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Regional building department reports surge in apartment permits, $3.7 billion in construction valuation
Summary
At the Feb. 10 El Paso County commissioners meeting, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department reported a 227% increase in apartment permits in 2025 and a total estimated construction valuation of $3.7 billion, driven by late-year multifamily approvals and several large commercial projects.
At the Feb. 10 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County, Greg DeGrando, public information officer for the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, told commissioners that 2025 saw a sharp rise in multifamily activity that pushed overall construction value higher.
"We had 2,744 new apartment units permitted last year. That is up 227%," DeGrando said, adding that 4,175 apartment units reached a certificate of occupancy in 2025 — a 10% increase over 2024. The department reported 2,811 single‑family home permits for the year, a small decline from 2024, and a total estimated construction valuation of about $3.7 billion, up roughly 8% year over year.
DeGrando said the apartment surge was concentrated in a few months at year‑end when several large projects were permitted. He noted that some earlier projects reached completion in 2025, which also raised the number of units coming online. "Because we had a large number of apartments permitted last year, ... the number of apartments that are currently under construction actually started to go back up," he said.
The presentation highlighted a range of commercial activity: 398 new ground‑up commercial projects (up 31%), five new hotels accounting for roughly 650 rooms, and large projects including a $45 million American Furniture Warehouse site and a $25 million giraffe exhibit at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. DeGrando also flagged an $11.5 million Broadcom AI Lab near Citizen Service Park, and an approximately $22 million After Sunset Hotel and Resorts project adjacent to the Ford Amphitheater.
For El Paso County specifically, DeGrando cited 1,099 single‑family permits (up 1%) and 214 commercial permits (up 49%). Notable county projects included a $8.2 million sheriff’s substation in the Falcon area, a $10 million addition and renovation at Hanover School, and multiple storage and community facility projects.
On operations, the department reported about 266,077 inspections performed in 2025 and an inspection staff of 55, with the daily department average exceeding 1,000 inspections on weekdays. DeGrando noted that the department offers same‑day inspections (with exceptions for roofing and elevators) and that the agency has not raised fees in 20 years. A public GIS mapping tool (pprbd.org) and a schedule of free classes for contractors, homeowners and commercial brokers were also promoted.
Commissioners asked about regional coverage and staffing. Building Official Roger Lovell explained that the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department serves eight jurisdictions, including Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County; Woodland Park is included within city limits, while neighboring Teller County handles areas outside the town line. DeGrando said the department is in discussions to expand services to smaller towns that currently do their own inspections.
DeGrando told commissioners the department can provide the slide deck used for the briefing upon request. The presentation concluded with a brief question‑and‑answer period and requests for follow‑up materials.
The department’s full slide deck and more detailed data are available through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.
