City building permits · May 2026
Washington Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Washington, District of Columbia — 455 units in May 2026, 1,852 over the last 12 months — latest month +9000% vs. a year earlier.
455
Units (latest month)
21
Single-family units
434
Multifamily (5+) units
$81,273,499
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 1,852 units permitted · latest month +9000% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 21 | 4.6% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 434 | 95.4% |
| All units | 455 | 100% |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Washington building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Washington, District of Columbia?+
455 new residential units were authorized in Washington in May 2026, and 1,852 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Washington permitting?+
In May 2026, 21 single-family and 434 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 95.4% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Washington'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.