Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a question? support@pastpermit.com
What is included in the report?
Every PastPermit report pulls together multiple public-record sources for the address you enter. You can view it online, download it as a PDF, or have it emailed to you.
- Permit history— every permit filed with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, grouped into clear categories (Building & Structural, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Utility, Commercial, Other) with type, status, dates, contractor, and description.
- Property details — year built, living area, lot size, and current assessed value from the county assessor.
- Zoning classification — the Charlotte UDO or prior-ordinance zoning code for the parcel, translated into plain English: what can be built by right, rental and ADU rules, and the rezoning history.
- School assignments — assigned elementary, middle, and high schools with NCDPI A-F performance grades and growth status.
- Flood risk — FEMA flood zone designation for the parcel.
- Natural disaster risk — FEMA National Risk Index ratings for tornado, hurricane, ice storm, hail, lightning, heat wave, and riverine flooding.
- Environmental risks — EPA-documented Superfund sites, brownfields, and other contamination sites within 3 miles.
- Adjacent parcels — every neighboring parcel with non-residential uses (commercial, industrial, utility) flagged.
- Ownership history — current owner and recorded deed transfers with sale dates and prices where available.
What zoning information does the report include?
The zoning section shows the parcel's Charlotte UDO or prior- ordinance zoning code (e.g. N1-C, UMUD-O, R-3) alongside a plain- English translation: what can be built by right, which rental configurations are permitted, whether accessory dwelling units are allowed, and the parcel's rezoning history. We also link to the official Charlotte UDO entry for each district. Zoning summaries are general guidance intended to help you orient quickly, not legal advice — verify property-specific rules and conditional-district terms with Charlotte Planning, Design & Development before making a purchase or renovation decision.
What if no permits are found?
It means no permits for that address are on file with the city and county. That can be legitimate — older homes often have nothing on record because the work predates modern permitting, or no work has been done since the home was built. It can also be a signal that work was performed without a permit, which is worth knowing before you buy or insure a property. Your report still includes the other three sections regardless.
How current is the data?
We fetch all data live the moment you generate a report. Permit filings typically appear in the city portal within a few days of being submitted. Deed records can take a few weeks to show up in the county's public index after a transaction is recorded. Assessor valuations and FEMA flood maps update on annual or periodic cycles. The ownership history currently returns the most recent recorded transfer; older transfers are a planned enhancement.
What cities are currently covered?
Charlotte, NC (Mecklenburg County) only. We're focused on making the Charlotte product excellent before expanding. Email us if you'd like your city covered — that's how we pick what to build next.
Is this a substitute for a home inspection?
No. A PastPermit report tells you what a property has on record with the city and county. A home inspection evaluates the physical condition of a property — the roof, foundation, systems, and so on — and should always be performed by a licensed inspector before a purchase. It's also not a substitute for a title search, an appraisal, a survey, or an environmental report. The two reports answer different questions, and most buyers benefit from both.
Do you cover commercial properties?
Yes. Our agent pulls from the same Mecklenburg County building portal that handles commercial permits, so commercial parcels (offices, retail, industrial) work the same way residential addresses do.
Note: commercial properties sometimes have hundreds of permits spanning decades. To keep processing time reasonable, your report shows up to 20 of the most recent permits. If you need older records for a specific commercial address, contact support and we'll help you access them.
Do you provide the actual permit documents (blueprints, inspection records)?
No. A PastPermit report summarizes what's on record but does not include the underlying documents themselves. If you need the full application file, inspection notes, or construction drawings for a specific permit, contact the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement Office directly — our report's permit number makes that request easy.
How long is my report stored?
Your report link works indefinitely. PDF downloads and email re-sends are free for 30 days from the date of purchase. After 30 days, if you need a fresh PDF or a new email copy, contact support and we'll send you one. If you lose the email, contact support with the address you searched and we'll resend the link.
Can I re-download the PDF later?
Yes, free of charge for 30 days after purchase. Just revisit your report link and click “Download PDF” — you can download it as many times as you want within that window. After 30 days, email support and we'll send a fresh copy at no cost.
What if a data source fails while generating my report?
Occasionally a city or county portal is temporarily down, or a retrieval times out. The sections that succeeded are saved; the ones that failed show “unavailable for this address” instead of a raw error. If a section you paid for came back empty because of our side (not because the public record itself is empty), email support and we'll re-run the agent or refund you — see the refund policy below.
How long does it take to generate a report?
Most reports complete in about 30 to 60 seconds after checkout. Complex properties with many permits or extensive ownership history can take up to three minutes. The report page updates automatically when each data source finishes — no need to refresh the page.
Why does this cost money if the data is public?
The data is public, but accessing it requires navigating multiple separate county and state systems, pulling hundreds of data points, and organizing them into a single readable report. We built tools that do this automatically — saving you hours of research per property — and we charge a small fee to keep the service running.
Do you offer bulk pricing for professionals?
Yes. We offer discounted bundles and monthly subscriptions for home inspectors, real estate agents, title companies, mortgage lenders, and property investors who use our service regularly. Pricing depends on your expected monthly volume. Contact sales@pastpermit.com to discuss options.
What payment methods do you accept?
Payment is processed through Stripe, which accepts all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) plus Apple Pay and Google Pay at checkout.
Is my payment information secure?
Yes. Card details are collected and stored by Stripe, which is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant (the most rigorous level). PastPermit never sees or stores your full card number — we only see a limited transaction record for accounting and support.
Can I get a refund?
All sales are final — each report triggers paid third-party data lookups the moment you check out. That said, if something is wrong with your report on our end (missing data we should have retrieved, a genuine technical failure, or an error in our system), email support and we'll make it right — either by regenerating the report at no cost or refunding the purchase through the original payment method within about 5–10 business days. The binding refund terms live in our Terms of Service.