How to Find Painting Projects to Bid On: 51,955 Open Now
The most painting projects to bid on come from building permits, not bid boards, because most private work is awarded without a public bid. On October 9, 2026 Builtie counted 51,955 painting projects still inside the award window across 25 markets, 35,747 of them permitted in the last 90 days.
The same four steps, whether the buyer is a builder, a designer, an owner or a company you want to acquire.
Where painting projects come from
| Source | Covers | When you see it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | Private and public | Before the trades are hired | Builtie reads them and stages each project |
| Public bid portals | Public owners | When the package is tendered | Free; heavy competition |
| Private bid networks | GCs inviting their list | When the GC sends invitations | Only if you are on the list |
| Project databases | Large commercial | Planning to tender | Paid; strongest on big commercial jobs |
Most private painting work is never bid publicly: the builder or general contractor awards it from people it knows or people who called at the right moment. Permits are the one source that shows those projects early.
When to go after a project
Builtie times painting from about 5% of the way through the build to about 35%, with the last realistic approach at about 55%.
Tap a stage. The highlighted stage is where painting is typically awarded.
Open painting projects in every market
| Market | State or province | Projects in the award window |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | New York | 24,335 |
| Austin | Texas | 8,661 |
| Miami-Dade | Florida | 4,817 |
| Los Angeles | California | 2,862 |
| Calgary | Alberta | 2,555 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | 1,671 |
| Toronto | Ontario | 1,436 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 1,364 |
| Seattle | Washington | 754 |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 748 |
| San Antonio | Texas | 591 |
| Fort Worth | Texas | 440 |
| Kitchener | Ontario | 241 |
| Fayetteville, Arkansas | Arkansas | 223 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | 214 |
| Airdrie | Alberta | 177 |
| Overland Park | Kansas | 172 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | 158 |
| Grande Prairie | Alberta | 115 |
| Windsor, Ontario | Ontario | 93 |
| Thunder Bay | Ontario | 93 |
| North Little Rock | Arkansas | 79 |
| St. Louis | Missouri | 76 |
| Broken Arrow | Oklahoma | 40 |
| Red Deer | Alberta | 40 |
51,955 projects inside the award window on October 9, 2026, 35,747 of them permitted in the last 90 days.
More for painting contractors: sales automation, finding clients, getting more jobs, new construction projects.
Plans
Builtie's Starter plan is $79 per seat per month (CAD) for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds the LinkedIn and email outreach you run yourself. Opening a project spends one credit, and the decision makers, emails, phones and AI call script inside it are included. Your monthly credits reset at each renewal, and extra credit packs are valid for 30 days. The free trial runs 7 days with 10 projects. Custom, where Builtie's team runs the outreach for you, starts from CAD $1,500 a month on top of a Growth seat.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find painting projects to bid on?
Public portals for public work, GC bid lists if you are on them, and building permits for everything else, which is most private work. Builtie reads the permits and keeps the projects still in the painting award window.
When should I bid on a painting project?
Builtie times painting from about 5% of the way through the build to about 35%, with the last realistic approach at about 55%.
How many painting projects are open?
51,955 across 25 markets on October 9, 2026.
What does Builtie cost?
Starter is $79 per seat per month for 20 projects; Growth is $99 for 50 projects and adds LinkedIn and email outreach. There is a 7-day free trial with 10 projects.