What is a Property Improvement Record?
A PIR is an ERC-721 token (NFT) minted on the Polygon network that represents a completed, permitted improvement to a property. It contains a cryptographic hash of the original permit documents — proving that specific work was filed, inspected, and approved by the local building authority.
Unlike a paper permit that sits in a county archive, a PIR lives on the blockchain — publicly verifiable, permanently stored, and tied to the property address. It's a real-world asset (RWA) that proves the value of work done to a property.
Each PIR includes the permit type, property address, jurisdiction, completion date, document hash, and contractor information. All data is stored on-chain with the original documents referenced via IPFS.
Why Polygon?
PIRs are minted on the Polygon PoS network — not Ethereum mainnet, not a private blockchain, not a database pretending to be a blockchain. Here's why:
Polygon's sub-cent gas fees make it practical to mint a token for every closed permit without passing high costs to users.
Transactions confirm in seconds, not minutes. Your PIR is live and verifiable almost instantly after minting.
Full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility means standard tooling, auditable smart contracts, and broad wallet support.
Polygon is the leading network for real-world asset tokenization, with major institutional adoption for property and financial records.
How PIR minting works
Your permit closes
After all inspections pass and the building department closes your permit, you upload the final documentation to Permits Automated.
We hash the documents
Your permit documents are cryptographically hashed (SHA-256) and uploaded to IPFS for permanent, decentralized storage. The hash is the fingerprint — any change to the documents would produce a completely different hash.
PIR is minted on Polygon
An ERC-721 token is minted on the Polygon network containing the document hash, property address, permit type, and completion metadata. The token is assigned to your wallet (or a custodial wallet we create for you).
Permanently verifiable
Anyone can look up PIRs by property address. Buyers, appraisers, insurers, and lenders can instantly verify every permitted improvement without calling the county. When you sell, PIRs transfer with the property.
PIRs create value for everyone
Homeowners
Every dollar you spend on permitted improvements — a new roof, HVAC system, pool, or addition — is now provably documented. At resale, buyers can verify every improvement instantly, supporting higher appraisals and faster closings.
Home Buyers
No more guessing what work was done or whether it was permitted. Look up any property address and see a complete, verified history of improvements. Know what you're buying.
Insurance Companies
Instantly verify that a roof was replaced, an electrical panel was upgraded, or hurricane impact windows were installed. Verified improvement records streamline underwriting and reduce risk.
Appraisers & Lenders
Access a tamper-proof record of every permitted improvement. No more calling the county building department or relying on seller disclosures. Verify improvements in seconds, not days.
$29 per PIR
Available as an add-on after your permit closes. Includes document hashing, IPFS storage, Polygon minting, and lifetime verification access.
Get started with Permits AutomatedCommon questions
Do I need a crypto wallet?
No. We create a custodial wallet for you automatically. If you already have a Polygon-compatible wallet, you can connect it instead.
What if Permits Automated shuts down?
Your PIR lives on the Polygon blockchain — it doesn't depend on us. The token and its metadata are permanently stored on-chain and on IPFS. You can verify and transfer it using any Polygon-compatible tool.
Can I mint a PIR for a permit I filed without Permits Automated?
Yes, as long as you have the closed permit documentation. Upload the final inspection approval and we'll hash and mint it.
Why not use Ethereum mainnet?
Ethereum mainnet gas fees can range from $5–$50+ per transaction. Polygon provides the same security guarantees (as an Ethereum L2) at a fraction of a cent per mint. For a $29 product, mainnet gas would eat the entire price.
Is this an NFT I can sell?
PIRs are ERC-721 tokens, but they're designed to transfer with the property — not to be traded speculatively. They represent verified work tied to a physical address. The value is in the proof, not the token itself.