HousingPermits

Metro area in Ohio · part of the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH combined area

Columbus, OH

The Columbus metro area authorized 15,757 new housing units in 2025, the second-largest total of the 60 metro areas based in the East North Central states. No year in the 2004–2025 record brought more permits than 2025, a distinction it shares with 16 other metro areas. Relative to population, the rate was 6.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 12 metro areas based in Ohio.

05,00010k15k20k2004: 13,413 units (10,894 single-family, 877 in 2–4 unit, 1,642 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 12,536 units (8,899 single-family, 1,370 in 2–4 unit, 2,267 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,992 units (5,738 single-family, 817 in 2–4 unit, 1,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,465 units (4,381 single-family, 570 in 2–4 unit, 1,514 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,542 units (2,651 single-family, 497 in 2–4 unit, 1,394 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 4,129 units (2,602 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,332 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,479 units (2,915 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 1,347 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,757 units (2,443 single-family, 302 in 2–4 unit, 2,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 6,846 units (2,944 single-family, 322 in 2–4 unit, 3,580 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 8,399 units (3,529 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 4,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,044 units (3,497 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 3,204 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 7,555 units (3,523 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 3,702 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 8,637 units (4,157 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 4,152 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 8,892 units (4,295 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 4,439 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 9,440 units (4,493 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 4,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,090 units (4,389 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 3,443 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,358 units (5,481 single-family, 265 in 2–4 unit, 6,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 12,062 units (6,844 single-family, 162 in 2–4 unit, 5,056 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 12,075 units (5,603 single-family, 180 in 2–4 unit, 6,292 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 11,440 units (5,364 single-family, 370 in 2–4 unit, 5,706 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 13,962 units (6,094 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 7,645 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,757 units (5,549 single-family, 659 in 2–4 unit, 9,549 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252025 high · 15,7572009 low · 4,12906,00012k18k2004: 13,413 units (10,894 single-family, 877 in 2–4 unit, 1,642 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 12,536 units (8,899 single-family, 1,370 in 2–4 unit, 2,267 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,992 units (5,738 single-family, 817 in 2–4 unit, 1,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,465 units (4,381 single-family, 570 in 2–4 unit, 1,514 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,542 units (2,651 single-family, 497 in 2–4 unit, 1,394 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 4,129 units (2,602 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,332 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,479 units (2,915 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 1,347 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,757 units (2,443 single-family, 302 in 2–4 unit, 2,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 6,846 units (2,944 single-family, 322 in 2–4 unit, 3,580 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 8,399 units (3,529 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 4,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,044 units (3,497 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 3,204 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 7,555 units (3,523 single-family, 330 in 2–4 unit, 3,702 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 8,637 units (4,157 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 4,152 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 8,892 units (4,295 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 4,439 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 9,440 units (4,493 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 4,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,090 units (4,389 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 3,443 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,358 units (5,481 single-family, 265 in 2–4 unit, 6,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 12,062 units (6,844 single-family, 162 in 2–4 unit, 5,056 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 12,075 units (5,603 single-family, 180 in 2–4 unit, 6,292 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 11,440 units (5,364 single-family, 370 in 2–4 unit, 5,706 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 13,962 units (6,094 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 7,645 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,757 units (5,549 single-family, 659 in 2–4 unit, 9,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252025 high · 15,757

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 52% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 12 metro areas based in Ohio.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Gainesville, FL (52% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 16%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (9,549), single-family houses in 2004 (10,894).

2021–202545.1%45%2.4%52.5%52%2004–200675.2%75%9.0%9%15.8%16%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202545.1%45%2.4%52.5%52%2004–200675.2%75%9.0%15.8%16%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 75 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Columbus, with 31,128 units or 48% of the total, followed by Delaware County (unincorporated) with 6,843. Among the three largest, Columbus put 83% of its units in five-plus buildings, Delaware County (unincorporated) 12%.

  • Columbus48% (31,128 units)
  • Delaware County (unincorporated)10% (6,843 units)
  • Union County (unincorporated)8.2% (5,383 units)
  • Delaware4.2% (2,732 units)
  • Grove City3.4% (2,217 units)
  • Hilliard1.9% (1,220 units)
  • Reynoldsburg1.8% (1,198 units)
  • Lancaster1.7% (1,100 units)

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

Where in the metro

Franklin County accounted for 62% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Delaware County for 17%.

  • Franklin County62% (10,494 in 2025)
  • Delaware County17% (2,016 in 2025)
  • Union County8.2% (968 in 2025)
  • Fairfield County5.4% (1,146 in 2025)
  • Madison County2.3% (420 in 2025)
  • Pickaway County2.2% (406 in 2025)
  • Licking County1.7% (153 in 2025)
  • Morrow County0.9% (99 in 2025)
  • Perry County0.3% (39 in 2025)
  • Hocking County0.1% (16 in 2025)

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 16 other metro areas, among them Bridgeport, Knoxville, North Port. Annual permits fell from 13,413 during the mid-2000s boom to 4,129 in 2009, a drop of 69%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Indianapolis's (69%). The 2021–2025 pace of 13,059 units a year is 15% above the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 13%.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN7,2643.133%
Kansas City, MO-KS9,8934.439%
Columbus, OH15,7576.052%
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN11,4635.827%
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN19,20311.739%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Columbus, OH beside Kansas City

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