Google Geocode API "REQUEST_DENIED" in JSON response - reverse geocode action

Question

Looked everywhere — and have read dozens of other questions regarding Google APIs (Maps, Geocode, Places, Autocomplete, etc) — and nothing has worked.

I have an API key with Places, Static Maps, and Maps v3 & v2 services enabled.

I am trying to perform a reverse geocode (get street address information via JSON from lat/long coords).

Here is the URL I am passing in my JavaScript (last 5 digits of API key replaced with #####:

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?latlng=49.8925136,-97.1466635&sensor=true&key=AIzaSyDbfv8bFidX1hSbXwwKTTxWQYgU7g####

The JSON response is:

{
    "results" : [],
    "status" : "REQUEST_DENIED"
}

As you can see, there is a "sensor=true" parameter being passed - which is the problem according to the Google Document supporting this API, but that is clearly not the case here.

I also tried passing simply

http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?latlng=49.8925136,-97.1466635&sensor=true

which returns expected JSON response when the URL is entered into the addressbar of a browser — but when added to the JavaScript in my HTML file, I again receive:

{
    "results" : [],
    "status" : "REQUEST_DENIED"
}

Any assistance is welcome, and greatly appreciated.

Why make things difficult with the spaces and invalid key? Only you can use your key, because you set the referrers in your Console. — Andrew Leach
The spaces are because I'm new and Stack doesn't allow more than one hyperlink for my questions (and it happens to auto-create hyperlinks for each URL I post...) - As for the API, preference only - and sharing the real one wouldn't assist in answering my question - as (you mention) it can only be used by a referring URL I specify. — mr.subtle
Yes of course: apologies. I've edited them in now you've confirmed there's no other reason not to have links! — Andrew Leach
No worries - I appreciate you taking the time to give some input. — mr.subtle

Andrew Leach Andrew Leach · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-27T18:36:53

Google don't particularly want you to use this static API in a web page. You should be using the Maps API in a web page, and its associated geocoding functionality (because you need to show the results on a map anyway). These static APIs are intended for use server-side, so it looks like they now refuse requests which come with an HTTP_REFERER header.

(Using the key server-side allows you to keep track of statistics, but an invalid key will always result in REQUEST_DENIED whether there is a referrer header or not.)

Google Geocode API "REQUEST_DENIED" in JSON response - reverse geocode action

2 Answers