HousingPermits

Metro area in Virginia, North Carolina · part of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC combined area

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area authorized 3,953 new housing units in 2025. The housing bust cut annual permits by 65%, from 11,543 at the 2004–2006 high to 4,016 in 2010, the mildest drop among the 9 metro areas based in Virginia. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2005, with 11,543 units; 2025 came to 34% of that.

04,0008,00012k16k2004: 10,347 units (7,455 single-family, 553 in 2–4 unit, 2,339 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 11,543 units (7,850 single-family, 608 in 2–4 unit, 3,085 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,891 units (6,082 single-family, 650 in 2–4 unit, 1,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,482 units (4,923 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,315 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 5,368 units (3,521 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 1,755 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,359 units (3,056 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 2,286 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,016 units (3,199 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 761 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 5,602 units (2,997 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 2,560 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,420 units (3,571 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 1,734 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,444 units (4,171 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 3,209 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 5,760 units (3,811 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 1,857 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 6,764 units (4,066 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 2,608 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,276 units (4,158 single-family, 175 in 2–4 unit, 1,943 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,265 units (4,487 single-family, 207 in 2–4 unit, 1,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,710 units (4,274 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 1,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,875 units (4,312 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 1,465 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,916 units (5,207 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 1,647 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,336 units (4,671 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 2,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,286 units (3,653 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 2,584 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 6,083 units (3,362 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 2,674 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,406 units (3,544 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 792 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,953 units (3,223 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 657 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 11,5432025 low · 3,95305,00010k15k2004: 10,347 units (7,455 single-family, 553 in 2–4 unit, 2,339 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 11,543 units (7,850 single-family, 608 in 2–4 unit, 3,085 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 7,891 units (6,082 single-family, 650 in 2–4 unit, 1,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 6,482 units (4,923 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,315 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 5,368 units (3,521 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 1,755 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,359 units (3,056 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 2,286 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 4,016 units (3,199 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 761 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 5,602 units (2,997 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 2,560 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,420 units (3,571 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 1,734 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,444 units (4,171 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 3,209 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 5,760 units (3,811 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 1,857 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 6,764 units (4,066 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 2,608 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 6,276 units (4,158 single-family, 175 in 2–4 unit, 1,943 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,265 units (4,487 single-family, 207 in 2–4 unit, 1,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,710 units (4,274 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 1,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,875 units (4,312 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 1,465 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,916 units (5,207 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 1,647 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,336 units (4,671 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 2,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,286 units (3,653 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 2,584 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 6,083 units (3,362 single-family, 47 in 2–4 unit, 2,674 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,406 units (3,544 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 792 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,953 units (3,223 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 657 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 11,543

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Where in the metro

Norfolk city accounted for 17% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Chesapeake city for 15%. The part in North Carolina supplied 9.3%.

  • Norfolk city, VA17% (156 in 2025)
  • Chesapeake city, VA15% (846 in 2025)
  • Suffolk city, VA14% (589 in 2025)
  • Virginia Beach city, VA12% (436 in 2025)
  • Currituck County, NC7.5% (325 in 2025)
  • James City County, VA6.5% (225 in 2025)
  • Isle of Wight County, VA5.8% (303 in 2025)
  • York County, VA5.6% (204 in 2025)
  • Newport News city, VA4.6% (125 in 2025)
  • Portsmouth city, VA3% (179 in 2025)
  • Hampton city, VA2.3% (100 in 2025)
  • Gloucester County, VA2.2% (122 in 2025)

6 smaller counties not shown.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 105 other metro areas, among them Jacksonville, FL, Providence, Indianapolis. Its quietest year came later, in 2025 (3,953 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 5,613 units a year is 44% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 10%.

Relative to population

With 1,797,213 residents in July 2025, Virginia Beach authorized 3.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Kenosha (3.1) and Grants Pass (3.1).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 18 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Norfolk, with 4,702 units or 17% of the total, followed by Chesapeake with 4,165. Among the three largest, Norfolk put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, Chesapeake 18%.

  • Norfolk17% (4,702 units)
  • Chesapeake15% (4,165 units)
  • Suffolk14% (4,028 units)
  • Virginia Beach12% (3,304 units)
  • Currituck County7.5% (2,101 units)
  • James City County6.5% (1,812 units)
  • Isle of Wight County5.8% (1,630 units)
  • York County5.6% (1,566 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In Virginia Beach, 66% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 33% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Cincinnati (33% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 22%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2013 (3,209), single-family houses in 2005 (7,850).

2021–202565.8%66%1.3%33.0%33%2004–200671.8%72%6.1%22.1%22%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.8%66%1.3%33.0%33%2004–200671.8%72%6.1%22.1%22%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA5,5703.057%
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC3,9533.133%
Jacksonville, FL13,45511.029%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA2,8941.424%
Raleigh-Cary, NC17,54313.336%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Virginia Beach beside Jacksonville, FL

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