HousingPermits

Metro area in Georgia · part of the Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL combined area

Athens-Clarke County, GA

The Athens-Clarke County metro area authorized 1,278 new housing units in 2025. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 49% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 14 metro areas based in Georgia. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 7.5 units a year in 2021–2025, 1.6 times the national rate of 4.7.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,113 units (1,958 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,996 units (1,719 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,891 units (1,411 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 472 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,691 units (1,164 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 501 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 591 units (530 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 297 units (277 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 226 units (226 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 327 units (240 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 85 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 619 units (447 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,079 units (698 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 361 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 930 units (502 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 422 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,159 units (562 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 584 units (523 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 771 units (581 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,069 units (729 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 332 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,591 units (821 single-family, 137 in 2–4 unit, 633 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,218 units (857 single-family, 361 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,848 units (856 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 922 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,345 units (771 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 1,542 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,026 units (776 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,835 units (863 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 888 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,278 units (756 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 522 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 2,3452010 low · 22601,0002,0003,0002004: 2,113 units (1,958 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,996 units (1,719 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,891 units (1,411 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 472 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,691 units (1,164 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 501 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 591 units (530 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 297 units (277 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 226 units (226 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 327 units (240 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 85 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 619 units (447 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 138 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,079 units (698 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 361 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 930 units (502 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 422 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,159 units (562 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 584 units (523 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 771 units (581 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,069 units (729 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 332 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,591 units (821 single-family, 137 in 2–4 unit, 633 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,218 units (857 single-family, 361 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,848 units (856 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 922 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,345 units (771 single-family, 32 in 2–4 unit, 1,542 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,026 units (776 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,835 units (863 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 888 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,278 units (756 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 522 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 2,345

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 10 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Athens-Clarke County, with 5,267 units or 63% of the total, followed by Oconee County (unincorporated) with 1,033. Among the three largest, Athens-Clarke County put 77% of its units in five-plus buildings, Oconee County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Athens-Clarke County63% (5,267 units)
  • Oconee County (unincorporated)12% (1,033 units)
  • Madison County (unincorporated)9.5% (795 units)
  • Watkinsville7.7% (644 units)
  • Oglethorpe County5.8% (487 units)
  • Danielsville0.4% (35 units)
  • Bogart town0.3% (26 units)
  • Carlton0.3% (25 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 Salem (49% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (1,542), single-family houses in 2004 (1,958).

2021–202548.3%48%3.0%48.7%49%2004–200684.8%85%2.6%12.6%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202548.3%48%3.0%48.7%49%2004–200684.8%85%2.6%12.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Athens authorized the most units in 2022 (2,345); 2025 reached 54% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Punta Gorda, Joplin, Warner Robins. Annual permits fell from 2,113 during the mid-2000s boom to 226 in 2010, a drop of 89%. The nearest bust profile in the South Atlantic states was Crestview's (90%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,666 units a year is 17% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 30%.

The wider Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs region

The Census Bureau groups Athens with 3 neighboring metro areas in the Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 44,215 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Athens accounted for 3.8%. The others, with their yearly averages: Atlanta (40,249), Gainesville, GA (1,994), Rome (305).

Where in the metro

Clarke County accounted for 63% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Oconee County for 21%.

  • Clarke County63% (748 in 2025)
  • Oconee County21% (320 in 2025)
  • Madison County10% (130 in 2025)
  • Oglethorpe County5.8% (80 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Gainesville, GA1,9969.224%
Yuma, AZ1,1555.216%
Athens-Clarke County, GA1,2787.549%
Monroe, LA5302.39.7%
Medford, OR9444.932%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Athens beside Yuma

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