Definitions of key terms used in Shovels permit, contractor, and decision data: geo_id, AHJ, jurisdiction, permit status, contractor ID, zoning, rezoning, and more.
A comprehensive glossary of terms used throughout Shovels documentation, API, and data products.
A unique identifier assigned by Shovels to each distinct address in our database. The address ID remains consistent even if the address formatting varies across different permits, enabling you to link all permits at a single property.
The governmental body responsible for issuing building permits in a specific geographic area. An AHJ is typically a city or county government that establishes building codes, conducts inspections, and maintains permit records. The United States has approximately 20,000 AHJs.
A unique authentication token required to access the Shovels API. Include it in the X-API-Key header of every request. Access your key at app.shovels.ai/profile-settings.
A zoning change applied to a larger geographic area, often initiated by municipalities as part of comprehensive planning efforts. Area rezonings indicate broader market shifts and can affect property values across many parcels.
A unique identifier assigned by Shovels to each contractor. Contractor IDs are deduplicated within each state, meaning the same contractor operating in multiple states will have separate IDs per state.
An identifier linking multiple contractors that operate under the same parent organization. For example, regional branches of a national company share the same group ID.
A structured record of a municipal zoning or land use decision extracted from city council and planning department meetings. Decisions capture rezoning approvals, special use permits, variances, and zoning code modifications—often months before permits are filed.
The classification of a zoning action type. Primary categories include Spot Rezoning, Area Rezoning, Zoning Code Modification, and Special Use Permit. Subcategories provide additional context such as Inclusionary Zoning, Variance, or Planned Unit Development (PUD).
The process of identifying and consolidating duplicate records. Shovels deduplicates permits (maintaining one record per permit even with status updates) and contractors (linking related business entities).
Shovels’ bulk data product for enterprise customers. EDL delivers complete datasets to data warehouses like Snowflake, BigQuery, or Databricks, with more fields than the API and monthly refresh cycles.
A unified geographic identifier used by Shovels to link addresses to permit data. A geo_id can represent different geographic levels: a state (CA), zip code (94103), city, county, or specific address. Use the Address Search API to obtain a geo_id for any location.
The process of converting addresses into geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). Shovels performs geocoding in-house using multiple reference sources including the National Address Dataset, Open Address, Simple Maps, and ESRI.
A permit status indicating the permit process has stalled. Reasons include failed inspections, permit expiration, or inactivity for more than 180 days.
A boolean field in EDL data indicating whether a contractor record is the primary representative of a contractor group. When TRUE, this record contains the canonical information for the entire group.
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)
A modern industry classification system used to categorize businesses. More specific than SIC codes but less widely adopted. Available in Shovels contractor data.
A confidence score (0-1) in Shovels Decision data indicating the relevance and significance of a zoning decision. Higher scores suggest decisions with greater potential impact on development activity.
A permit approved immediately without requiring follow-up inspections. Common for simple projects like solar installations or minor plumbing work. These permits may have a “final” status without a final date.
A unique identifier generated by Shovels for each permit. Unlike permit numbers (which may duplicate across jurisdictions), Shovels permit IDs are globally unique and persistent throughout the permit lifecycle.
The permit number assigned by the issuing jurisdiction. Not globally unique—different jurisdictions may assign the same number to different permits. Use Shovels’ permit ID for unique identification.
The most frequently used email address across all permits for a given contractor. Determined by analyzing frequency across the contractor’s permit history.
A flexible zoning classification for master-planned projects that allows developers to negotiate custom development standards. PUDs often appear as a subcategory in Shovels Decision data.
The maximum number of records you can retrieve via the API. Free trials include 250 credits. Each record returned counts against your credits. Paid plans have custom limits—contact sales for details. See API rate limits for full information.
Permission granted by a municipality to conduct a specific activity that isn’t automatically allowed in a zone but may be approved with conditions. Also called conditional use permits in some jurisdictions. Special use permits often precede specific business or development activity at a known location.
A zoning change applied to a specific property or small group of parcels, typically initiated by property owners or developers seeking to change what can be built on their land. Spot rezonings often signal imminent development activity on that specific property.
Shovels-assigned categories that classify permits by work type (e.g., solar, HVAC, electrical, roofing). Use the /list/tags endpoint to get valid tag values.
A permit status indicating insufficient data to determine the current state. May result from incomplete jurisdiction records or missing date information.
An exception to specific zoning requirements granted by a municipality. Variances allow property owners to deviate from regulations such as setbacks, height limits, or lot coverage when strict compliance would cause undue hardship.
Changes to zoning regulations themselves, rather than the zoning designation of specific properties. These modify what’s allowed within existing zones (e.g., adjusting height limits, adding ADUs as permitted use, modifying parking requirements) and can unlock development potential across all properties in affected zones.
