1. Read supported official sources
We begin with public administrative records, not scraped contact lists. The core sources are:
Not every source appears in every brief. We use only the records that add relevant, current context to the selected category and territory.
2. Check the match
Names and addresses in government data are often inconsistent. We compare the available identifiers, address, venue name, record details, and timing. Weak or unclear matches are left out.
3. Explain the signal
Every delivered item includes:
- the business or project name and address;
- the relevant stage or record change;
- a short “why it matters” note for the selected vendor category;
- the source-update and PermitPlate review times; and
- at least one direct official source link.
A weekly brief contains no more than 10 matching signals. If nothing credible qualifies, the member receives a no-matches note.
4. Keep dates honest
Public datasets contain several different dates. They do not mean the same thing.
- Business event date is the official date attached to an inspection, application, or filing when the source provides one.
- Source updated is when the publisher says its dataset changed. It is not an opening date.
- PermitPlate reviewed is when the founder checked the item for the brief. It is not a filing date.
- Product build describes the public website release and is tracked separately from source freshness.
The optional Starter Snapshot may include up to 10 still-active records first seen during the seven days before checkout. Those items are labeled and are not presented as post-subscription changes.
5. State the limits
PermitPlate is a research aid. A public record can be late, incomplete, corrected, duplicated, or superseded. It does not prove that a restaurant will open, that anyone plans to buy, or that a vendor will make a sale.
We do not promise exclusive leads, complete market coverage, daily volume, purchase intent, or opening probability. Members should verify the official record before outreach.