Shovels MCP Server for Claude Code 7 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic CLI for terminal-first development. Add Shovels as an MCP server in one command and Claude Code will discover every tool at runtime. ideal for automation pipelines, CI/CD integration, and headless workflows via Vinkius.
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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.
Vinkius Desktop App
The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install Shovels and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.
# Your Vinkius token. get it at cloud.vinkius.com
claude mcp add shovels --transport http "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About Shovels MCP Server
Empower your AI agent to access the most comprehensive database of construction permits and licensed contractors with Shovels. By connecting Shovels to your agent, you transform complex real estate and construction auditing into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly search for active permits, audit contractor history, and retrieve market statistics for specific geographic areas without you ever touching a dashboard. Whether you are analyzing market trends or verifying contractor credentials, your agent acts as a real-time construction data analyst, ensuring your insights are always structured and up-to-date.
Claude Code registers Shovels as an MCP server in a single terminal command. Once connected, Claude Code discovers all 7 tools at runtime and can call them headlessly. ideal for CI/CD pipelines, cron jobs, and automated workflows where Shovels data drives decisions without human intervention.
What you can do
- Contractor Discovery — Find licensed professionals based on location, work type (solar, roofing, etc.), and property type.
- Permit Auditing — Search for and inspect detailed building permit records, including status and estimated values.
- Activity Tracking — Identify contractors actively working within a specific radius of any address.
- Market Intelligence — Retrieve aggregated permit statistics to analyze construction trends in different cities or counties.
- License Verification — Instantly pull contractor profiles using their state business license IDs.
The Shovels MCP Server exposes 7 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Claude Code in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect Shovels to Claude Code via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the Shovels MCP Server with Claude Code.
Install Claude Code
Run npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code if not already installed
Add the MCP Server
Run the command above in your terminal
Verify the connection
Run claude mcp to list connected servers, or type /mcp inside a session
Start using Shovels
Ask Claude: "Using Shovels, show me...". 7 tools are ready
Why Use Claude Code with the Shovels MCP Server
Claude Code provides unique advantages when paired with Shovels through the Model Context Protocol.
Single-command setup: `claude mcp add` registers the server instantly. no config files to edit or applications to restart
Terminal-native workflow means MCP tools integrate seamlessly into shell scripts, CI/CD pipelines, and automated DevOps tasks
Claude Code runs headlessly, enabling unattended batch processing using Shovels tools in cron jobs or deployment scripts
Built by the same team that created the MCP protocol, ensuring first-class compatibility and the fastest adoption of new protocol features
Shovels + Claude Code Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Claude Code combined with the Shovels MCP Server delivers measurable value.
CI/CD integration: embed Shovels tool calls in your deployment pipeline to validate configurations or fetch secrets before shipping
Headless batch processing: schedule Claude Code to query Shovels nightly and generate reports without human intervention
Shell scripting: pipe Shovels outputs into other CLI tools for data transformation, filtering, and aggregation
Infrastructure monitoring: run Claude Code in a cron job to query Shovels status endpoints and alert on anomalies
Shovels MCP Tools for Claude Code (7)
These 7 tools become available when you connect Shovels to Claude Code via MCP:
get_contractor
Get contractor details
get_contractor_activity
Find contractors active at an address
get_contractor_by_license
Find contractor by license ID
get_permit
Get permit details
get_permit_stats
Get permit activity statistics
search_contractors
Search for licensed contractors
search_permits
Search for building permits
Example Prompts for Shovels in Claude Code
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Claude Code agent to start working with Shovels immediately.
"Search for roofing contractors in ZIP 94105."
"Show me permit stats for Austin, TX."
"Find contractors active near 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View."
Troubleshooting Shovels MCP Server with Claude Code
Common issues when connecting Shovels to Claude Code through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Command not found: claude
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codeConnection timeout
Shovels + Claude Code FAQ
Common questions about integrating Shovels MCP Server with Claude Code.
How do I add an MCP server to Claude Code?
claude mcp add --transport http "" in your terminal. Claude Code registers the server and discovers all tools immediately.Can Claude Code run MCP tools in headless mode?
How do I list all connected MCP servers?
claude mcp in your terminal to see all registered servers and their status, or type /mcp inside an active Claude Code session.Connect Shovels with your favorite client
Step-by-step setup guides for every MCP-compatible client and framework:
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GitHub Copilot in VS Code with Agent mode and MCP support.
Purpose-built IDE for agentic AI coding workflows.
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Anthropic's agentic CLI for terminal-first development.
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Google's framework for building production AI agents.
Type-safe agent development for Python with first-class MCP support.
TypeScript toolkit for building AI-powered web applications.
TypeScript-native agent framework for modern web stacks.
Python framework for orchestrating collaborative AI agent crews.
Leading Python framework for composable LLM applications.
Data-aware AI agent framework for structured and unstructured sources.
Microsoft's framework for multi-agent collaborative conversations.
Connect Shovels to Claude Code
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 7 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.