By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The number of single family permits issued in 2018 in the Seattle metro area (King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties) fell 9 percent last year compared to 2017, while multifamily permits increased by 9 percent. These year-end numbers for the three-county region were driven by a decline in single family permits in Snohomish and Pierce counties, which saw 18 percent and 17 percent drops respectively. Likewise, Snohomish and Pierce counties’ multifamily permit numbers rose significantly in 2018 – by 71 percent in Snohomish County and 51 percent in Pierce County. Meanwhile, King County experienced a modest 2 percent increase in single family and a 2 percent drop in multifamily permits in 2018.

The Builder's Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

April marked the second month in a row in King County and the third consecutive month in Snohomish County that the month’s supply of housing inventory was below two months. While this is below the four-to-six-month level—many industry analysts consider as an indicator of a healthy market—the year-over-year gain in inventory is significant.

The Builder's Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

By Noah Haglund, The Everett Herald

Olympia, Wash.—A state Supreme Court decision issued Thursday upheld stricter stormwater rules for building projects, handing a victory to clean-water advocates looking to protect Puget Sound from toxic runoff.

On the losing side were government officials in Snohomish County and King County and a homebuilders group.

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