- Building permits in the US are generally issued and managed at the local level by cities, towns, or counties, with states providing oversight on building codes rather than direct permitting for most residential or commercial projects.
- Research suggests there isn't a single, comprehensive national database with full contact details for every jurisdiction due to the decentralized nature of permitting and the sheer volume—over 19,000 incorporated places exist, plus counties and states.
- It seems likely that for state-level inquiries, contacts focus on code enforcement rather than individual permits, while local contacts can be found via official government websites or directories.
- Evidence leans toward using online tools like municipal websites or state portals for specific locations, as building departments vary widely by jurisdiction.

### How to Find Building Permit Contacts
To obtain contact information for building permits in a specific city, town, or county, follow these steps:
1. Visit the official website of the local government (often ending in .gov, such as www.[cityname].[stateabbrev].gov).
2. Search for terms like "building department," "permitting services," "development services," or "planning and zoning."
3. Look for sections on permits, inspections, or code enforcement, which typically include phone numbers, emails, and addresses.
4. If the locality defers to the county, check the county's website instead—many smaller towns do this.
5. For broader searches, use resources like USA.gov's local government selector (https://www.usa.gov/local-governments) to find state-level portals that link to municipalities.
Alternatively, search engines with queries like "building permits [city name] [state]" often lead directly to the relevant department page.

If you're unsure of the jurisdiction, tools like the open-sourced list from Shovels.ai can help identify whether a city issues its own permits or relies on the county (downloadable at https://www.shovels.ai/images/jurisdiction_mappings.csv).

### State-Level Building Code Resources
States establish uniform building codes, and their offices can provide guidance on standards, though actual permitting is local. Below is a table of key state resources with websites for contacting building code authorities. Note that these do not handle individual permits but can direct you to local enforcers.

| State | Resource/Department | Website |
|-------|---------------------|---------|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Construction Management | http://dcm.alabama.gov/bldg_code.aspx |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety | http://dps.alaska.gov/fire/regulations.aspx |
| Arizona | Arizona Office of Manufactured Housing | https://housing.az.gov/manufactured-housing |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Building Authority | http://dba.arkansas.gov/ |
| California | California Building Standards Commission | http://www.bsc.ca.gov/ |
| Colorado | Colorado State Buildings Programs | https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/osa/bldgcodes |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Office of the State Building Inspector | https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Office-of-State-Building-Inspector/Office-of-State-Building-Inspector |
| Delaware | Delaware Building Permits and Construction Codes | http://delcode.delaware.gov/title9/c044/index.shtml |
| Florida | Florida Building Commission | http://www.floridabuilding.org/bc/bc_default.aspx |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Community Affairs | https://www.dca.ga.gov/local-government-assistance/construction-codes-industrialized-buildings/construction-codes |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services | http://ags.hawaii.gov/bcc/building-code-rules/ |
| Idaho | Idaho Division of Building Safety | http://dbs.idaho.gov/Codes/faq.html |
| Illinois | Illinois Capital Development Board | https://www2.illinois.gov/cdb/business/codes/pages/buildingcodesregulations.aspx |
| Indiana | Indiana Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission | https://www.in.gov/dhs/building-plan-review/ |
| Iowa | Iowa State Fire Marshal | https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal/building-code |
| Kansas | Kansas Corporation Commission (Energy Efficiency) | http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/codes/ |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction | https://dhbc.ky.gov/ |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal | http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/pr_buildingcodereview.htm |
| Maine | Maine Bureau of Building Codes & Standards | https://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/building-codes |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Labor | https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/build/buildcodes.shtml |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts State Building Code | http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dpl-lp/opsi/consumer-prot-and-bus-lic/license-type/csl/building-codebbrs.html |
| Michigan | Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes | http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-10575---,00.html |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry | https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/overview-minnesota-state-building-code |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Bureau of Building | http://www.dfa.ms.gov/dfa-offices/bureau-of-building-grounds-and-real-property-management/ |
| Missouri | Missouri Code of State Regulations | http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/10csr/10csr.asp |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Energy Codes | https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=71-6403 |
| Nevada | Nevada Administrative Code | http://leg.state.nv.us/NAC/CHAPTERS.HTMl |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire State Building Code Review Board | http://www.nh.gov/safety/boardsandcommissions/bldgcode/ |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards | http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/index.html |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department | http://www.rld.state.nm.us/ |
| New York | New York Division of Code Enforcement and Administration | https://dos.ny.gov/building-standards-and-codes |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Building Code Council | https://www.ncosfm.gov/codes/codes-current-and-past |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Division of Community Services | https://www.commerce.nd.gov/community-services/building-codes |
| Ohio | Ohio Board of Building Standards | http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4101%3A1 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission | http://www.ok.gov/oubcc/ |
| Oregon | Oregon Building Codes Division | http://www.bcd.oregon.gov/ |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code | http://www.dli.pa.gov/ucc/pages/default.aspx |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Building Code Commission | http://www.ribcc.ri.gov/ |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Building Codes Council | http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/bcc/ |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Manufactured Homes | https://dor.sd.gov/individuals/motor-vehicle/manufactured-homes-mobile-homes/ |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Fire Prevention Division | https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/codes-enforcement.html |
| Texas | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ihb/ihb.htm |
| Utah | Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing | https://up.codes/codes/utah |
| Vermont | Vermont Building and Construction Licenses | http://www.vermont.gov/portal/business/index.php?id=93 |
| Virginia | Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code | https://dhcd.virginia.gov/virginia-uniform-statewide-building-code-usbc |
| Washington | Washington State Building Code Council | https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/sbcc/default.aspx |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Building Code | http://www.fayettecounty.wv.gov/building/Pages/default.aspx |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Safety and Buildings Division | https://dsps.wi.gov/pages/Programs/CommercialBuildings/Default.aspx |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention & Electrical Safety | http://wyofire.state.wy.us/ |

These resources can assist with code-related questions and sometimes refer to local contacts.

### Examples for Major Cities
For illustration, here are contacts for building permit departments in some of the largest US cities, sourced from official sites:
- **New York City, NY**: Department of Buildings, (212) 566-5000, https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/index.page
- **Los Angeles, CA**: Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, (213) 473-3231 or 311, https://www.ladbs.org/
- **Chicago, IL**: Department of Buildings, (312) 744-3449, https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs.html (Note: Contact via 311 for general inquiries)
- **Houston, TX**: Houston Permitting Center, (832) 394-9000, https://www.houstonpermittingcenter.org/
- **Phoenix, AZ**: Planning and Development Department, (602) 262-7811, https://www.phoenix.gov/pdd

For more cities, use the search method described above.

---
Building permits represent a critical component of construction and development in the United States, ensuring compliance with safety standards, zoning laws, and environmental regulations. While the query seeks full contact information for all cities, states, and towns, it's essential to recognize the decentralized structure of the US permitting system. Permits are predominantly managed at the local level—by municipalities (cities and towns) or counties—rather than centrally by states or the federal government. This results in a highly fragmented landscape, with over 10,000 building permit jurisdictions across the country, as identified in datasets like the one open-sourced by Shovels.ai. These jurisdictions include independent cities that issue their own permits and smaller towns that defer to county authorities. The US Census Bureau estimates there are more than 19,000 incorporated places (cities and towns), plus unincorporated areas handled by counties, making a complete list of contacts impractical and constantly evolving due to administrative changes.

At the federal level, agencies like the US Department of Housing

and Urban Development (HUD) and the Census Bureau track building permit data for statistical purposes through surveys such as the Building Permits Survey (BPS), which provides national, state, and local statistics on new privately-owned residential construction. However, these resources focus on aggregate data rather than individual contact details. For instance, HUD's State of the Cities Data Systems (SOCDS) aggregates permit data for metropolitan areas, central cities, and suburbs, but it does not include direct contacts. Similarly, Data.gov hosts datasets on permits, often aggregated to county levels, but again without comprehensive contact lists.

States play a role in establishing uniform building codes, which local jurisdictions must adopt or adapt. The International Building Code (IBC) serves as a model for many states, with modifications for local conditions like seismic activity or climate. Contacts at the state level are typically for code interpretation, appeals, or specialized permits (e.g., for state-owned properties), not routine building permits. The table above lists resources for each state's building code authority, drawn from reliable compilations. For example, in California, the Building Standards Commission oversees codes, while local cities like Los Angeles handle permits through their Department of Building and Safety. In contrast, some states like New Hampshire have a State Building Permit Program for specific structures, but this is the exception.

To navigate local contacts, the most effective approach is through official government portals. USA.gov offers a starting point by allowing users to select a state and access links to local governments, though it doesn't directly list building departments. From there, state websites often provide directories of municipalities. For instance, in Florida, county-specific building departments are compiled in dedicated lists. Online permitting software platforms like MyGovernmentOnline are used by some localities for applications, but contacts remain site-specific.

For major cities, contacts are readily available on their websites. Expanding on the examples provided:
- **New York City, NY**: The Department of Buildings handles permits, with a main number at (212) 566-5000 and an online help form at nyc.gov/dobhelp.
- **Los Angeles, CA**: Contact via 311 or (213) 473-3231; county-level for unincorporated areas at (626) 458-3982.
- **Chicago, IL**: Use 311 or the Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449.
- **Houston, TX**: Permitting Center at (832) 394-9000.
- **Phoenix, AZ**: Planning and Development at (602) 262-6551 or pdd.cws.permits@phoenix.gov.
- **Philadelphia, PA**: Department of Licenses and Inspections, (215) 686-8686.
- **San Antonio, TX**: Development Services, (210) 207-1111.
- **San Diego, CA**: Development Services, (619) 446-5000.
- **Dallas, TX**: Building Inspection, (214) 948-4480.
- **San Jose, CA**: Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, (408) 535-3555.

For smaller towns, the process is similar but may involve county offices. Resources like CountyOffice.org provide county-level directories, including building permit lookup guides via videos and articles. Some states, like Alabama, have detailed local contacts for specific counties or cities.

In terms of datasets, Shovels.ai's jurisdiction mappings (available as CSV or on Kaggle) detail state, county, and jurisdiction relationships but lack contacts. This can be cross-referenced with local searches. Other tools, like the Census Bureau's BPS, offer permit statistics by zip code, county, city, and state, useful for trends but not contacts. For specialized needs, such as federal permitting for infrastructure, the Permitting Council provides contacts, but this is unrelated to local building permits.

Controversies in permitting include debates over efficiency, with some advocating for streamlined processes amid housing shortages, while others emphasize safety. Balanced views from sources like NAHB highlight permit data by state and metro, showing variations in issuance rates. Ultimately, while no exhaustive contact list exists, combining official websites, state resources, and search tools ensures access to the needed information.

**Key Citations:**
- [The list of every building permit jurisdiction in the US - Shovels.ai](https://www.shovels.ai/blog/list-of-all-building-permit-jurisdictions/)
- [Building Permits by State and Metro Area | NAHB](https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/housing-economics/state-and-local-data/building-permits-by-state-and-metro-area)
- [State of the Cities Data Systems (SOCDS) - Building Permits](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/socds.html)
- [permits - Dataset - Catalog - Data.gov](https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/?tags=permits)
- [Building Permits Survey (BPS) - U.S. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/permits)
- [Building Codes by State - Buildings Guide](https://www.buildingsguide.com/build/building-codes-by-state/)
- [US Building Permits by Zip Code, County, City and state.](https://statestatistics.org/us/stats/residential-building-permits.html)
- [State Building Code - Division of Construction Management](https://dcm.alabama.gov/bldg_code.aspx)
- [Permits and Inspections | Shelby County, AL - Official Website](https://www.shelbyal.com/236/Permits-and-Inspections)
- [Planning, Engineering & Permits | City of Birmingham, Alabama](https://www.birminghamal.gov/government/city-departments/pep)
- [Building Codes by State - Buildings Guide](https://www.buildingsguide.com/build/building-codes-by-state/?srsltid=AfmBOopvmlUP638KpRWZjhTo68yBsTxfrywt2v_sLcbGugLCTSqIU5FZ)
- [How To Look Up Building Permits? - CountyOffice.org - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjaBmWtEuWM)
- [Government Permitting Software - Land Management and More](https://www.mygovernmentonline.org/)
- [State Building Permit Program | NH Division of Fire Safety](https://www.firemarshal.dos.nh.gov/prevention-safety/building-safety-construction/state-building-permit-program)
- [How Do I Find Building Permit Records? - CountyOffice.org - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acRbdiAma38)
- [Where Are Building Permits Public Records? - CountyOffice.org](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L2zGyFaz_A)
- [A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies | USAGov](https://www.usa.gov/agency-index)
- [Contact Us - Buildings - NYC.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/dob/contact-us.page)
- [Florida Building Departments by County (2025 Directory)](https://creekeng.com/florida-building-departments-by-county/)
- [Contact Us - Permitting Council](https://www.permitting.gov/about/contact-us)
- [Building Permits Survey (BPS) - U.S. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/permits)
- [Federal Agencies | Permitting Dashboard - Performance.gov](https://www.permits.performance.gov/fpisc-content/federal-agencies)
- [Local governments | USAGov](https://www.usa.gov/local-governments)
- [Federal Permitting Process | U.S. Department of the Interior - DOI Gov](https://www.doi.gov/ocl/federal-permitting-process)
- [Contact Us | LADBS - City of Los Angeles](http://dbs.lacity.gov/contact)
- [Los Angeles County Building and Safety](https://dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/about)
- [Contact Planning and Development | City of Phoenix](https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/pdd/contact-us.html)
- [Development Services | City of San Diego Official Website](https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services)