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Find your local building permit requirements in seconds

Type your zip code or city name — instantly see fees, timelines, required documents, and exactly what you need to get your permit approved.

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🏛 20,000+ jurisdictions covered

⚡ Instant results — no sign-up

✅ Plain-English permit guides

📋 Fees, timelines & checklists

How It Works

Get your permit info in under 2 minutes

No contractor. No waiting on hold. Just your local requirements, right now.

Enter Your ZIP

Type your ZIP code or city. We instantly identify your exact local building department.

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Choose Project Type

Select your project — kitchen remodel, deck, electrical, or 20+ other types. Each has its own rules.

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Get Your Guide

See exact fees, typical timelines, required documents, and common rejection reasons — for your city.

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File with Confidence

Go to your building department fully prepared. Avoid delays and costly rejections.

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Estimate Your Permit Costs in 2 Minutes

Tell us about your project and we'll show you every permit you'll need, expected fees, approval timelines, and tips to get approved faster.

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Why FreePermitApp?

Everything you need to file your permit — free

No hidden fees, no account required. Just the local permit information you need, right now.

100% Free

No cost, no signup, no credit card. Every permit guide is completely free to access — always.

20,000+ Jurisdictions

Nationwide coverage across every US county and city. Find your local requirements in seconds, anywhere in the country.

Step-by-Step Filing

Detailed instructions for every permit type — fees, timelines, required documents, and tips to get approved faster.

Always Up to Date

Updated regularly via automated data collection. Permit rules change — we keep up so you don't have to.

Community Discussions

What Homeowners Are Saying About Building Permits

Real discussions from r/homeimprovement, r/DIY, and more — curated from thousands of conversations about permits, renovations, and code compliance. Updated every 4 hours.

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Enter home price, down payment & ZIP — get an instant estimate. No credit check. Then see what you actually qualify for.

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What Homeowners Say

Real results from real homeowners

Thousands of homeowners use FreePermitApp every month to navigate the permit process.

★★★★★

I spent 3 hours on the phone with the city trying to understand what I needed for my deck. FreePermitApp showed me everything in 5 minutes — exact fees, required docs, typical timeline. Exactly what my city requires.

Mark K.

San Diego, CA · Deck Addition

★★★★★

My contractor wanted $800 to "handle permits." I looked it up here and discovered I could pull my own permit for $125. The guide explained exactly how. Saved me $675 in about 10 minutes.

Jessica R.

Austin, TX · Kitchen Remodel

★★★★★

Bought a house with an unpermitted addition. Used FreePermitApp to understand exactly what I'd need to retroactively permit it. The guidance was spot-on — inspector approved on the very first visit.

David M.

Denver, CO · Home Addition

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Enter your email and we'll send you the complete permit checklist for your ZIP code: fees, timelines, required documents, and tips to avoid rejection.

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✓ Requirements specific to your city

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FAQ

Common questions

Everything homeowners ask before starting the permit process.

It depends on the project type and your city. Generally, structural work (additions, decks), electrical panel upgrades, HVAC replacements, and plumbing changes require permits. Minor cosmetic work usually does not. Search your zip code above to see the exact rules for your jurisdiction.

Timelines vary dramatically by city — from 1 business day for simple over-the-counter permits to 8+ weeks for complex projects in large cities. Enter your zip code to see the typical approval timeline in your jurisdiction.

Building without a required permit can result in fines, forced removal of unpermitted work, complications when selling your home, insurance claim denials, and personal liability. It's not worth the risk. The permit process exists to ensure your project is safe.

Our permit guides are completely free for homeowners. We connect homeowners with licensed contractors and permit services when they want professional help — that's how we keep the lights on.

In most jurisdictions, homeowners can pull their own permits for work on their primary residence. Commercial projects and some trade work (electrical, plumbing in some states) may require a licensed contractor to apply. Our search results include contractor requirements for your specific city.

Find your local building permit requirements in seconds

Get your permit info in under 2 minutes