City building permits · May 2026
Des Moines Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Des Moines, Iowa — 13 units in May 2026, 930 over the last 12 months — latest month -81.9% vs. a year earlier.
13
Units (latest month)
13
Single-family units
0
Multifamily (5+) units
$4,891,329
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 930 units permitted · latest month -81.9% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 13 | 100.0% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 0 | 0.0% |
| All units | 13 | 100% |
Des Moines building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Des Moines, Iowa?+
13 new residential units were authorized in Des Moines in May 2026, and 930 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Des Moines permitting?+
In May 2026, 13 single-family and 0 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 0.0% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Des Moines'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.