City building permits · May 2026
Palo Alto Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Palo Alto, California — 62 units in May 2026, 345 over the last 12 months — latest month +376.9% vs. a year earlier.
62
Units (latest month)
7
Single-family units
55
Multifamily (5+) units
$11,860,110
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 345 units permitted · latest month +376.9% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 7 | 11.3% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 55 | 88.7% |
| All units | 62 | 100% |
Palo Alto building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Palo Alto, California?+
62 new residential units were authorized in Palo Alto in May 2026, and 345 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Palo Alto permitting?+
In May 2026, 7 single-family and 55 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 88.7% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Palo Alto's numbers be zero some months?+
Permit activity is lumpy at the city level, and small jurisdictions may report to the Census with a lag. Zero in a month means no permits were reported, not necessarily no construction interest.