How does Shovels Online work?
Shovels Online is a powerful tool to help you find building permits and building contractors anywhere in the USA.
Dashboard Search Functionality
How does the search function work?
The Shovels dashboard uses an "AND" search logic. This means when you select multiple search criteria, the results will show permits that match ALL selected criteria, not just one or the other.
Can I search by specific keywords?
Yes, you can search by description keywords. This is particularly useful when looking for specific brand names (like Tesla), building materials, or equipment types (such as heat pumps).
<aside> Note: The search system currently does not account for typos or variations in terminology. Contractors may use different abbreviations (like "SFR" instead of "single family residence"), so keep this in mind when searching.
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Permit Statuses Explained
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What do the different permit statuses mean?
Permits in the Shovels dashboard can have the following statuses:
- Applied For: The permit is in review
- Active: The permit has been approved
- Finaled: The permit is fully completed
- Inactive: No date changes have been observed for this permit in a while
For more detailed information on permit statuses, check out the blog post on the Shovels website.
Contractor Search
How can I find contractors?
You can search for contractors based on the types of permits they've pulled. The contractor search provides:
- Business names
- Total lifetime number of permits pulled
- Detailed contractor information (for full subscribers)
- Contact information
- History of permits they've pulled
<aside> Important: Not all permits include contractor information. Some jurisdictions don't require contractors to provide their contact details.
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Permit Search
What information is available about permits?
When viewing permits, you'll see:
- Permit status
- Address (when available)
- Detailed information about the work being done
Note that some permits may not have addresses. This is common with new construction permits where an address hasn't been assigned yet.
Data Export Options
Can I export the data?
Paying customers can download search results as CSV files. This feature is not available on trial accounts.
Additional Resources
Where can I learn more about the data available?
Check out the Data Dictionary on the Shovels website. It provides information on:
- Data schema
- Permit categories
- Contractor information
- Additional appended data points
Contact Information
For support questions: support@shovels.ai
For sales inquiries about API access, upgrading Shovels Online, or enterprise products: sales@shovels.ai