City building permits · May 2026

Charleston Building Permits

Monthly residential building permits for Charleston, South Carolina 128 units in May 2026, 1,366 over the last 12 months — latest month +37.6% vs. a year earlier.

128
Units (latest month)
70
Single-family units
58
Multifamily (5+) units
$20,274,291
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 1,366 units permitted · latest month +37.6% vs. a year earlier.
Total units permitted, by monthDec 2024May 2026
Dec 2024May 2026
Structure typeUnitsShare
Single-family (1-unit)7054.7%
2-unit structures00.0%
3–4 unit structures00.0%
Multifamily (5+ units)5845.3%
All units128100%

Charleston building permits — FAQ

How many building permits were issued in Charleston, South Carolina?+

128 new residential units were authorized in Charleston in May 2026, and 1,366 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.

What types of housing is Charleston permitting?+

In May 2026, 70 single-family and 58 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 45.3% of the total was multifamily.

Why might Charleston'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.