Every roofer knows the grind: word of mouth, Angi leads, driving neighborhoods after a storm. But what if you could know about a roofing job the same day the permit is filed — before anyone else knocks on the door?
That's what building permit data gives you.
What are building permits, and why should roofers care?
When a homeowner or contractor files for a roofing permit, it becomes a public record. Cities publish this data — often within hours of filing. The permit includes the property address, the type of work, the estimated cost, and often the property owner's name.
This is a warm lead hiding in plain sight. The homeowner has already committed to the project. They've filed paperwork. They may or may not have a contractor locked in. And most of your competitors aren't watching.
The permit-to-doorknock workflow
Here's how the most aggressive roofing companies use permit data:
- Set up alerts for roofing permits in your service area (re-roofing, roof repair, storm damage).
- Get notified within minutes of a new filing.
- Drive to the address that day or the next morning.
- Knock on the door with context: "I saw you pulled a roofing permit — are you still looking for a contractor, or is this job spoken for?"
You're not cold-calling. You're not competing with 15 other contractors on a lead platform. You're showing up first, with specific knowledge of their project.
Storm damage: the biggest opportunity
After a major storm, permit offices get flooded with roofing claims. The first contractors to reach these homeowners win the jobs. Waiting for the weekly export from the city — or worse, waiting for Angi to sell the lead to 5 other roofers — means you've already lost.
With real-time permit alerts, you can be knocking doors within hours of a storm damage permit being filed.
What data is available?
Depending on the city, roofing permits typically include:
- Property address — where the work is happening
- Permit type — re-roofing, roof repair, structural
- Estimated valuation — how much the job is worth
- Applicant/contractor name — who filed the permit (sometimes the homeowner, sometimes a competing contractor)
- Owner name — the property owner on record
How to get started
The Permit Sheet monitors building permits across 10 major US cities and delivers matching permits to your inbox within minutes. Set up a free alert for roofing permits in your city — no credit card required.
You can filter by permit type, valuation range (focus on the $10K+ jobs), and specific neighborhoods. Starter and Pro plans include applicant and contractor names so you know exactly who's doing what.
Stop waiting for leads to come to you. The permits are already there — you just need to see them first.