Building Permits in Northern Mariana Islands

Frequently asked questions

What does a building permit count mean?

The Census Bureau counts new privately owned housing units authorized by building permits. A permit is not a finished home: some projects start months later and a few never start. Remodels and nonresidential buildings are not included.

Why are some counties missing?

Places without a local permit office are not covered, and some areas report only once a year. Census fills in estimates for permit offices that did not report in a given month.