Montgomery County Residential Permit Insights
25 years of residential construction permit data, updated weekly. See what's being built, how fast permits are processed, and where construction is happening.
How much new construction is happening?
Over 26,545 new construction permits have been completed since 2000. Volume peaked at 1,998 in 2001 and hit a low of 656 in 2023. The housing crash is clearly visible in the data, with completions falling sharply in the late 2000s and recovering only gradually.
What types of homes are being built?
Single-family dwellings dominate new construction completions. Townhouse construction has grown as a share of total activity, reflecting changing market demand and land use patterns. Duplex construction remains a small fraction of the total.
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- New permit applications
- Permits issued this week
- Construction completed
- Addresses and details
Are new homes getting bigger or smaller?
New homes in Montgomery County are getting smaller. Average square footage peaked at 5,531 sq ft in 2023 and has since declined to 4,922 sq ft in 2025. Rising land costs, changing buyer preferences, and zoning constraints are all contributing to more modest footprints.
How long does it take to get a new construction permit?
New construction permits have always taken longer to process than renovations. The fastest average turnaround was 61.3 days in 2025, while the slowest was 211.7 days in 2004. The most recent full year (2025) averaged 61.3 days. Half of new construction permits are approved within 56 days, but 1 in 10 waits over 238 days. Applications peak in Feb and slow in Dec.
Get a free sample
See exactly what subscribers receive each week. Pick any neighborhood below and we'll send you a sample report.
- New permit applications
- Permits issued this week
- Construction completed
- Addresses and details
How long does it take to build a new home?
The total timeline from permit issuance to final inspection for new construction has fluctuated significantly. The fastest average was 203 days in 2000, while 2005 saw an average of 347 days — nearly 12 months from permit issuance to final inspection. During construction, 16.0% of inspections result in a failure, adding rework and delays to an already long process.