HousingPermits

Metro area in New York · part of the Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY combined area

Rochester, NY

The Rochester metro area authorized 1,750 new housing units in 2025. The housing bust cut annual permits by 52%, from 3,045 at the 2004–2006 high to 1,449 in 2010, the second-mildest drop among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 8.3% of its units in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 3,045 units (2,401 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 517 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,730 units (2,255 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 419 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,288 units (1,961 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 234 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,906 units (1,611 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 221 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,898 units (1,444 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,625 units (1,157 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 375 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,449 units (1,129 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 193 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,523 units (1,049 single-family, 221 in 2–4 unit, 253 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,600 units (1,184 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 350 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,292 units (1,043 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 151 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,721 units (1,206 single-family, 87 in 2–4 unit, 428 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 2,602 units (1,335 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,016 units (1,264 single-family, 143 in 2–4 unit, 609 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,718 units (1,125 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 543 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,134 units (1,112 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 968 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,894 units (1,031 single-family, 120 in 2–4 unit, 743 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,164 units (1,071 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 964 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,706 units (1,122 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 453 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,577 units (1,079 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 1,272 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,656 units (841 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 642 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,801 units (917 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 724 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,750 units (1,251 single-family, 95 in 2–4 unit, 404 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 3,0452013 low · 1,29201,5003,0004,5002004: 3,045 units (2,401 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 517 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,730 units (2,255 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 419 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,288 units (1,961 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 234 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,906 units (1,611 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 221 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,898 units (1,444 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,625 units (1,157 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 375 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,449 units (1,129 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 193 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,523 units (1,049 single-family, 221 in 2–4 unit, 253 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,600 units (1,184 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 350 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,292 units (1,043 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 151 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,721 units (1,206 single-family, 87 in 2–4 unit, 428 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 2,602 units (1,335 single-family, 195 in 2–4 unit, 1,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,016 units (1,264 single-family, 143 in 2–4 unit, 609 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,718 units (1,125 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 543 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,134 units (1,112 single-family, 54 in 2–4 unit, 968 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,894 units (1,031 single-family, 120 in 2–4 unit, 743 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 2,164 units (1,071 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 964 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,706 units (1,122 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 453 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,577 units (1,079 single-family, 226 in 2–4 unit, 1,272 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,656 units (841 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 642 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,801 units (917 single-family, 160 in 2–4 unit, 724 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,750 units (1,251 single-family, 95 in 2–4 unit, 404 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 3,045

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Relative to population

With 1,056,149 residents in July 2025, Rochester, NY authorized 1.8 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Lansing (1.8) and Springfield, OH (1.8).

Boom, bust and since

Rochester, NY authorized the most units in 2004 (3,045); 2025 reached 58% of that. Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Urban Honolulu, Buffalo, Grand Rapids. Its quietest year came later, in 2013 (1,292 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,898 units a year is 29% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Where in the metro

Monroe County accounted for 61% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Ontario County for 22%.

  • Monroe County61% (755 in 2025)
  • Ontario County22% (467 in 2025)
  • Wayne County12% (414 in 2025)
  • Livingston County3.9% (80 in 2025)
  • Orleans County1.5% (34 in 2025)

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 109 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Henrietta town, with 1,301 units or 14% of the total, followed by Rochester with 1,116. Among the three largest, Rochester put 78% of its units in five-plus buildings, Farmington town 22%.

  • Henrietta town14% (1,301 units)
  • Rochester12% (1,116 units)
  • Farmington town5.9% (558 units)
  • Webster town5.5% (520 units)
  • Canandaigua town4.9% (469 units)
  • Ontario town4.6% (440 units)
  • Victor town3.9% (372 units)
  • Perinton town3.7% (350 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In Rochester, NY, 55% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 37% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Louisville (37% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 14%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (1,272), single-family houses in 2004 (2,401).

2021–202554.9%55%8.3%36.8%37%2004–200682.1%82%3.4%14.5%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202554.9%55%8.3%36.8%37%2004–200682.1%82%3.4%14.5%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Tucson, AZ4,6585.124%
Tulsa, OK5,1544.720%
Rochester, NY1,7501.837%
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC8,2558.911%
Omaha, NE-IA6,3776.245%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Rochester, NY beside Tulsa

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