> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shovels.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What is a Jurisdiction (AHJ)?

> A jurisdiction is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)—typically a city or county government—that issues building permits. The US has ~20,000 AHJs.

**A jurisdiction is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)—the governmental body responsible for issuing building permits in a specific area, typically a city or county government.** The United States has approximately 20,000 jurisdictions. Shovels covers about 2,000 of them, representing \~85% of the US population.

## What is an AHJ?

An AHJ is typically either:

* A **county government**
* A **city government**

## Why Jurisdictions Matter

Jurisdictions play a crucial role in the construction permitting process:

* **Establish and enforce building codes**
* **Conduct inspections**
* **Maintain official records** of construction activities

Understanding which jurisdiction governs a particular property is essential for contractors and service providers, as it determines:

* Which rules apply
* Which office must approve permits
* Specific requirements and processes

## Jurisdiction Coverage

### How Many Exist

Nationwide, there are approximately **20,000 different jurisdictions**, each with their own:

* Requirements
* Processes
* Data formats

### Shovels Coverage

Shovels has standardized data from over **2,000 jurisdictions**, covering approximately **85% of the US population**.

### Power Law Distribution

Our coverage follows a power law distribution:

* About 15% of jurisdictions represent \~85% of the US population
* The remaining 85% of jurisdictions cover just \~15% of the population

This is why we prioritize larger jurisdictions while continuously expanding into smaller ones.

## Finding Jurisdiction Information

### Complete List

Shovels maintains a comprehensive list of all covered jurisdictions, available on our blog:
[List of All Building Permit Jurisdictions](https://www.shovels.ai/blog/list-of-all-building-permit-jurisdictions/)

### Updates

The list is regularly updated as we add new coverage areas. We add **10-30 new jurisdictions** each month.

## Learn More

* [AHJ in Construction](https://www.shovels.ai/blog/ahj-in-construction/) - Blog post explaining AHJs in detail
* [Geographic coverage](/docs/knowledge-base/data/geographic/coverage-areas)