City building permits · May 2026
Philadelphia Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — 254 units in May 2026, 4,172 over the last 12 months — latest month +4.5% vs. a year earlier.
254
Units (latest month)
61
Single-family units
136
Multifamily (5+) units
$47,222,343
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 4,172 units permitted · latest month +4.5% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 61 | 24.0% |
| 2-unit structures | 8 | 3.1% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 49 | 19.3% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 136 | 53.5% |
| All units | 254 | 100% |
Philadelphia building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?+
254 new residential units were authorized in Philadelphia in May 2026, and 4,172 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Philadelphia permitting?+
In May 2026, 61 single-family and 136 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 76.0% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Philadelphia'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.