in_review (filed, awaiting approval), active (approved, work can proceed), final (completed, passed inspection), and inactive (stalled, expired, or abandoned). These statuses track a permit’s progression through its lifecycle.
Permit Statuses in Shovels
There are four primary statuses that permits can have:in_review
From the moment the permit is filed with the local jurisdiction until it is approved.- Defined by:
file_date - Meaning: Permit application is being reviewed
active
From the moment the permit is approved until project completion or some other intermediate restriction.- Defined by:
issue_date - Meaning: Permit has been approved, work can proceed
final
When the permit is completed and submitted back to the jurisdiction upon job completion.- Defined by:
final_date - Meaning: Project is complete, passed final inspection
inactive
If any part of the process stalls or gets restricted from progression. Reasons a permit may become inactive:- Failing to meet project inspections
- Permit expires before completion
- Inactivity for more than 6 months (180 days)
- Other jurisdiction-specific reasons
Disqualifying reasons and reporting timeframes vary by jurisdiction and local regulation.
How Current a Status Is
Statuses are refreshed with the dataset twice a month, so a permit’s status reflects what its jurisdiction reported as of the most recent refresh. A permit that was approved or finaled since then keeps its earlier status until the next refresh picks up the change. See how often data is refreshed for the cadence and the typical reporting lag between a jurisdiction issuing a permit and it appearing in Shovels.Special Cases
”Unknown” and “None” Statuses
Sometimes permits have “unknown” or “none” statuses. This can happen due to:- Variances in jurisdiction record keeping
- Lack of data
- Dates not provided by the jurisdiction
Final Status Without Final Date
If a permit has a final status but no final date, it typically indicates an over-the-counter permit—one that was approved immediately without needing a follow-up inspection. Common over-the-counter permits include:- Solar installations
- Simple plumbing work
- Minor electrical work
This can vary by city and county—some jurisdictions process more permit types over-the-counter than others.
Learn More
- Shovels 101: Permit Statuses - Blog post with detailed explanations
- Permit lifecycle
- How often is data refreshed?
- Checking project completion