HousingPermits

Metro area in Virginia

Richmond, VA

The Richmond metro area authorized 9,091 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 9 metro areas based in Virginia. Relative to population, the rate was 7.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 9 metro areas based in Virginia. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 46% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 9 metro areas based in Virginia.

03,0006,0009,00012k2004: 8,072 units (6,714 single-family, 272 in 2–4 unit, 1,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 8,395 units (7,336 single-family, 188 in 2–4 unit, 871 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 6,889 units (6,400 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 315 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,267 units (5,107 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 912 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,458 units (3,429 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 958 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,987 units (2,373 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 534 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,177 units (2,193 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 891 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,520 units (2,163 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,992 units (2,569 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 1,250 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,747 units (3,297 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 1,366 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,252 units (3,121 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 1,006 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,811 units (3,555 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 1,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,834 units (3,918 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 777 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,070 units (4,539 single-family, 181 in 2–4 unit, 2,350 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,972 units (4,409 single-family, 379 in 2–4 unit, 1,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,340 units (4,481 single-family, 370 in 2–4 unit, 3,489 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 8,190 units (5,330 single-family, 601 in 2–4 unit, 2,259 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 9,547 units (5,946 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 10,414 units (4,503 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 5,766 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 9,973 units (4,590 single-family, 232 in 2–4 unit, 5,151 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 8,642 units (5,023 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 3,408 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 9,091 units (4,399 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 4,372 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 10,4142011 low · 2,52004,0008,00012k2004: 8,072 units (6,714 single-family, 272 in 2–4 unit, 1,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 8,395 units (7,336 single-family, 188 in 2–4 unit, 871 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 6,889 units (6,400 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 315 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,267 units (5,107 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 912 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 4,458 units (3,429 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 958 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,987 units (2,373 single-family, 80 in 2–4 unit, 534 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,177 units (2,193 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 891 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,520 units (2,163 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,992 units (2,569 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 1,250 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,747 units (3,297 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 1,366 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,252 units (3,121 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 1,006 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,811 units (3,555 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 1,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,834 units (3,918 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 777 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 7,070 units (4,539 single-family, 181 in 2–4 unit, 2,350 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,972 units (4,409 single-family, 379 in 2–4 unit, 1,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,340 units (4,481 single-family, 370 in 2–4 unit, 3,489 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 8,190 units (5,330 single-family, 601 in 2–4 unit, 2,259 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 9,547 units (5,946 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 10,414 units (4,503 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 5,766 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 9,973 units (4,590 single-family, 232 in 2–4 unit, 5,151 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 8,642 units (5,023 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 3,408 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 9,091 units (4,399 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 4,372 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 10,414

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 22% above the 2004–2006 average, the largest recovery by this measure among the 9 metro areas based in Virginia.

Where in the metro

Chesterfield County accounted for 31% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Henrico County for 24%.

  • Chesterfield County31% (2,194 in 2025)
  • Henrico County24% (2,323 in 2025)
  • Richmond city24% (2,681 in 2025)
  • Hanover County5.9% (511 in 2025)
  • New Kent County4% (295 in 2025)
  • Goochland County3.3% (314 in 2025)
  • Powhatan County1.7% (127 in 2025)
  • King William County1.7% (215 in 2025)
  • Prince George County1.1% (132 in 2025)
  • Petersburg city1% (95 in 2025)
  • Dinwiddie County0.7% (14 in 2025)
  • Amelia County0.6% (50 in 2025)

5 smaller counties not shown.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Santa Cruz (46% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 9.7%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (5,766), single-family houses in 2005 (7,336).

2021–202551.3%51%2.8%45.8%46%2004–200687.6%88%2.7%9.7%10%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202551.3%51%2.8%45.8%46%2004–200687.6%88%2.7%9.7%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 18 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Chesterfield County, with 14,759 units or 31% of the total, followed by Henrico County with 11,469. Among the three largest, Richmond put 80% of its units in five-plus buildings, Chesterfield County 40%.

  • Chesterfield County31% (14,759 units)
  • Henrico County24% (11,469 units)
  • Richmond24% (11,220 units)
  • Hanover County5.9% (2,792 units)
  • New Kent County4% (1,900 units)
  • Goochland County3.3% (1,582 units)
  • Powhatan County1.7% (816 units)
  • King William County (unincorporated)1.4% (673 units)

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

Boom, bust and since

Richmond authorized the most units in 2022 (10,414); 2025 reached 87% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Raleigh, Winston, Akron. Annual permits fell from 8,395 during the mid-2000s boom to 2,520 in 2011, a drop of 70%. The nearest bust profile in the South Atlantic states was Blacksburg's (70%). From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 5.2%.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Oklahoma City, OK8,5765.29.5%
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN6,1034.537%
Richmond, VA9,0917.046%
Memphis, TN-MS-AR3,2983.120%
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT7,7026.954%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Richmond beside Louisville

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