Finding the right building department website shouldn't require a scavenger hunt. That's why we just completed a massive update to BuildSpec's permit directory: every city and county listing now links directly to the actual building department or permit office page — not a Google search.
By the Numbers
We researched and verified permit office URLs for 4,821 cities and counties across all 50 states. That's 96.7% direct coverage. For the remaining 164 smaller jurisdictions (mostly unincorporated areas), we link to the relevant state building authority as a reliable fallback.
Why This Matters
When you're pulling a permit in an unfamiliar jurisdiction, the first step is always finding the right department website. That's where you'll find the application forms and submittal requirements, fee schedules, inspection request procedures, adopted code editions and local amendments, and contact information for plan reviewers.
Previously, many code reference tools (including early versions of BuildSpec) just linked to Google searches. That meant you'd land on a search results page and have to figure out which link was the actual building department — not a contractor's blog post, not an outdated municipal page, not a third-party permit service.
Now every link in BuildSpec's permit directory takes you straight to the source.
How We Did It
This wasn't an automated scrape. We researched each jurisdiction individually, verifying that the URL points to the correct building or development services department (not just the city homepage), the page is current and maintained, and the department handles building permits for that jurisdiction.
For jurisdictions where the county handles permits on behalf of smaller municipalities, we point to the county building department with a note explaining the relationship.
Try It Out
Head to the Permits section in BuildSpec and search for any city or state. You'll see the direct link to each jurisdiction's building department, along with the department name, address, and phone number where available.
If you find a link that's outdated or incorrect, let us know at support@buildspec.codes and we'll update it.