Metro building permits · May 2026
Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH metropolitan area — 1,342 units in May 2026, 9,179 over the last 12 months — latest month +45.7% vs. a year earlier. #32 nationally.
1,342
Units (latest month)
400
Single-family units
878
Multifamily (5+) units
$467,322,000
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 9,179 units permitted · latest month +45.7% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 400 | 29.8% |
| 2-unit structures | 22 | 1.6% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 42 | 3.1% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 878 | 65.4% |
| All units | 1,342 | 100% |
Other metro areas
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Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH metro area?+
1,342 new residential units were authorized in May 2026, and 9,179 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
Where does Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH rank nationally?+
Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH ranks #32 of 922 U.S. metro/micro areas by units permitted over the last 12 months.
What share is multifamily?+
70.2% of the metro's May 2026 permitted units were in multifamily (2+ unit) buildings.