City building permits · May 2026

Rochester Building Permits

Monthly residential building permits for Rochester, New York 9 units in May 2026, 216 over the last 12 months — latest month +28.6% vs. a year earlier.

9
Units (latest month)
4
Single-family units
5
Multifamily (5+) units
$3,755,124
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 216 units permitted · latest month +28.6% vs. a year earlier.
Total units permitted, by monthDec 2024May 2026
Dec 2024May 2026
Structure typeUnitsShare
Single-family (1-unit)444.4%
2-unit structures00.0%
3–4 unit structures00.0%
Multifamily (5+ units)555.6%
All units9100%

Rochester building permits — FAQ

How many building permits were issued in Rochester, New York?+

9 new residential units were authorized in Rochester in May 2026, and 216 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.

What types of housing is Rochester permitting?+

In May 2026, 4 single-family and 5 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 55.6% of the total was multifamily.

Why might Rochester'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.