About this site

Housing Permits turns the Census Bureau's building permit files into one readable page for each sizable US metro area and each state: how many new homes were authorized each year since 2004, in what kind of building, and how that compares with similar places.

The site is an independent project run by Caleb Jenkins. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the US Census Bureau or any government agency. All figures are computed from public files of the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey and Population Estimates Program; the counting rules describe every step.

Data cover 2004 to 2025 and are refreshed when the Census Bureau publishes a new annual file. If you spot an error, write to support@housingpermits.online.