City building permits · Jul 2026
West Des Moines Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for West Des Moines, Iowa — 76 units in Jul 2026, 349 over the last 12 months — latest month +347.1% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 14 | 18.4% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 62 | 81.6% |
| All units | 76 | 100% |
Compare this area with the rest of the country: ranked leaderboards for permit volume, permits per capita, year-over-year growth, and multifamily share.
West Des Moines building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in West Des Moines, Iowa?+
76 new residential units were authorized in West Des Moines in Jul 2026, and 349 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is West Des Moines permitting?+
In Jul 2026, 14 single-family and 62 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 81.6% of the total was multifamily.
Why might West 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.