By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Seattle Metro Area Sees Uptick in Single Family Permits in 2016

King County ended 2016 with a 7 percent increase in single-family permit activity compared to 2015 and a 7 percent decline in multifamily permits, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Meanwhile, Snohomish County saw a 13 percent increase in single family permits and a 2 percent increase in multifamily permits at year's end. Both counties continued to have less than one month's supply of housing inventory for sale during January 2017.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

By Margo Greenman, 425 Business Magazine

Headquartered in Bellevue, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties is one of the oldest and largest local homebuilders association in the United States. With a more than 100-year history, the association has deep roots in the region.

Forty MBAKS members and staff traveled to Olympia Thursday, January 29 for our Annual Hill Day where we met with elected leaders to advocate for housing. The event was timed strategically just before the first policy committee cutoff, ensuring that industry voices were heard at a pivotal time for our priority bills.

MBAKS took part in 43 meetings with legislators from King and Snohomish counties, as well as the Governor’s office and Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, to elevate our housing priorities.

“This year marks the highest number of face-to-face meetings ever held on one of our Hill Days,” said Dylan Sluder, MBAKS’s state government affairs manager. “Many thanks to our MBAKS members who showed up, shared their expertise, and helped make the day such a success!”

Read MBAKS’s 2026 State Legislative Priorities to learn more about the bills members highlighted in conversations with state leaders.

In addition to meetings with legislators, MBAKS had the opportunity to participate in a legislative hearing on one of our priority bills to modernize and streamline state subdivision laws, SB 5633. The bill was heard by the Senate Local Government Committee on January 29.

Special thanks to MBAKS members Mark Villwock of DR Horton and Ian Faulds of Core Design for joining MBAKS General Counsel Brian Holtzclaw in testifying on behalf of this priority legislation.

Hill Day is MBAKS’s most important advocacy event of the year. It’s an opportunity for members to engage directly with Washington state legislators and share real-world perspectives on how state policies affect housing supply, affordability, and our ability to deliver homes in our communities.

Read our latest Legislative Session Update.