APN (Assessor's Parcel Number)

A unique numeric or alphanumeric identifier assigned by the county assessor or appraisal district to each distinct parcel of land.

An Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) — called a CAD account number in Texas county appraisal districts — is the unique identifier assigned to each parcel of real property for tax assessment and public record purposes. The APN is the primary key used to link property ownership records, tax assessments, deed history, and permit records to a specific physical location. In Texas, each of the 254 counties maintains its own appraisal district with its own numbering scheme, and APN formats vary widely across jurisdictions.

Why it matters for contractors

Using the APN as a join key, a contractor can enrich any permit lead with current owner name, mailing address, improvement value, and comparable sales — enabling a far more targeted outreach than a permit address alone provides.