Shovels MCP Server
Construction and permit data platform — search contractors and building permits via AI.
Ask AI about this MCP Server
Vinkius AI Gateway supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client


















What is the Shovels MCP Server?
The Shovels MCP Server gives AI agents like Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor direct access to Shovels. Construction and permit data platform — search contractors and building permits via AI. Powered by the Vinkius AI Gateway — no API keys, no infrastructure, connect in under 2 minutes.
Shovels MCP Server: see your AI Agent in action
Built-in capabilities (7)
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
What this connector unlocks
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.
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.
How it works
1. Subscribe to this server
2. Enter your Shovels.ai API Key
3. Start managing your construction data from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
Who is this for?
- Real Estate Developers — perform rapid due diligence on properties and track local development activity.
- Market Researchers — analyze construction trends and identify high-growth areas based on permit volumes.
- Homeowners & Propert Managers — verify contractor credentials and monitor work history in their neighborhood.
- SaaS Developers — integrate construction and permitting workflows into their applications through an AI-guided interface.
- Building Material Suppliers — identify active job sites and contractors to optimize sales outreach.
Frequently asked questions
Give your AI agents the power of Shovels
Access Shovels and 2,500+ MCP servers — ready for your agents to use, right now. No glue code. No custom integrations. Just plug Vinkius AI Gateway and let your agents work.
