Strong Rebound in Single-Family Permits to Start 2024

Construction Statistics
Published

In January 2024, the total number of single-family permits issued year to date (YTD) nationwide reached 75,906 — an increase of 43.1% over the January 2023 level of 53,062.

Single-family permits were up in all four regions in January. Permit increases spanned from 67% in the West to 19.4% in the Northeast. The South was up by 39.4%, and the Midwest was up by 36.5%.

For multifamily permits, the regions were split, with half posting increases and the other posting decreases. The Northeast was up by 64.5%, and the Midwest was up by 13.6%. The South posted a decline of 32.5%, and the West declined by 27.9% in multifamily permits during this time.

Forty-four states posted an increase in single-family permits in January 2024 compared to January 2023. Increases ranged from 128% in Nevada to 2.4% in Mississippi. The 10 states issuing the highest number of single-family permits combined accounted for 67.7% of the total single-family permits issued.

The total number of multifamily permits issued nationwide reached 38,870 YTD ending in January. This is 18.9% below the January 2023 level of 47,936.

Twenty-one 21 states recorded growth in multifamily permits in January 2024 compared to January 2023, while 29 states and the District of Columbia recorded a decline. Wyoming had a sharp rise in multifamily permits from nine to 43 (+377.8%), while Alaska had the greatest decline from 54 to zero. The 10 states issuing the highest number of multifamily permits combined accounted for 68.1% of the multifamily permits issued.

NAHB Assistant Vice President for Forecasting and Analysis Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington provides more insights, including the top 10 markets for single-family and multifamily permits, in this Eye on Housing post.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Labor

May 13, 2025

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in Construction?

Half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $60,320, compared to the U.S. median annual pay of $49,500, and the top 25% make at least $81,510, according to the latest May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by NAHB. See which occupations in the construction are the highest earning.

Material Costs

May 12, 2025

Statement from NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes on U.S.-China Tariff Agreement

Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Lexington, N.C., issued a statement after the U.S. and China announced a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs each nation has imposed on one another.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

May 13, 2025

Inflation Eased Again in April

Inflation slowed to a 4-year low in April while shelter inflation remained elevated. Despite the easing, inflation may pick up in the coming months as possible inflationary pressure from enacted tariffs and other policy uncertainties continues to threaten economic growth and complicate the Fed’s path to its 2% target.

Economics

May 13, 2025

Residential Mortgages Experience Weaker Demand in First Quarter

Overall demand for residential mortgages was weaker while lending standards for most types of residential mortgages were essentially unchanged according to the Federal Reserve Board’s April 2025 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS).

Economics

May 13, 2025

Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2024

Half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $60,320 and the top 25% make at least $81,510, according to the latest May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In comparison, the U.S. median annual pay is $49,500, while the top quartile (the highest paid 25%) makes at least $78,810.