Building permits drop in August, though year ‘is still looking great’
Sept. 2, 2025
Sioux Falls has surpassed $900 million in building activity for the year, though August didn’t result in a lot of new permits.
With about $75 million in permits issued, “August was not a strong month,” chief building official Neil King said. “With May, June and July seeing high numbers, it is typical to see a slower month.”
The overall year “is still looking great,” he continued, adding that CJ Schwan’s still has a build-out permit coming for its Asian food production facility and the Sioux Falls Regional Airport so far has received a permit only for the foundation for its concourse expansion.
Through August, permit valuation totaled $908.4 million, up from $689.9 million for the same time last year and $725.8 million two years ago.
Overall commercial construction is far ahead of the same time frame for the past two years. New commercial permits totaled $495.8 million versus $369.1 million last year and $373.3 million two years ago. Commercial additions and remodels totaled $212.7 million, up from $124.5 million last year and $165.5 million two years ago.
The largest permit in August was $10.2 million for the first phase of the Foss Fields Apartments at 1001 N. Highline Ave.
New residential construction value also has edged ahead of last year at $143.6 million versus $136.3 million last year and $115.9 million two years ago. Permits have been issued for 258 new single-family homes, compared with 372 for the same time last year and 286 two years ago.
Residential additions and remodeling totaled $56.4 million through August, compared with $60 million for the same time last year and $71 million two years ago.
Apartment construction continues to trend behind last year with permits issued for 846 units, compared with 1,042 last year and 1,255 two years ago.
The overall number of permits issued for all work is down, totaling 3,862 versus 4,360 for the same time last year and 5,295 two years ago.
Click on the map below for details on noteworthy projects.
