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City growth

What’s being built in Des Moines

New homes permitted every month.

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New homes permitted

671 new homes were permitted in Des Moines in the 12 months through August 2026, 51% fewer than the 12 months before.

  • 253single-family homes
  • 418homes in duplexes, townhome and apartment buildings
  • $281Kaverage construction cost per single-family home
  • $148Mtotal permitted construction value
New homes permitted each month
  1. 27Sep 24
  2. 23Oct 24
  3. 192Nov 24
  4. 28Dec 24
  5. 401Jan 25
  6. 22Feb 25
  7. 231Mar 25
  8. 21Apr 25
  9. 72May 25
  10. 220Jun 25
  11. 79Jul 25
  12. 40Aug 25
  13. 36Sep 25
  14. 262Oct 25
  15. 42Nov 25
  16. 57Dec 25
  17. 58Jan 26
  18. 9Feb 26
  19. 31Mar 26
  20. 83Apr 26
  21. 13May 26
  22. 18Jun 26
  23. 18Jul 26
  24. 44Aug 26

Single-family Multifamily

Month-by-month numbers
MonthHomesSingle-family2–4 units5+ unitsValue
August 202644201212$11.0M
July 2026186120$4.0M
June 2026181440$6.2M
May 2026131300$4.9M
April 20268323258$18.1M
March 20263119012$7.6M
February 20269900$3.3M
January 2026585800—
December 202557231024$13.4M
November 20254220220$10.6M
October 20252622516221$58.6M
September 20253623013$10.3M
August 20254011209$9.7M
July 20257918259$16.0M
June 2025220180202$56.6M
May 20257221645$15.9M
April 2025212100$7.7M
March 2025231250206$51.2M
February 2025222200$7.8M
January 2025401110390$113M
December 20242810018$5.6M
November 2024192160176$32.5M
October 2024232300$8.1M
September 20242715012$6.6M

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, new privately owned housing units authorized from September 2024 to August 2026. New months are added as the Census posts them, about six weeks after the month ends. Census permits data ↗

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Questions

How many new homes are being built in Des Moines?

Des Moines permitted 671 new homes in the 12 months through August 2026: 253 single-family homes and 418 homes in duplexes, townhome and apartment buildings, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Building Permits Survey.

Where do the monthly numbers come from?

From the U.S. Census Bureau’s Building Permits Survey, which counts new privately owned housing units authorized by local permit offices each month. It does not include remodels, additions or commercial buildings, and a permit is not a finished home.

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