Instructions for using the Permit Tracker Application

The Permit Tracker Application gives users access to information in the City's permit database. Users can search for information on building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing permits applied for and issued in the last year. In the future, additional permit types will become available for review.

Click the following links for help on searching the database by:
Permit(Case)Number
Permit(Case)Address
Project Number

Permit (Case) Number - To search the database by permit number, the user must enter the number of an existing building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permit that has been applied for and issued in the last year. The user must enter the number that has been assigned by the permitting system, using the naming convention used by the system. Examples of valid permit numbers are listed below:

• BLD2002-00199
• ELE2001-00288
• PLM2001-02088
• MEC2002-02493

The permitting system assigns the 12 digit alphanumeric number as follows: the first three digits are the alphabetical shorthand for the permit type (building = BLD, electrical = ELE, mechanical = MEC and plumbing = PLM), followed by the year in which the permit was applied for. This is followed by a dash, then an incremented number.

Follow the instructions on the screen once you have retrieved your permit data.

Trouble? Check to ensure the number has been entered correctly. If your valid permit number does not appear, it may be expired, and therefore will not be retrieved. And remember, permits that were applied for more than one year ago are not available for viewing.

Permit (Case) Address - The user has more flexibility when searching by permit address. The query can be specific to an exact address, or broadened to include all permits issued to every address on a certain street. To search the database by exact address, the user must enter the number, fraction and direction (if a part of the valid address) and, clicking on the Name field, scroll down to select the correct street name from the alphabetical listing of street names presented. The user then clicks on the gray Select button to retrieve the information.

The user may also simply select the street name from the pull down menu (skipping the number, fraction and direction) and click on the gray Select button to retrieve every permit issued on all addresses on that street.

Trouble? If the street name you are seeking is not in the pull down menu listing of street names, please confirm that the street you are seeking is within the boundaries of the City of Alexandria (some City mailing addresses are actually located in other jurisdictions).

The successful query will return a list of permits associated with the requested address(es). To obtain details on a specific permit, click the blue permit number link. To go back to the list, hit your browser's Back button.

Project Number - In some cases, building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are grouped by project number, when multiple jobs are associated with a project. To search the database by project number, the user must enter the number of an existing project that has been assigned to a group of permits that have been applied for and issued in the last year. The user must enter the project number that has been assigned by the permitting system, using the naming convention used by the system. Examples of valid permit project numbers are listed below:

• PRJ2002-00363
• PRJ2001-01491

The permitting system assigns the 12 digit alphanumeric number as follows: the first three digits are the alphabetical shorthand for project ( PRJ), followed by the year in which the project number was created in the system. This is followed by a dash, then a 5 digit incremented number.

If a user wishes to see all permits associated with a project but does not have the project number, the user may obtain the project number from any one of the permits associated with the project. From the Find Permits by Permit Number screen, enter the number of the known permit. Under the General Information' box on the details of the permit you will see the Project Number that is associated with the permit.

Trouble? Check to ensure the number has been entered correctly. If your valid project number does not appear, it may be expired, and therefore it will not be retrieved.

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