The eight-county Kansas City metropolitan area recorded 618 single-family building permits during April, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,042, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (KCHBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. The monthly average of 510 through April of 2021 exceeds the monthly average during the first four months of 2020 and makes the first third of 2021 the most active since 2017.

“The high volume of consumer traffic during our recently concluded Spring Parade of Homes and the speed at which homes are selling demonstrates that demand for single-family residential building continues despite rising materials prices,” said Executive Vice President Will Ruder. “KCHBA members are working diligently to address the significant lack of inventory in the market. Headwinds related to the price of materials and availability of labor are slowing construction timelines and adding costs which affects buyers and builders alike.”

Year-to-date, single family residential building permits are closely divided between Missouri and Kansas, with 977 issued in Missouri counties and 1,065 in Kansas locales. Kansas City, Mo., (Jackson, Clay and Platte counties) continues to be the top permitting city with 346, followed by Olathe, Kan., with 245, Overland Park, Kan., with 244, Lee’s Summit, Mo., (Cass and Jackson counties) with 210, and Blue Springs, Mo., with 88 rounding out the top five.

Click here to view the April 2021 Residential Statistics Report.