HousingPermits

Metro area in Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

The Charlottesville metro area authorized 2,135 new housing units in 2025. Relative to population, the rate was 9.3 units per 1,000 residents in 2025, the highest rate of the 9 metro areas based in Virginia. Its 2025 total reached 95% of the 2004 high, the closest to a series peak among the 9 metro areas based in Virginia.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 2,257 units (1,480 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 703 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,029 units (1,576 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 414 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,789 units (1,263 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 509 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,317 units (1,151 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 913 units (821 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 72 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 666 units (584 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,105 units (607 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 482 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,008 units (619 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 379 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,212 units (583 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 615 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,006 units (657 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 325 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 839 units (672 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 149 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 942 units (710 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 218 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,205 units (857 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,245 units (932 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 313 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,592 units (1,005 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,375 units (996 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,673 units (1,068 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,427 units (999 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 410 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,500 units (1,017 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,309 units (899 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 391 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,267 units (985 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 252 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,135 units (1,068 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,043 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 2,2572009 low · 66608001,6002,4002004: 2,257 units (1,480 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 703 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,029 units (1,576 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 414 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,789 units (1,263 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 509 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,317 units (1,151 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 162 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 913 units (821 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 72 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 666 units (584 single-family, 28 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,105 units (607 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 482 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,008 units (619 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 379 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,212 units (583 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 615 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,006 units (657 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 325 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 839 units (672 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 149 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 942 units (710 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 218 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,205 units (857 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,245 units (932 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 313 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,592 units (1,005 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 569 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,375 units (996 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,673 units (1,068 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,427 units (999 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 410 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,500 units (1,017 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 459 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,309 units (899 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 391 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,267 units (985 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 252 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,135 units (1,068 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 1,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 2,257

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits rose 68% between 2024 and 2025, the third-largest increase among the 81 metro areas based in the South Atlantic states.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 5 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Albemarle County, with 4,148 units or 54% of the total, followed by Charlottesville with 1,289. Among the three largest, Charlottesville put 81% of its units in five-plus buildings, Greene County 21%.

  • Albemarle County54% (4,148 units)
  • Charlottesville17% (1,289 units)
  • Greene County12% (954 units)
  • Fluvanna County12% (902 units)
  • Nelson County4.5% (345 units)

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

Where in the metro

Albemarle County accounted for 54% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Charlottesville city for 17%.

  • Albemarle County54% (729 in 2025)
  • Charlottesville city17% (889 in 2025)
  • Greene County12% (266 in 2025)
  • Fluvanna County12% (189 in 2025)
  • Nelson County4.5% (62 in 2025)

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Lake Havasu City, Yuma, Barnstable Town. Annual permits fell from 2,257 during the mid-2000s boom to 666 in 2009, a drop of 70%. The nearest bust profile in the South Atlantic states was Greensboro's (71%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,528 units a year is 25% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Houses or apartments

In Charlottesville, 65% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 34% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Chico (34% in five-plus buildings). Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (1,043), single-family houses in 2005 (1,576).

2021–202565.0%65%1.5%33.5%34%2004–200671.1%71%2.1%26.8%27%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.0%65%1.5%33.5%34%2004–200671.1%71%2.1%26.8%27%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Las Cruces, NM8334.51.9%
Charlottesville, VA2,1356.834%
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN4,0589.373%
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ1,8179.21.9%
Burlington-South Burlington, VT1,2585.054%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Charlottesville beside Lafayette, IN

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