HousingPermits

Metro area in Michigan · part of the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI combined area

Ann Arbor, MI

The Ann Arbor metro area authorized 1,088 new housing units in 2025. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 41% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 15 metro areas based in Michigan. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2004, with 2,708 units; 2025 came to 40% of that.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,708 units (1,994 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 664 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,676 units (1,441 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 227 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 775 units (627 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 565 units (490 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 347 units (278 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 253 units (210 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 41 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 368 units (317 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 477 units (200 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 276 units (262 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 758 units (394 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 356 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 570 units (385 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 420 units (390 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 30 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 438 units (438 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 657 units (583 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 22 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 805 units (652 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 116 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 815 units (608 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 123 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,065 units (711 single-family, 157 in 2–4 unit, 197 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 916 units (795 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 15 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 656 units (603 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 33 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,597 units (485 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 1,080 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,193 units (557 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 560 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,088 units (532 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 534 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 2,7082009 low · 25301,0002,0003,0002004: 2,708 units (1,994 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 664 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,676 units (1,441 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 227 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 775 units (627 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 565 units (490 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 347 units (278 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 253 units (210 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 41 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 368 units (317 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 477 units (200 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 276 units (262 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 12 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 758 units (394 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 356 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 570 units (385 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 420 units (390 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 30 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 438 units (438 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 657 units (583 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 22 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 805 units (652 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 116 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 815 units (608 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 123 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,065 units (711 single-family, 157 in 2–4 unit, 197 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 916 units (795 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 15 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 656 units (603 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 33 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,597 units (485 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 1,080 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,193 units (557 single-family, 76 in 2–4 unit, 560 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,088 units (532 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 534 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 2,708

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Canton, Flint, Rockford. Annual permits fell from 2,708 during the mid-2000s boom to 253 in 2009, a drop of 91%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Mansfield's (91%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,090 units a year is 37% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2020. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 8.8%.

Relative to population

With 370,214 residents in July 2025, Ann Arbor authorized 3.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Tyler (3.0) and State College (3.0).

The wider Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor region

The Census Bureau groups Ann Arbor with 3 neighboring metro areas in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 9,723 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Ann Arbor accounted for 11%. The others, with their yearly averages: Detroit (7,957), Flint (432), Monroe, MI (243).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 19 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Ann Arbor, with 1,439 units or 26% of the total, followed by Pittsfield charter township with 1,223. Among the three largest, Ann Arbor put 56% of its units in five-plus buildings, Washtenaw County Part (unincorporated) 13%.

  • Ann Arbor26% (1,439 units)
  • Pittsfield charter township22% (1,223 units)
  • Washtenaw County Part (unincorporated)15% (835 units)
  • Ypsilanti10% (555 units)
  • Northfield township5.3% (291 units)
  • Superior charter township4.6% (248 units)
  • Saline3.6% (197 units)
  • Ypsilanti charter township3.4% (186 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Manchester (41% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 20%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (1,080), single-family houses in 2004 (1,994).

2021–202554.5%54%4.7%40.8%41%2004–200678.7%79%1.4%19.8%20%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202554.5%54%4.7%40.8%41%2004–200678.7%79%1.4%19.8%20%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC3,1366.920%
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ1,6134.114%
Ann Arbor, MI1,0883.041%
Lubbock, TX2,8698.017%
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH3090.921%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Ann Arbor beside Lubbock

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Michigan. Counting rules.