Precipitous Drop in Multifamily Permits

With numbers in through August for Cities and Counties, and data available through September for Oregon MSAs, the capacity to build more housing remains weak.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the HUD State of the Cities Data Systems (SOCDS) permit applications throughout Oregon and SW Washington are significantly from the most recent peak in 2022.

MSA Data through September, 2024

Eugene is the exception to the rule in this MSA data for Oregon's major population centers:

• Portland, OR MSA: 4,804 in 2023 to an estimated 2,122 in 2024 (-55.6%)
• Salem, OR MSA: 1,054 in 2023 to a forecasted 810 in 2024 (-23%)
• Eugene, OR MSA: 473 in 2023 to 849 in 2024 (+79%)*
• Bend, OR MSA: 1,068 in 2023 to 433 in 2024 (-59%)

County Data through August, 2024

• Multnomah County (incl. Portland and Gresham): 2,397 in 2023 to 751 in 2024 (-69%)**
• Clackamas County: 229 in 2023 to 132 in 2024 (-42%)
• Washington County: 741 in 2023 to 348 in 2024 (-53%)
• Clark County: 1,437 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024 (-24%)
• Jackson County: 668 in 2023 and 289 in 2024 (-57%)
• Lane County: 473 in 2023 and 955 in 2024 (+102%)

City Data through August, 2024

• City of Portland: 2,142 in 2023 to 582 in 2024 (-73%)*
• City of Vancouver: 1,145 in 2023 to 909 in 2024 (-20%)
• City of Gresham: 237 in 2023 to 0 in 2024 (-100%)
• City of Lebanon: 20 in 2023 to 90 in 2024 (+350%)

*Through Sept. 2024