Building permits in May 2026: 6 US city datasets compared
Counts are permits issued in the month (by issue date). Cities differ in what they record (for example, trade permits are separate permits in some cities), so compare trends within a city before comparing cities.
| City | Dataset | Records | vs prior month | Median value | Top category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | DOB NOW approved permits | 14,081 | -7.5% | US$40,000 | General Construction |
| Austin | Issued construction permits | 4,641 | -5.1% | US$197,820 | Electrical Permit |
| New Orleans | Permits (Safety and Permits) | 1,989 | +30.9% | US$9,997 | Electrical Service / Circuit / Feeder |
| San Francisco | Building permits (DBI) | 1,747 | -16.0% | US$26,000 | otc alterations permit |
| Cincinnati | Building permits | 890 | -2.5% | US$6,800 | Plumbing Permits |
| Seattle | Building permits (SDCI) | 524 | -17.7% | US$106,636 | Building |
Other months
Each row links to that city's full month page with the 25-record free preview and the full CSV.