Why solar permits are good leads
Residential solar requires a building or electrical permit almost everywhere, and those permits show exactly which streets are adopting panels. For installers this is competitive intelligence: you can see where rivals are active and how fast. For battery, EV-charger and roofing companies it is a lead list, because a household that just installed panels is far more likely to add storage or a charger in the next year. Mapenzo also shows large-scale energy projects, so you can see both rooftop systems and utility-scale solar on the same map.
The difference between a permit and a normal lead list is timing and intent. A purchased list tells you who might need something one day. A permit tells you that somebody has already filed paperwork with the city, usually with a date, an address and often a value and contractor. You are not guessing.
How many solar permits Mapenzo shows in the US
The numbers below are verified counts from Mapenzo's US database for 2026 (from 1 January to mid-October 2026; a few sources such as Orlando, New Orleans and Norfolk start earlier). They come from official open data portals of the cities and counties listed, and they are refreshed daily. Only states with at least 100 matching permits are shown, together 10,109 permits.
| State | Main source areas | Solar permits (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York City | 3,837 |
| Maryland | Montgomery County | 1,455 |
| Illinois | Chicago | 1,406 |
| California | Los Angeles | 886 |
| North Carolina | Raleigh | 505 |
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | 504 |
| Texas | Austin | 452 |
| Arizona | Arizona (state overview) | 448 |
| Virginia | Norfolk | 349 |
| Florida | Orlando | 152 |
| Louisiana | New Orleans | 115 |
New York leads with 3,837 permits. Coverage in the US is currently city- and county-based, not statewide, so the table shows the main area for each state. Click a city to open its solar permit page, or see the state overview for New York.
How to use the data, step by step
- Filter to solar and look at density by neighbourhood. Streets with several installs are where word of mouth works; one more door-knock there converts better than a cold area.
- Watch installers' names over time to understand market share in your territory.
- Offer battery storage or EV chargers to homes with recent solar permits.
- Switch on the energy projects layer to see planned solar farms and grid projects nearby, useful for electrical contractors and suppliers.
A practical routine for solar installers: every Monday, open the map for your service area, filter to the last seven days, export or note the new addresses, and plan visits, letters or calls. The work takes fifteen minutes, and because the same data is not on your competitors' desks, the conversations start earlier.
What a permit record contains
Fields differ by city, but most records include the permit type and description, the date filed or issued, the address and coordinates, and the status. Many cities also publish the estimated value of the work and the contractor name; Chicago, Orlando, Marin County and several others publish contractors for most records. Mapenzo normalises these sources into one map and one set of trade filters, so you do not need to learn fourteen different city portals.
Be aware of the limits. Mapenzo only shows what the city publishes, and some cities classify work types loosely, so a small share of records may sit under a broader category such as mechanical or alterations. When in doubt, read the original description, which is always shown on the permit card.
Beyond the US
The same map covers building permits in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, plus over 33,000 energy projects and 4,323 existing data centres. If you sell across borders, one account covers all of it, in your own language.
Try it
Mapenzo has a simple way to test this: a 12-hour pass for 5 € opens every country, every permit and every layer, including energy projects and data centres. If you then subscribe, your first month is 50% off. Personal plans are 20, 50 or 80 € per month, and Team plans for sales teams are 40, 100 or 150 € per month.
Open the map or start with the New York City page.
FAQ
Where does Mapenzo get solar permit data?
From official open data portals of US cities and counties, such as New York City, refreshed daily.
How many solar permits are on Mapenzo?
10,109 in the US states listed in this article for 2026, plus permits in nine European countries.
Is Mapenzo available in every US state?
Not yet. Permit-level data covers areas in 14 states; more cities are being added.
How much does it cost?
A 12-hour all-access pass costs 5 €. New subscribers get 50% off the first month.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does Mapenzo get solar permit data?
From official open data portals of US cities and counties, such as New York City, refreshed daily.
How many solar permits are on Mapenzo?
10,109 in the US states listed in this article for 2026, plus permits in nine European countries.
Is Mapenzo available in every US state?
Not yet. Permit-level data covers areas in 14 states; more cities are being added.
How much does it cost?
A 12-hour all-access pass costs 5 €. New subscribers get 50% off the first month.