Frequently Asked Questions

This page is only for customers with a previous Maps APIs for Work or Maps API for Business license. This page is not applicable to customers with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, which became available in January 2016.

This FAQ covers questions specific to previous Google Maps APIs for Work licenses.

Please refer to the Google Maps Platform FAQ for questions common to all Google Maps Platform.

Getting Started

Usage Limits

Using the Google Maps Platform

KML

URL Signing

Styling

Getting Started

Which products are included in Google Maps APIs for Work?

The following Google products are included in Google Maps APIs for Work. Applications that use these products are covered by the Google Maps APIs for Work SLA, and are eligible for technical support:

The following APIs are not covered by Google Maps APIs for Work. Applications that use these APIs must do so in compliance with the published Terms of Service for these APIs, and are not covered by the Google Maps APIs for Work SLA, or eligible for technical support at this time:

How do I contact technical support for Google Maps APIs for Work?

Google Maps APIs for Work customers can open a new support case with Google Support using the Google Cloud Support Portal at:

https://google.secure.force.com/

A username and password is required to access the portal. Please fill out this form if you do not have an account.

How do I reset login credentials for the Google Cloud Support Portal?

I forgot my password. This link is also available from the Google Cloud Support Portal login page.

What are the Terms of Service for the Google Maps APIs for Work?

If you are a Google Maps APIs for Work customer, please refer to your agreement for the terms that govern your use of the Google Maps Platform.

Usage Limits

How is Google Maps APIs for Work usage tracked and reported?

  • For Google Maps APIs for Work licenses, Maps JavaScript API, Street View API, and Maps Static API usage calculation is based on page views.

    A page view is defined as:

    1. A single load of the Maps JavaScript API into a page. The Maps JavaScript API is reloaded every time a page that uses the API is reloaded. User interactions with the map (eg. panning, zooming, changing map types) do not generate more page views. Note however that a page view is generated if the API is loaded into the page even if the API is not then used to display a map. We therefore recommend against including the <script> tag that loads the API in page templates, and recommend loading the API asynchronously on pages where maps are only displayed in response to optional user activity.
    2. A single request for a Street View API or Maps Static API image.

    Google Maps APIs for Work customers can track their page view usage on the Google Cloud Support Portal at: https://google.secure.force.com/

    Note that Google Maps Platform Standard and Premium Plan applications are limited by map loads, which are slightly different from page views. Please refer to the Google Maps Platform FAQ for more information.

  • The Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work uses map loads to track usage. Please refer to the Google Maps Mobile SDK usage limits for more information.
  • Google Maps Platform web services use requests to track usage (the Distance Matrix API uses elements to track usage). Please refer to the Google Maps Platform web services usage limits for more information.
What are the usage limits for the Maps JavaScript API?

Requests that constitute page views (as defined above) are applied against the total number of page views purchased with your Google Maps APIs for Work license. When this limit is reached, you will need to renew your license promptly.

What are the usage limits for the Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work?

Each map load is applied against the total number of map loads purchased with your Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work license. When this limit is reached, you will need to renew your license promptly. Refer to the Google Maps Mobile SDK usage limits for more information.

What are the usage limits for the Google Maps Platform Web Services?

Google Maps APIs for Work customers are provided with the following usage limits for the Google Maps Platform web services:

Web service Limits
Directions Daily quota starting at 100,000 requests per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase. Maximum of 23 waypoints per request. Rate limit of 10 requests per second.
Elevation Daily quota starting at 100,000 requests per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase. Maximum of 512 points per request. Rate limit of 10 requests per second.
Geocoding Daily quota starting at 100,000 requests per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase. Rate limit of 10 requests per second.
Distance Matrix Daily quota starting at 100,000 elements per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase. Maximum of 625 elements per query and a maximum of 1,000 elements per 10 seconds.
Time Zone Daily quota starting at 100,000 requests per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase . Rate limit of 10 requests per second.
Roads Daily quota starting at 100,000 requests per 24 hours, based on annual contractual purchase. Rate limit of 10 requests per second. Each request may contain up to 100 points.

These limits apply to each Google Maps APIs for Work client ID or developer project and are shared across all applications and IP addresses using a given client ID or developer project.

If you need higher usage limits, please contact your Google Maps APIs for Work Account Manager for purchase information.

What are the usage limits for the Places SDK and the Geolocation API?

If you've purchased the Places SDK or the Geolocation API as part of your Google Maps APIs for Work contract, your limits will be listed in the Quotas section of the Google Cloud Platform Console. If you need a higher limit, please contact Google through the Google Cloud Support Portal.

What are the usage limits for Geocoding requests made from the Maps JavaScript API?

Google Maps APIs for Work customers are provided with the following usage limits for Geocoding requests made from the Maps JavaScript API:

Service API being used Limits
Geocoding
Maps JavaScript API

Geocoding has a daily allocation and rate limit which is applied per user session, regardless of how many users share a given IP address.

This service should not be used for batch geocoding operations; you should use the Geocoding API for such operations.
What are the usage limits for the Google Maps image APIs?

Google Maps APIs for Work customers are provided with the following usage limits for the Google Maps image APIs:

Service Limits
Maps Static API

Requests are applied against the total number of page views purchased with the Google Maps APIs for Work license.

The maximum image size is 2048 by 2048 pixels. This is calculated as size times scale, as explained below.
Street View API

Requests are applied against the total number of page views purchased with the Google Maps APIs for Work license.

The maximum image size is 2048 by 2048 pixels.

Maps Static API images can be requested up to 2048x2048 pixels. Because the scale value in a static map request affects the number of pixels returned, the maximum size value is different for each scale level:

Scale Max Size Returns
1 2048x2048 2048x2048
2 1024x1024 2048x2048
4 512x512 2048x2048

The Street View API does not support the scale parameter.

Using the Google Maps Platform

What keys or credentials should I use for different Google Maps Platform products?

Each time you use the Google Maps Platform you must include credentials to validate your request. The type of credentials required varies depending upon the APIs being used with your Google Maps APIs for Work licence. For most APIs, you will use your client ID. In some cases, you will need an API key.

  • Client ID: A client ID is given to you when you sign up as a Google Maps APIs for Work customer.

    Example of loading an API with a client ID: &client=gme-companyname

  • Digital Signature: Typically, a digital signature is used by Google Maps APIs for Work customers when authenticating with a client ID. The digital signature is generated using a cryptographic key provided to you by Google.
  • API Key: An API key is a unique identifier that you generate using the Google Cloud Platform Console. API keys are generally used with the standard APIs. Google Maps APIs for Work customers typically use a client ID, though a few APIs require an API key instead of the client ID. For APIs that require an API key, you can choose to use an API key without applying restrictions (called a “generic API key”) or a key with restrictions applied for greater security (recommended). APIs in any platform may use a generic API key.

    If you choose to add a restriction (for example, IP address) to the API key, once restricted, a key will only work on platforms that support that type of restriction. Four types of API key restrictions are available:

    • Server restriction (by IP address) - for use with the web service APIs.
    • Browser restriction (by HTTP referrers) - for use with the Web APIs.
    • Android app restriction (by package name and fingerprint) - for use with the Android APIs.
    • iOS app restriction (by iOS bundle identifier) - for use with the iOS APIs.

    APIs of the same platform can use the same restricted key.

    Note: When generating a key on the Google Cloud Platform Console, Google Maps APIs for Work users must make sure to select the project that was created for them upon signup. This project will include the word Business or Work in the name.

    Example of loading an API with a key: &key=AIzaSyBjsINSH5x39Ks6c0_CoS1yr1Mb3cB3cVo

The table below indicates which credential should be used with each Google Maps Platform product. (As mentioned above, the types of API key restrictions are: server, browser, Android, and iOS.)

API Google Maps APIs for Work Users
Maps SDK for Android API key with Android restriction
Places SDK for Android unavailable
Maps SDK for iOS API key with iOS restriction
Places SDK for iOS unavailable
Maps JavaScript API Client ID
Maps Static API Client ID + Digital Signature
Street View API Client ID + Digital Signature
Maps Embed API unavailable
Directions API Client ID + Digital Signature
Distance Matrix API Client ID + Digital Signature
Elevation API Client ID + Digital Signature
Geocoding API Client ID + Digital Signature
Geolocation API API key with server restriction
Roads API API key with server restriction
Time Zone API Client ID + Digital Signature
Places API API key with server restriction
How do I access the Google Maps Platform using a Google Maps APIs for Work client ID, from a page that's loaded over HTTPS (SSL)?

To access the Google Maps Platform from a page that's loaded over HTTPS, you must first authorize the HTTPS URLs on which you wish to use the API.

How do I load the Maps JavaScript API over HTTPS (SSL) when using the Common Loader base_domain parameter?

It is not possible to load the Maps JavaScript API over SSL using the common loader with the base_domain parameter set.

The base_domain parameter does not affect your application's performance — API requests are always handled by the optimal Maps server for a particular user's location regardless of the domain from which the API is loaded.

base_domain does bias geocoding results towards the specified region; to achieve the same effect without base_domain, set the geocoding service's region parameter.

KML

How do I render KML files that are hosted on intranet sites on a map?

The KmlLayer class that generates KML overlays in the Maps JavaScript API uses a Google hosted service to retrieve and parse KML files for rendering. Consequently it is not possible to display KML files that are not hosted at a URL that is available publicly accessible, or that require authentication to access.

If you need to develop applications that use KML files hosted on intranet sites we recommend that you render the KML on the client side by using third-party JavaScript libraries. As the KML file is analyzed by the browser, performance may be lower than by using the KmlLayer class.

URL Signing

Can I sign URLs using JavaScript?

We strongly recommend against signing URLs using JavaScript as this would expose your cryptographic key to end users. Therefore signatures should only be generated by server side components.

Why am I receiving a HTTP 403 Forbidden response to my Google Maps Platform web service requests?

An HTTP 403 response indicates a permission issue, likely because the signature could not be verified for this request. This could be because:

  1. A signature has been specified but is incorrect for this request.
  2. The request specifies a Google Maps APIs for Work client ID but does not specify a signature, and the web service being called requires that all requests made using a client id include a valid signature.
  3. A signature has been specified but the associated Google Maps APIs for Work client ID has not been specified.

Styling

Why aren't businesses showing up on my map?

When loading a map using the Maps JavaScript API and including a client parameter, business listings on the map are turned off by default. To turn them back on, you'll need to include some styling code with your map: 

var styles = [
  {
    featureType: 'poi.business',
    stylers: [
      { visibility: 'on' }
    ]
  }
];

map.setOptions({styles: styles});