City building permits · May 2026
Des Moines Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Des Moines, Washington — 199 units in May 2026, 210 over the last 12 months.
199
Units (latest month)
3
Single-family units
196
Multifamily (5+) units
$72,201,400
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 210 units permitted.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 3 | 1.5% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 196 | 98.5% |
| All units | 199 | 100% |
Des Moines building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Des Moines, Washington?+
199 new residential units were authorized in Des Moines in May 2026, and 210 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Des Moines permitting?+
In May 2026, 3 single-family and 196 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 98.5% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Des Moines'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.