Help & Documentation

How permit-intel works and how to get the most out of your leads.

What is permit-intel?

permit-intel monitors municipal building permits, demolition filings, and health department records in your city — and flags the ones that legally require environmental or remediation work. You get a daily email with new leads, and a dashboard to track which ones you've won, lost, or are pursuing.

Trigger types

Asbestos Abatement

A demolition permit was filed on a building constructed before 1980. Federal law (NESHAP) and most state regulations require an asbestos inspection and, if ACM is found, licensed abatement before demolition begins. These are your highest-value leads. Typical contract range: $8,000 – $45,000.

Lead Paint Abatement

A renovation permit was filed on a residential building built before 1978. EPA RRP rules require lead-safe practices and, for larger disturbances, licensed abatement. Typical contract range: $3,000 – $20,000.

Mold Remediation

A mold citation or water-intrusion permit was filed. These are triggered by health department inspection records flagging moisture violations or by water damage permits. Typical contract range: $2,000 – $15,000.

Post-Construction Cleaning

A Certificate of Occupancy was issued for a newly completed building. Before the space can be occupied, construction dust and debris must be professionally cleaned. Typical contract range: $1,500 – $8,000.

Hood Cleaning

A new food service permit was issued or an NFPA 96 grease violation was recorded. New restaurants need hood cleaning set up before opening; violations create urgent compliance needs. Typical contract range: $500 – $3,000.

Lead score & confidence

Each lead has two numbers:

  • Confidence (0–100%) — how certain the AI classifier is that this permit actually requires the trigger type. A permit with an explicit demolition scope on a 1965 building scores near 100%; an ambiguous renovation permit scores lower.
  • Score (0–100) — an overall lead quality score that combines confidence, building age indicators, and permit value. Higher scores should be contacted first. Leads with no score are older records processed before scoring was introduced.

Using the dashboard

  • Filter by city — click a city tab at the top to see leads from that city only.
  • Status pills — click Contacted, Won, or Lost on any lead card to record your outcome. This updates in real-time via a signed URL — no login required from the email digest too.
  • Lead detail — click any address to see the full permit, AI summary, contact information, recommended action, and external lookup links.
  • Notes — on the lead detail page, save internal notes for your team (e.g. "Left voicemail with owner").
  • Export CSV — downloads the last 30 days of leads with statuses as a spreadsheet.
  • Stats — shows your win rate, total contract value, and per-trigger breakdown.

Account & billing

  • Logging in — permit-intel uses magic links instead of passwords. Go to /auth/login, enter your email, and click the link we send you. Links expire after 24 hours.
  • Territory — go to Territory Settings to choose which cities you receive leads for. Changes take effect the next morning.
  • Trial — your 14-day free trial gives full access. No credit card is required to start. You'll be prompted to upgrade before it expires.
  • Billing — go to Billing to upgrade, change your plan, or cancel. Billing is managed through Stripe — your card details are never stored on permit-intel servers.

FAQ

How fresh are the leads?

Permits are ingested nightly from city portals. Your daily digest arrives by 7 AM local time and includes permits filed or updated in the previous 24 hours.

What if a lead is wrong?

The AI classifier occasionally flags permits that don't require remediation work. Mark these as "Lost" so we can improve accuracy over time. Confidence scores below 70% should be verified before contacting.

Can I get leads for multiple cities?

Yes. Go to Territory Settings and check the cities you want. Chicago, Seattle, and Austin are currently supported.

How do I get support?

Reply to any digest email and we'll get back to you within one business day.