The starting point
To find building permit history by address, identify the city or county with building jurisdiction, search its permit portal, and ask about archives if the online record is incomplete. Check scope, inspection history and final status rather than stopping at a permit number.
Issued does not mean finished
- 01Application
- 02Permit issued
- 03Inspections
- 04Final status
Your research, step by step
Find the correct building authority
The mailing city and the permitting authority may differ. Ask whether the home is inside city limits or under county jurisdiction.
Keep: The responsible department and its portal.
Search beyond the current street format
Try abbreviated street names and parcel numbers if supported. Ask whether older permits or plans are stored separately from the current system.
Keep: Search terms, archive cutoff and request instructions.
Compare the scope with the home
Does the listed work describe the addition or conversion you see? Keep plumbing, electrical and structural records separate where the office does.
Keep: Permit number and description for each project.
Check inspections and closeout
An issued permit may not show completed inspections. Ask the department to explain open, expired or final statuses, and ask an inspector to assess physical condition.
Keep: Inspection entries and written status clarification.
Read the evidence carefully
| Portal status | What to investigate | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Permit issued | Work was authorized within a stated scope | The work is complete |
| Inspection recorded | A particular inspection has a result | Every element of the home was checked |
| Final status | A local closeout milestone | A warranty on the renovation |
| No online result | No match in this portal | No permit was needed or obtained |
Open permits and unpermitted work before closing
An open or expired permit means work was authorized but never received its final inspection. It can travel with the property, so ask the building department what is needed to close it and who pays, and raise it during your inspection or option period. Unpermitted work has no permit at all; the cost to legalize, reinspect or remove it, and how your lender and insurer respond, belong in your decision.
| Situation | Ask the building department | Ask the seller |
|---|---|---|
| Open permit for visible work | What inspections remain? Can it be finaled before closing? | Will you close it before closing, at your cost? |
| Expired permit | Can it be renewed or must work be re-permitted? | Who did the work, and are there invoices? |
| No permit for an addition or conversion | Would it need a permit today? What would legalizing involve? | When was it done? Is it on the disclosure? |
Miami-Dade, for example, lets anyone search building code enforcement cases, including work without a permit, in its unincorporated areas without a public records request; municipalities hold their own records. Miami-Dade online services.
Questions people ask
How do I check for open permits on a house?
Search the city or county building department’s permit portal by address and look for permits without a final inspection. Ask the department to confirm the status in writing.
Does no permit history mean the work was illegal?
No. A different authority, older archive, address mismatch or different permit rules may explain the gap. Ask the department about the specific work.
Can I check permits before making an offer?
You can begin with available public records and ask the seller for project documents. Availability and turnaround times differ by department.
Will permit records replace an inspection?
No. Records describe administrative steps; an inspection helps evaluate the home’s current physical condition.
Checking a specific home?
Get a pre-offer property check: we match the parcel, pull the recorded ownership, liens, permits and flood zone, flag what is missing and list the questions to ask before you commit.
- Parcel & owner of record matched
- Liens, permits & flood zone in one place
- Gaps turned into questions for your team
Sources & method
Start with the responsible local office. These official resources explain the record types and examples used here; availability varies by jurisdiction. This is editorial research, not a property-specific finding.
Reviewed September 25, 2026 by the PropertyDataCheck editorial team. Corrections: info@propertydatacheck.com. How we research and update guides.