Question 1

What types of building permits are tracked here?

Accepted Answer

This page shows data from the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey, which tracks permits for new residential construction (single-family homes, duplexes, 3-4 unit buildings, and 5+ unit buildings). It includes both the number of permits issued and the total construction valuation.

Question 2

How do building permits indicate local growth?

Accepted Answer

Building permit activity is a leading indicator of development and economic health. Rising permit counts suggest growing demand and investment in the community. A shift toward multi-family permits may indicate increasing housing density, while declining permits can signal an economic slowdown.

Question 3

Where does this building permit data come from?

Accepted Answer

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey (BPS), which collects monthly reports from permit-issuing jurisdictions across the country. Annual totals are published for municipalities with populations over 1,000. Data is typically available within 6-12 months of the reporting period.

Type	Units	Bldgs	Value	Share
■ Single-Family	237	237	$121.2M	96%
■ Duplex	0	0	—	0%
■ 3-4 Unit	0	0	—	0%
■ 5+ Unit	18	2	$4.9M	4%

Type	Units	Bldgs	Value	Share
■ Single-Family	237	237	$121.2M	96%
■ Duplex	0	0	—	0%
■ 3-4 Unit	0	0	—	0%
■ 5+ Unit	18	2	$4.9M	4%

West Des Moines, IA