Canido

What is Canido?

Canido is an MCP server that integrates with the CanIDo regulatory intelligence API to answer what permits, licenses, or regulations apply for a given business activity at a specific location. Designed for MCP-compatible AI agents (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Continue, etc.), it currently supports food-service activities in Austin, TX; San Francisco, CA; and New York City, NY.

How to use Canido?

Install and run the server via npx: npx -y @canido/mcp-server. Set the CANIDO_API_KEY environment variable with your API key (free keys available at the CanIDo website, 10 queries/month). Any MCP-compatible client can then invoke the server’s tools: lookup_requirements, list_locations, and get_requirement_detail.

Key features of Canido

• Integrates with the CanIDo regulatory intelligence API
• Supports queries for Austin, San Francisco, and New York City
• Covers food‑service activities: food truck, restaurant, catering, cottage food
• Optional category filtering (health, fire, zoning, building, alcohol, tax, business registration, certification)
• Returns structured data: permits, fees, agencies, processing times, prerequisites, and gotchas

Use cases of Canido

• Determine what permits are needed to open a food truck in Austin
• Compare regulatory requirements for a restaurant between San Francisco and NYC
• Filter results to see only health‑department or fire‑safety requirements
• Get detailed information on a specific permit by its ID
• Integrate regulatory lookups into an AI assistant for business‑planning workflows

FAQ from Canido

What activities and locations does Canido support?

It supports four food‑service activities (food_truck, restaurant, catering, cottage_food) and three locations (austin_tx, san_francisco_ca, new_york_city_ny).

How do I get an API key?

A free API key is available at the CanIDo website (10 queries/month, no credit card required). The key is set as the CANIDO_API_KEY environment variable.

Is there a free tier?

Yes. The free plan allows 10 queries per month. Paid plans (Starter $49/mo for 500 queries, Pro $199/mo for 5,000 queries, Enterprise custom) are also available.

What MCP clients are compatible with Canido?

Any MCP‑compatible client works, including Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Continue. The server uses the stdio transport and is invoked via npx.

What data does the server provide?

The server returns structured permit requirements for a business activity/location, including permits, fees, agencies, processing times, prerequisites, and common gotchas. It can also list all supported locations and give detailed information on a specific requirement by ID.