Google Geocoding API - REQUEST_DENIED

Apparently I do not need a 'Maps API key' to use the 'Google Geocoding API' according to:

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/geocoding/index.html

However, I obtain this:

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

Does this mean that my IP is blocked? What can I do to overcome this?

Solution 1:

Until the end of 2014, a common source of this error was omitting the mandatory sensor parameter from the request, as below. However since then this is no longer required:

The sensor Parameter

The Google Maps API previously required that you include the sensor parameter to indicate whether your application used a sensor to determine the user's location. This parameter is no longer required.

Did you specify the sensor parameter on the request?

"REQUEST_DENIED" indicates that your request was denied, generally because of lack of a sensor parameter.

sensor (required) — Indicates whether or not the geocoding request comes from a device with a location sensor. This value must be either true or false

Solution 2:

Remove the API key parameter and its value.

eg. https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=[YOUR ADDRESS]&sensor=true

Solution 3:

I found that in my case, calling to the service without secure protocol (meaning: http), after adding the key=API_KEY, cause this issue. Changing to https solved it.

Solution 4:

I've noticed that you also get REQUEST_DENIED for some addresses if you don't properly URL encode your address. For example, in

123 Main St #B, Mytown, CA 94110

the '#' character needs to be encoded as %23