How to Find Current Construction Projects in Your Area

I realize the answer will be different from one jurisdiction to another, but does anyone know how to find a city, county and/or state website that shows current construction projects in a given area? I thought that finding such a site might be better than simply driving around looking for dumpsters. I figure that most jobs would require permits and that if a permit has been granted, it might be on a website somewhere. For confidentiality reasons, I'd rather keep my location private, so I realize any answers will be for your own areas. That's ok. Any thoughts?

I work in the commercial construction industry so I can give you a bit of advice:
Heading onto an active jobsite (even after hours) to dive the dumpsters can get you in serious trouble. Our site managers may not even appear to be onsite- but they work long hours and after all the days labor and trades are gone from the site, the site manager is usually there. Every one of my guys would run you off and tell you not to come back, possibly threaten you with a trespass charge. It is to protect US more than you. Because if you jump in there and hurt yourself, that is not something a site manager wants to deal with.
On a ground up build- you won't find much of use anyway, unless you collect slugs of dried concrete, 10" or less pieces of cut-off lumber, halves of bricks, or bottles of dip spit. All the plumbers take anything of value (copper and brass) and even on a remodel, if the plumber doesn't want the "scrap" the demolition guys are astute at scooping it up. I tell all the guys onsite "Take it, take any scrap you want" because I'm paying $500 a dumpster. More scrap they take and save me space- the more debris I can put in it to maximize out my $500 bill for the 40 yarder!

If you do find a construction site always ask the GC or whoever is in charge before taking anything. Most of the good stuff is not going to make it to the dumpster.

The guy who sort of got me into scrapping was a guy who got most of his material from construction sites, so I picked up some pointers, though I myself haven't done it. At least ask permission from the foreman or super. They may say no, they may not. If you have a professional card, that would probably help matters. There are two things they care about: Theft and liability from the higher ups. Some may have rules like "only after we are all gone and I never knew you are here", etc. Some may just let you in as long as you stay out of the way. If they agree, ask for a business card where the person who said yes can leave a note saying you have permission and a sig and phone just in case the cops are called. You may only get steel, you may get it all, who knows. If you do a reliable, clean job for them, they can even call you when projects are upcoming. Some places literally make so much money on jobs they don't care, others have out of towner crews who don't have a great way to scrap, others are small guys where every penny counts. Stuff like steel gets in their way and can cost more than it is worth to get rid of. Demo and remodels will generally have more. Some cities have online building permit databases, like mine, others you could probably just go into the city office weekly and ask for a printout. You could also get buddy buddy with the guys who do the rolloffs...probably a bit harder feat, but that would certainly pay off in the end.

Well up here in the sticks you ask the guys where there working at the store in the morning. If you start late the hardware store is the next best place. Being a small New England town I went to school, have worked with, or know all the contractors and their crews.
One out of town contractor tried to run me off as I picked an entire gym out of a dumpster, but when you show up whith the big trailer and a mid sized loader, since he dropped his dumpster on a public street and we had access from our property at a shopping mall we maintain, guess he figured i wanted it bad enough and just walked away shaking his head. He didn't know about asking about the scrap guy at the store in the morning...ha
Good luck.

List of demolition permits for Seattle.

https://data.seattle.gov/Permitting/Demolition-Permits/8tzw-eq3m

Here's an example of what information you'll find on a demo permit.

Work Location

901 HARRISON ST

Record Details

Applicant: Organization 901 HARRISON LLC 201 SPEAR ST 14TH FL SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94105

Project Description: Demolish existing commercial building with basement walls to remain, per plan.

Related Contacts Applicant information Organization MACFARLANE PARTNERS 201 SPEAR ST 14TH FLR SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94105 Engineer information Organization COUGHLIN PORTER LUNDEEN 801 2ND AVE STE 900 SEATTLE, WA, 98104 United States Structural Engineer information Organization CKC STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS 10500 NE 8TH SUITE 800 BELLEVUE, WA, 98004 Applicant information Individual JODI J PATTERSON-O'HARE 17479 7TH AVE SW NORMANDY PARK, WA, 98166 Architect information Organization ANKROM MOISAN ARCHITECTS INC 6720 SW MACADAM STE 100 PORTLAND, WA, 97219 Contact information Organization PERMIT CONSULTANTS NW LLC 26456 MARINE VW DR S DES MOINES, WA, 981989132 Financially Responsible Party information Organization MACFARLANE PARTNERS 201 SPEAR ST 14TH FLR SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94105 Geotechnical Engineer information Organization GEO ENGINEERS 8410 154TH AV NE REDMOND, WA, 98052 Contact information Organization MUREF III HOLDING LLC 201 SPEAR ST 14TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO, CA Owner information Organization MACFARLANE PARTNERS 201 SPEAR ST 14TH FLR SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94105 Contractor information Organization EXXEL PACIFIC 4220 AURORA AVE N SEATTLE, WA, 98103

If its iron your after get the Boiler Makers job app.

https://s15.postimg.cc/hs8vgew1n/app.png

Thanks for all the responses. I was able to permit activity on the city website. Unfortunately, it shows permits granted even over a decade ago. There was no way to filter for ACTIVE permits. I'll keep looking.

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Originally Posted by recyclersteve

Thanks for all the responses. I was able to permit activity on the city website. Unfortunately, it shows permits granted even over a decade ago. There was no way to filter for ACTIVE permits. I'll keep looking.

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Post the link someone here on the forum will figure out away to sort that data.

Like sledge stated, i stay away from commercial jobsites and have never scraped one. Im sure they have great yields even after veteran tradesmen take their worthy scrap but my ability of risk managing tells me to keep away. Too many prying eyes and ears. Now the advice i will give is this; Ryan Homes, Pulte, Toll Brothers. Your biggest residential homebuilder corps. that slap developments in everywhere is where ive made my money. And theyre usually very easy to find, a google search or tradesman working the job can lead you to several. Whether its plundering from garage door part leftovers (my trade so im entitled to the scrap) or peeking in dumpsters on the weekends. Wire trimmings left in the dirt, anything adds up. I pulled nearly 800 in just steel last week from different locations. Homeowners use the construction dumpsters for things like microwaves, pushmowers, vacuums. Just to name a handful. Even nonscrap like coolers, or jogging strollers. Theres cash in the trash my friend! Another tip, look for your developments that are on old farm land, or after sewage is ran. Broken cast iron sewage pipes are usually left with other scrap. Easy #1 steel profits. Im going back this weekend to a honey hole!

Now for the fun common sense section to keep us out of trouble.

Dont under any circumstances steal directly from the job. Most anybody knows the difference between new hardware and damaged or thrown out. Of course this will lead to trouble. Ive had builders install garage doors after house was framed and outside done to keep intruders from stealing again for the third time in a row. It messes up their schedule and if its bad enough they will let yards know what to keep an eye out for. Stealing scrap doesnt keep the game fair.

Also, watch yourself during he workweek. Most supers usually say a stern no to dumpster diving, same reason sledge stated, liability. Ive been thrown out and its best not to argue the case. You can see yourself as doing them a favor and they cant do anything after work hours as long as cops dont watch the location. Theyre only doing their job.

Go 6 o'clock on the weekends. Dont draw attention. Stay away from nosey neighbors. And dont spend too much time in the dumpsters, usually if somethings covered in mudbuckets and pallets, leave it. Most are posted as no trespassing so this is why i say this, theres always that a-hole that doesnt have anything better to do.

Another tip not related to construction that wish i followed and i realised after i left my last job, auto shops are a PERFECT source of scrap. Most dont mind a scraper hauling away unwanted rotors or exhaust. I know a truck that visits the yard making bank off of rotors. They go #1 steel.

Good luck out there, visit my thread about last weeks plunders
https://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-...er-diving.html

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Originally Posted by Proton

Post the link someone here on the forum will figure out away to sort that data.

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For privacy reasons, I don't want to post the link. I'll figure it out myself or make a phone call to the city.

So WHY post the question in the first place?

I thought someone could answer the question in a general way that would get me to the info I was looking for.

I see that some folks have given you some direction.. it appears that you will need to take the information provided and utilize your brain to figure out the rest. SMF has never been a place to "hand members the answer on a silver platter."
Assist- Yes
Help- Sure..
Plan out your strategy to the "nth degree"- Nope.

Your apprehension of telling us where you live should GIVE YOU PAUSE! That is the little voice inside your head saying "I'm not 100% comfortable with this." I'd implore you to listen to that little voice!

I stand by what I said in my initial post. There are plenty of places to find scrap besides commercial construction sites. If you pursue your current objective, please do come back and tell us some war stories about how you got chased out, b*tched at, or even arrested. I'd be more than happy to listen!

My best finds are from contractors that come to my area from out of state for renovations. They show up with their crews, material and equipment (forklift, etc.). When they are done with their project, they only want to take the crew and equipment back. They even sell off excess materials to avoid taking it back to their out of state location. Bought alot of leftover lumber for reasonable. Sometimes, they just want the scrap gone. They do not plan on keeping it and they do want to avoid the expense of disposing of it. Be upfront and ask. If they say "no", move on. if they say "yes", remove the items to their terms (after hours, etc.).

Yea, don't be afraid to ask, and maybe roam around your area and nearby cities

I also keep a watch on grocery stores. They have perishable food (meat, etc.) and seem to be updating the freezers from time to time. Got a used AC unit from one grocery store today. Another grocery store did an update and all the replaced cooler items (copper pipes, etc.) were piled up in the alley. Asked at the grocery store and a few days later, got a phone call to "please haul it away". Guy asked if I could take a pile of iron from another place. Looked at the iron pile and that was a great find, for free!

Ask. You never know who will give it to you or sell it for a modest price.

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Originally Posted by recyclersteve

For privacy reasons, I don't want to post the link. I'll figure it out myself or make a phone call to the city.

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Privacy reasons or your unwillingness to share.

I don't mess with the commercial contractor dumpsters. They can be a real PITA if someone sees you. I only really stick to the residential remodeling. Since dumpsters are stored on the streets, whether that is behind a building or not, the police in my area have told me that they are still public property unless marked otherwise. If there is no clearly visible sign or marking stating that it is private, or to keep out, then anyone can go in and take whatever for whatever reason. One time in my neighborhood, I was walking around pulling stuff out of people's trash piles for scrap/eBay resale. I completed my rounds, and about 5 minutes after I got back home a squad car pulled up. Officer, and his rookie in training (that was cool) got out and asked me what I was doing. They informed me someone called them about suspicious activity and they thought I was breaking and entering. I had a light, wore bright clothing, so in the neighbor's point of view it was like I would have been trying to get caught. LOL. But I explained to the officer what I was doing, and was able to show a copy of the emails I received from the police Chief of my city and county. When he saw them, he said I was all good, and we stood and talked for a while. Later, they left. Never heard anything else after that, but that's the only time I've ever been approached by the police directly.
Thought I'd share this for you all.