How HVAC contractors get subcontract work from home builders using permit data

Why new construction is worth chasing for hvac

Every new house needs a heating and cooling system and ductwork, and most of it is decided before drywall. Builders pulled permits for homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,400,000 units in September 2026, including 845,000 single-family units, per the Census Bureau.

Equipment choice varies by region. Of the single-family homes completed in 2025, 63% in the South had a heat pump and 36% had a forced-air furnace (Census, Characteristics of New Housing). If you quote in Texas or Florida, lead with heat-pump options.

The labor side is tight too. BLS counts 440,900 HVAC mechanic and installer jobs in 2025 and projects 11% growth through 2035, with about 40,600 openings a year (BLS). A builder who already has a crew they trust rarely switches, so the first credible call on a fresh permit matters.

Where to find new construction permits

Go to the source. All three cities on FirstBid publish permit records you can check yourself:

• Austin, TX: AB+C Public Search (no login needed) and the open dataset Issued Construction Permits, 3syk-w9eu. Austin permit guide.
• Miami-Dade County, FL: the RER permit portal and building permit search. Miami-Dade permit guide.
• Orlando, FL: the city's project lookup tool and open permit data. Orlando permit guide.

Austin alone issued 9,436 building permits from January through September 2026, and 1,661 of them were new single-family houses (permit class R-101). Orlando issued 7,184 building permits in the same months, 785 of them for new work. Both counts come from our own queries of the city open-data feeds on October 29, 2026.

The hard part isn't access. It's sorting hundreds of remodel, fence and repair permits to find the few new builds worth a call each week, and doing it every day.

What's on the boards right now

Counted from the FirstBid board files on October 29, 2026. Each row is a new-construction building permit pulled from the issuing government's public records (sources listed below).

How to read a permit for hvac scope

• Square footage and stories. A 4,806 SF two-story home in Austin (permit 2026-139147 BP) is a two-system job. A 1,592 SF one-story in Miami-Dade is one system.
• Permit type. New single-family, multifamily and commercial permits each go to a different buyer: custom builder, developer or GC.
• Issue date. Fresher is better. Rough-in happens after framing, so a permit issued this week gives you time to bid.

Who is building new homes in your city?

The permit names the job, and the city record usually names the applicant or contractor. Count permits by builder over a month and you have a ranked list of the most active builders in your area. Those are the companies to get in front of.

How to get on a builder's bid list

Builders add subs when a current one is late, overbooked or too expensive. Make it easy for them to say yes: have your license number, certificate of insurance and W-9 ready to send the same day, and reference a specific permit when you call so they know you are local and paying attention. Ask who handles purchasing. On production builders it is often a purchasing or construction manager, not the site superintendent.

The builder call

Lead with the permit: "I saw permit [number] at [street] was issued on [date]. Who's doing your hvac?" It shows you did your homework and that you're early. If they already have someone, ask about their next start.

Before you bid, confirm the permit is still active on the city site. Austin's open data portal itself warns that its data may differ from official department records.

Questions contractors ask

How do I get on a builder's bid list as an HVAC sub?

Call the purchasing or construction manager, reference a live permit of theirs, and have your license, insurance certificate and W-9 ready to send the same day. Builders add subs when a current one falls behind, so staying in touch matters more than one call.

How do HVAC contractors get new construction jobs?

Most get them through builders. Track newly issued new-home permits in your area, call the builder named on the permit with a quote sized from the square footage, and follow up before framing is done. Mechanical rough-in comes after framing, so early contact is what wins the bid.

Where can I see new building permits in my city?

Check your city or county permit portal. Austin publishes them through AB+C Public Search and the open dataset 3syk-w9eu. Miami-Dade uses its RER permit portal. Orlando publishes permits on data.cityoforlando.net.

Are building permits public record?

Yes, in Texas and Florida. Florida Statute 119.07 requires custodians to let any person inspect and copy public records. Texas handles requests under the Public Information Act, and Austin posts permits as open data.

How early should I contact a builder about HVAC?

Within days of the permit being issued. On a new home, the mechanical sub is usually chosen before framing starts, and once the builder has a crew lined up, the job is gone.

Should I quote a heat pump or a furnace on new builds in the South?

Price both, but expect heat pumps to dominate. Census data shows 63% of single-family homes completed in the South in 2025 had a heat pump.

Is buying HVAC leads worth it?

Shared leads are usually homeowners with a broken system, so you are competing on price. Permit leads are builders with a scheduled job. They are a different buyer, so judge them on whether the builder becomes a repeat account.

Do I still need a mechanical permit if the builder has a building permit?

Usually yes. Cities issue separate trade permits. Austin's open dataset lists Building, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits separately, and Miami-Dade publishes its own mechanical permit forms. Check the issuing office.

How do I find general contractors to sub for?

Pull new-construction building permits for your area and sort by the contractor listed. The names that repeat are the active builders and GCs. In Austin, five builders held 400 of the 1,661 new single-family permits issued January to September 2026.

How do I become a subcontractor for home builders?

Have your state license, general liability and workers' comp certificates and a W-9 ready. Then contact the builder's purchasing or construction manager with a price on a job they have already permitted. Most builders require insurance paperwork before your first job.

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Sources

1. U.S. BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook: HVAC mechanics and installers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm
2. U.S. Census Bureau, Characteristics of New Housing: Highlights (2025 completions). https://www.census.gov/construction/chars/highlights.html
3. Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). https://www.acca.org/
4. U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly New Residential Construction, September 2026 (released Oct 20, 2026). https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/current/index.html
5. City of Austin, AB+C Public Search. https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/permit/public-search-other
6. City of Austin Open Data, Issued Construction Permits (dataset 3syk-w9eu). https://data.austintexas.gov/d/3syk-w9eu
7. Miami-Dade County RER, Electronic Plan Submittal / permit portal. https://www.miamidade.gov/Apps/RER/EPSPortal/
8. City of Orlando, Permits & Inspections. https://www.orlando.gov/Building-Development/Permits-Inspections
9. City of Orlando Open Data, building permits (dataset ryhf-m453). https://data.cityoforlando.net/d/ryhf-m453
10. Florida Statutes §119.07, Inspection and copying of records. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/119.07
11. Office of the Texas Attorney General, Public Information Act Handbook. https://oag.state.tx.us/sites/default/files/files/divisions/open-government/publicinfo_hb.pdf