City building permits · May 2026
Seattle Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Seattle, Washington — 508 units in May 2026, 4,472 over the last 12 months — latest month +257.7% vs. a year earlier.
508
Units (latest month)
72
Single-family units
401
Multifamily (5+) units
$106,868,172
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 4,472 units permitted · latest month +257.7% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 72 | 14.2% |
| 2-unit structures | 28 | 5.5% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 7 | 1.4% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 401 | 78.9% |
| All units | 508 | 100% |
Seattle building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Seattle, Washington?+
508 new residential units were authorized in Seattle in May 2026, and 4,472 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Seattle permitting?+
In May 2026, 72 single-family and 401 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 85.8% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Seattle'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.