Original Research
Studies & Data
Original analysis built on our database of building-permit rules across 3,000+ U.S. counties. Free to cite and republish with attribution.
Codes · 50-State
Is Your State's Building Code Outdated?
New Jersey updated 3 weeks ago. Oklahoma updates in 3 days. Kentucky and West Virginia are still on a 2015 code. Thirteen states have no statewide code at all.
Read the study →Permits · Fences
Where You Can Build a Fence Without a Permit
We compared residential fence permit rules across 68 of the largest U.S. counties — from Houston's 8-foot no-permit rule to cities that require one for every fence.
Read the study →Permits · Sheds
Where You Can Build a Shed Without a Permit
A 50-state analysis of when a backyard shed needs a building permit and the states where it doesn't.
Read the study →Construction · Licensing
How Regulated Is Building a Home in Your State?
A 50-state index scoring how heavily each state regulates home construction licensing, codes, and more.
Read the study →Construction · Decks
How Deep Do Deck Footings Need to Be?
The same deck needs a 12-inch footing in Atlanta and a 48-inch one in Boston. We compared required footing depth across 20 U.S. cities.
Read the study →