Check with the city planning department. 

Also, I used to work in Shelter's Indianapolis claims department.

Go to the local building permit office and business license department (sometimes in the same office depending on the locale) and look up all the past building permits that were applied for and business licenses that were applied for. 

I’m a firefighter in metro Atlanta and have a few opportunities at departments back home.

I don't know about Palo Alto, but other bay area cities like San Jose offer the basic permit info online for you to lookup, so you don't have to go to the department to get the info.

Having spent countless hours on the phone with their department of finance I can tell you as a note investor you are required to be licensed.

You can use the Easy Permit Process for the following project types:Inside the BuildingDrywall Replacement (greater than 1,000 square feet)Exterior Doors*Fire Damage (buildings with 24% damage or less, require demolition inspection approval and a separate electrical permit)Furnaces (replacement of existing gas-fired only in all commerical buildings and residential buildings with 4 or more dwelling units)*Existing Plumbing Fixture ReplacementElectrical Work (requires an electrical contractor)**Counter Top and Cabinet Replacement (required for condos only)Outside the BuildingDoors/Window Replacement (4 dwelling units or more, if same size, same location)*Fences (non-masonry fences greater than 5 ft. in height or masonry walls of any height)*Sheds greater than 150 square feetDetached frame garages, up to 600 square feet in area, without rooftop deck*Trash enclosure (wood only)Porch repair (if a violation report says permit for repairs only)Masonry work (mason contractor required)Tuckpointing (mason contractor required, masonry cleaning and grinding require a pollution prevention permit from CDPH)Roofs (If adding a layer, a general contractor or primary owner can perform the work)*Roofs (If total tear-off, must employ Illinois-licensed roofing contractor)Lintel repairs (6’-0” opening maximum, mason contractor required)Scaffolding (an easy permit can be received the same day if the work over the public way has been approved by the Chicago Department of Transportation) * For this project type in an all-residential building, the easy permit may be obtained online.** Electrical permits may be obtained online by licensed electrical contractors only.

Now I think if your just the public and you knew about this they may charge for those but for repeat clients or brokers we get it all for free .. they all have big customer service departments and all the title plants are on line and the info in instant..

A lot of the departments are working from home, but the phones are forwarding and they generally leave an e-mail address you can address questions to.

@Jovelyn Punzal You may want to check with your local zoning department to make sure you can do that with tiny homes.