What Charlie Can Do
Charlie answers complex, natural-language questions that would otherwise take several filter selections to assemble by hand. Example questions:- “Find all solar permits filed in Connecticut by Freedom Forever in the last 12 months”
- “Which contractors pulled the most HVAC permits in Austin, TX last year?”
- “How many ADU permits were issued in Los Angeles County in 2024?”
- “Show me roofing contractors in Phoenix with more than 50 permits filed”
- “What’s the average job value for new construction permits in Denver?”
When to Use Charlie
Charlie and the filter-based search answer different kinds of questions. Ask Charlie when:- You have a specific research question (contractor, geography, permit type)
- You want to verify data before pulling a full export
- You’re not sure which filters apply
- You want to explore the data conversationally
For bulk exports or recurring data pulls, the search and download tools in Shovels Online or the API will serve you better.