How many building permits are filed in Washington, District of Columbia?
As of June 3, 2026, 9,196 building permits are on file in Washington, District of Columbia. The most common type is new construction (2,461 permits). Records are pulled from the District of Columbia public feed and refreshed daily.
Washington, DC is seeing steady construction activity with 3,744 building permits filed in the last 30 days. Electrical work dominates the market with 3,102 permits on file, followed closely by plumbing at 2,694 permits. This volume tells you there's consistent work available across multiple trade types if you know where to look. The permit activity spreads across multiple zip codes throughout the district, meaning opportunities aren't concentrated in one area. You'll find work in residential renovations, commercial upgrades, and building systems installations across different neighborhoods. This geographic distribution requires contractors to monitor several areas simultaneously to stay competitive. For contractors bidding on jobs, the data shows electrical and plumbing work make up the bulk of permits, with roofing (1,426 permits) and HVAC (1,134 permits) also representing solid opportunities. Permit values vary based on project scope, but tracking permit filings gives you a first-look advantage over competitors. Most contractors who win consistent work in DC monitor new filings daily rather than waiting for jobs to be publicly advertised. DigPermit pulls permit data directly from Washington's public records every day, so you're seeing the same information city officials process. Contractors who check permits within hours of filing have better odds of reaching property owners and GCs before other bids come in. This is how you build a steady pipeline instead of competing on price after the job's already been shopped around.
Monitor building permits filed in your trade. New permit filings are your earliest warning that a project is moving forward. Electrical contractors, plumbers, HVAC techs, and roofers who check permits within 24 hours of filing can contact property owners and GCs directly before the job gets shopped to multiple bidders. Set up daily alerts for your trade types and the zip codes where you work. This is faster and more effective than waiting for jobs to appear on job boards or bid sites.
Electrical permits lead at 3,102 permits on file, making it the largest opportunity. Plumbing follows with 2,694 permits. Roofing comes in at 1,426 permits, and HVAC at 1,134 permits. The remaining 1,362 permits cover other work types. If you're an electrician or plumber, the sheer volume means consistent work if you're proactive. Roofers and HVAC contractors should focus on being first to respond to new filings since there's more competition per available job.
Permit activity spreads across multiple zip codes throughout Washington, DC rather than concentrating in one area. This means you can't rely on a single neighborhood for leads. You need to monitor permit filings across the districts where your customers are located. Check your company's historical job data to identify which zip codes have given you the most work, then prioritize monitoring those areas for new filings.
Permit values vary depending on the type of work, project scope, and whether it's residential or commercial. Electrical and plumbing jobs can range from small residential repairs to major commercial installations. Rather than focusing on average value, track the volume of permits in your trade. More filings mean more opportunities to bid, and consistent bidding on a high volume of jobs beats waiting for one high-value project.
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DigPermit updates permit data daily from Washington's public records. New filings are added as the city processes them. Checking for new permits daily gives you the speed advantage you need to reach decision-makers first. Contractors checking weekly or monthly are already behind competitors who monitor daily. Set up a routine to check permits at the same time each day so you don't miss filing windows.