Through April, 36,818 housing units have been permitted statewide in 2018. This is about 14 percent higher than the first four months of 2017.
Single family homes (19,008) have made up about half of the statewide total so far this year, as they have in recent years. In each of the first four months of 2018, single family permits have exceeded 2017 levels. Overall, single family permits are up 18 percent through the first four months of 2018 compared to 2017.
Multifamily housing units (17,810) account for the other half of the statewide total. After two strong months to begin the year, multifamily permits in March and April of 2018 fell below 2017 levels. Nonetheless, multifamily permits remain up 10 percent through the first four months of 2018 compared to 2017.
Two months ago we noted a consistent upward trend in multifamily permitting in Alameda County, led by Oakland. In April, this trend strengthened, with 1,088 multifamily units permitted throughout Alameda County. This is the county’s highest month for multifamily permits in over a decade.
The last two months of single family permitting have been relatively strong in Fresno County. Thus far in 2018, single family permitting levels in Fresno County are on track to easily exceed 2017 levels.
Data source: CIRB (Construction Industry Research Board), a service provided by the California Homebuilding Foundation http://www.mychf.org/cirb.html.