Texas and Florida Issued the Most Single-Family Permits in 2021
Texas and Florida accounted for approximately 30% of all single-family permits issued in the United States in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of the 1.1 million single-family permits issued to builders last year, Texas received the highest number with 179,620, followed by Florida at 148,735 and North Carolina at 68,636.
The top 10 states issuing the highest number of single-family permits combined accounted for 62.6% of the total single-family permits issued in 2021.
Between 2021and 2022, 48 states and the District of Columbia saw growth in single-family permits issued. The District of Columbia recorded the highest growth rate during this time at 170.5%, going from 139 permits to 376, followed by Florida (+29.1%), and Maine (+25.3%). Maryland and Montana reported declines in single-family permits during this time.
In 2021, Idaho had the highest number of per capita single-family permits issued as a result of domestic migration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Carolina, Utah, Delaware, and Florida round out the top five states in 2021.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington provides more analysis in this Eye on Housing blog post.
Latest from NAHBNow
IBS
Feb 20, 2026
NAHB Announces Best of IBS Winners at International Builders’ ShowThe National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) named the winners of its 13th annual Best of IBS™ Awards during the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando. The awards were presented during a ceremony held on the final day of the show.
Sponsored Content
Feb 20, 2026
How Land Developers are Leveraging AI to Move FasterAI is helping today's leading land development teams operate differently. By connecting data across ownership, zoning, infrastructure, and development activity, AI can surface early signals of opportunity and support faster, more informed go/no-go decisions
Latest Economic News
Economics
Feb 20, 2026
New Home Sales Close 2025 with Modest GainsNew home sales ended 2025 on a mixed but resilient note, signaling steady underlying demand despite ongoing affordability and supply constraints. The latest data released today (and delayed because of the government shutdown in fall of 2025) indicate that while month-to-month activity shows a small decline, sales remain stronger than a year ago, signaling that buyer interest in newly built homes has improved.
Economics
Feb 20, 2026
U.S. Economy Ends 2025 on a Slower NoteReal GDP growth slowed sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025 as the historic government shutdown weighed on economic activity. While consumer spending continued to drive growth, federal government spending subtracted over a full percentage point from overall growth.
Economics
Feb 19, 2026
Delinquency Rates Normalize While Credit Card and Student Loan Stress WorsensDelinquent consumer loans have steadily increased as pandemic distortions fade, returning broadly to pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 4.8% of outstanding household debt was delinquent at the end of 2025, 0.3 percentage points higher than the third quarter of 2025 and 1.2% higher from year-end 2024.