City building permits · May 2026
Boston Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Boston, Massachusetts — 266 units in May 2026, 1,760 over the last 12 months — latest month +56.5% vs. a year earlier.
266
Units (latest month)
25
Single-family units
241
Multifamily (5+) units
$105,506,394
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 1,760 units permitted · latest month +56.5% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 25 | 9.4% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 241 | 90.6% |
| All units | 266 | 100% |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Boston building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Boston, Massachusetts?+
266 new residential units were authorized in Boston in May 2026, and 1,760 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Boston permitting?+
In May 2026, 25 single-family and 241 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 90.6% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Boston'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.