City building permits · May 2026
Santa Monica Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Santa Monica, California — 51 units in May 2026, 514 over the last 12 months — latest month +13.3% vs. a year earlier.
51
Units (latest month)
8
Single-family units
38
Multifamily (5+) units
$5,479,285
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 514 units permitted · latest month +13.3% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 8 | 15.7% |
| 2-unit structures | 2 | 3.9% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 3 | 5.9% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 38 | 74.5% |
| All units | 51 | 100% |
Santa Monica building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Santa Monica, California?+
51 new residential units were authorized in Santa Monica in May 2026, and 514 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Santa Monica permitting?+
In May 2026, 8 single-family and 38 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 84.3% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Santa Monica'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.