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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.

Each permit in Shovels has a unique identifier that distinguishes it from all other permits in our database.

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Shovels ID vs Permit Number

FieldDescriptionUniqueness
IDGenerated by ShovelsGlobally unique across all permits
permit_noAssigned by the jurisdictionOnly unique within that jurisdiction

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Why This Matters

Different jurisdictions may coincidentally assign the same permit_no to different permits. For example:
  • Los Angeles might issue permit #12345
  • San Francisco might also issue permit #12345
These are completely different permits, but they share the same permit number.
Always use the Shovels ID field to organize data by unique permit identifiers, not permit_no.

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Using Shovels IDs

The Shovels ID:
  • Remains persistent throughout the permit lifecycle
  • Never duplicates across jurisdictions
  • Enables reliable data joins and tracking
  • Stays consistent across data refreshes