Permit office · 19177100
Des Moines, Iowa
Annual housing permits and reporting coverage
- Published estimate · 2025
- 1,676
- Reported only · 2025
- 1,676
- Added by estimation · 2025
- 0
County code in the permit file · Polk County. The office’s coverage may cross that boundary.
Reported and estimated units by year
| Year and source | Published estimate | Reported only | Added by estimation | Months reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Census file · Coverage note | 569 | 569 | 0 | 12 |
| 2024 Census file · Coverage note | 618 | 618 | 0 | 12 |
| 2025 Census file · Coverage note | 1,676 | 1,676 | 0 | 12 |
2024 to 2025 · published estimate +1,058 units · reported only +1,058 · added by estimation 0. The office’s coverage or reporting context can differ between years. See the source notes.
Coverage note. The main portion of Des Moines city located in Polk County issues the permits for the other portion in Warren County. Census coverage footnotes.
Local ACS comparisons are omitted for this office because its reporting area needs separate verification.
What types of housing were authorized?
| Units in building | Published estimate | Reported only | Added by estimation |
|---|---|---|---|
| One unit | 221 | 221 | 0 |
| Two units | 74 | 74 | 0 |
| Three or four units | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Five or more units | 1,377 | 1,377 | 0 |
Sources and definitions
How to read these figures
- The Census Building Permits Survey counts new privately owned housing units authorized by permits. One permit can cover multiple units. The counts describe authorizations, a stage before starts and completions.
- The published estimate includes reported units and Census estimates that fill gaps. The difference is calculated from those two columns. Reported-only units can include records from approved alternative sources. A missing report can leave an office without a usable count.
- County and state totals come from their own Census files. Permit offices can cover places across county lines or areas served by another jurisdiction. The office’s county field is used for navigation.
- ACS housing inventory and rents are survey estimates for 2020–2024. Gross rent includes rent and separately paid utilities or fuels. Rent burden is the share paying at least 30% of income among cash-rent households with a computed ratio. Margins are at 90% confidence. The margin for rent burden is approximate.
- Vintage 2025 county housing stock is a separate Census series. Its model uses building-permit data alongside other inputs. Read stock change and permits as separate measures.
Public sources retrieved November 10, 2026. Building Permits Survey annual data · Survey methodology · American Community Survey data · Download the comparison