Week of 4/15/26: Permits Down 39% to 7,730

Permit filings dropped 39% this week to 7,730 total, marking a significant pullback from the previous week's activity. The decline reflects typical mid-April seasonal patterns, though selective categories showed strong growth. Brooklyn's solar permits jumped 600% with 7 filings versus 1 last week, while Seattle's roofing segment climbed 350% to 36 permits. These contrasts suggest uneven market conditions across geographies and trade types. Direct homeowner opportunities - permits filed without contractor involvement - totaled 1,285 this week, representing potential growth avenues for contractors seeking new customer relationships. San Diego continues to dominate the opportunity with 762 direct permits, followed by Boston at 299 and Philadelphia at 99. Notable weakness appeared in commercial sectors, with Los Angeles commercial permits dropping 87% to just 5 filings. New construction in the Bronx fell 80% week-over-week, signaling reduced residential development activity in that market. Five mega-projects in Miami exceeded $80 million each, concentrated in the 'other' category, though these represent isolated high-value exceptions rather than broad market strength.