City building permits · May 2026
Portsmouth Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Portsmouth, Virginia — 31 units in May 2026, 186 over the last 12 months — latest month +181.8% vs. a year earlier.
31
Units (latest month)
5
Single-family units
26
Multifamily (5+) units
$3,462,650
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 186 units permitted · latest month +181.8% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 5 | 16.1% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 26 | 83.9% |
| All units | 31 | 100% |
Portsmouth building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Portsmouth, Virginia?+
31 new residential units were authorized in Portsmouth in May 2026, and 186 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Portsmouth permitting?+
In May 2026, 5 single-family and 26 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 83.9% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Portsmouth'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.