Trades

Commercial construction permits by trade

Each trade page compares cities and lists the contractors pulling the most permits. We tag each permit with a trade from the city’s permit type and work description.

• Building permits

  38 cities: Albuquerque, Arlington, Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boston, Buffalo, Cambridge, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Louisville, Mesa, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Minneapolis, Montgomery County MD, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington DC

• Demolition permits

  24 cities: Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Washington DC

• Electrical permits

  24 cities: Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles County, Louisville, Mesa, Miami, Miami-Dade County, New Orleans, Norfolk, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Washington DC

• Elevator permits

  8 cities: Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, New Orleans, Norfolk, Seattle, Washington DC

• Fire protection permits

  23 cities: Arlington, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, Mesa, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, Seattle, Tacoma

• HVAC / Mechanical permits

  25 cities: Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles County, Louisville, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington DC

• MEP permits

  3 cities: Baltimore, Columbus, Miami

• Plumbing permits

  22 cities: Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles County, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Minneapolis, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Raleigh, San Diego, San Jose, Tacoma, Washington DC

• Roofing permits

  14 cities: Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, Seattle

• Signs permits

  22 cities: Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Los Angeles County, Mesa, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, Washington DC

• Solar permits

  6 cities: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Los Angeles County, Norfolk, New York City, Washington DC