluded from public-facing guides until confidence thresholds are met.
Confidence Scores
Every permit intelligence bundle includes a confidence score that reflects the completeness and recency of its underlying data. Confidence is determined by the number and quality of authority sources, the completeness of the permit data (requirements, fees, process steps), and how recently the data was verified. Pages that fall below our confidence threshold are not indexed by search engines, ensuring that users only see guides we are confident in.
Continuous Updates
Permit regulations change as cities update their codes and fee schedules. PermitMagic continuously updates bundles as regulations change and new sources are discovered. When a jurisdiction updates its requirements, we re-verify the affected bundles and update our guides accordingly. Verification timestamps on each guide let you know when data was last confirmed.
Reporting Errors
If you find incorrect or outdated permit information on PermitMagic, please let us know. User reports are one of the most valuable signals for keeping our data accurate. You can report errors through our contact page.