HousingPermits

Metro area in District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia · part of the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA combined area

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area authorized an average of 25,128 new housing units a year in 2021–2025, the tenth-largest total of the 387 US metro areas. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 53% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 81 metro areas based in the South Atlantic states. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2004, with 38,985 units; 2025 came to 46% of that.

015k30k45k60k2004: 38,985 units (27,709 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 11,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 37,850 units (26,972 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 10,667 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 28,919 units (19,417 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 9,456 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 22,895 units (14,987 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 7,789 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 13,625 units (9,214 single-family, 166 in 2–4 unit, 4,245 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 12,147 units (8,772 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 3,119 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 12,952 units (9,377 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 3,436 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 19,587 units (9,572 single-family, 270 in 2–4 unit, 9,745 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 22,293 units (10,869 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 11,048 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 24,036 units (13,277 single-family, 166 in 2–4 unit, 10,593 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 24,591 units (12,198 single-family, 154 in 2–4 unit, 12,239 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 22,675 units (12,311 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 10,194 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 25,451 units (13,148 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 12,207 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 27,002 units (13,962 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 12,910 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,573 units (13,404 single-family, 132 in 2–4 unit, 12,037 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 26,313 units (12,726 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 13,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 24,785 units (13,706 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 10,960 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 27,098 units (13,416 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 13,590 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 35,718 units (11,825 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 23,799 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 23,345 units (10,788 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 12,419 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 21,487 units (11,743 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 9,606 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 17,990 units (10,168 single-family, 430 in 2–4 unit, 7,392 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 38,9852009 low · 12,147015k30k45k2004: 38,985 units (27,709 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 11,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 37,850 units (26,972 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 10,667 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 28,919 units (19,417 single-family, 46 in 2–4 unit, 9,456 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 22,895 units (14,987 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 7,789 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 13,625 units (9,214 single-family, 166 in 2–4 unit, 4,245 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 12,147 units (8,772 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 3,119 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 12,952 units (9,377 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 3,436 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 19,587 units (9,572 single-family, 270 in 2–4 unit, 9,745 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 22,293 units (10,869 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 11,048 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 24,036 units (13,277 single-family, 166 in 2–4 unit, 10,593 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 24,591 units (12,198 single-family, 154 in 2–4 unit, 12,239 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 22,675 units (12,311 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 10,194 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 25,451 units (13,148 single-family, 96 in 2–4 unit, 12,207 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 27,002 units (13,962 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 12,910 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,573 units (13,404 single-family, 132 in 2–4 unit, 12,037 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 26,313 units (12,726 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 13,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 24,785 units (13,706 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 10,960 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 27,098 units (13,416 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 13,590 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 35,718 units (11,825 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 23,799 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 23,345 units (10,788 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 12,419 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 21,487 units (11,743 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 9,606 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 17,990 units (10,168 single-family, 430 in 2–4 unit, 7,392 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 38,985

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Where in the metro

District of Columbia accounted for 15% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Prince George's County for 12%. The part in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia supplied 85%.

  • District of Columbia, DC15% (1,591 in 2025)
  • Prince George's County, MD12% (2,090 in 2025)
  • Montgomery County, MD11% (1,411 in 2025)
  • Fairfax County, VA10% (2,862 in 2025)
  • Loudoun County, VA8.8% (1,561 in 2025)
  • Frederick County, MD7.8% (1,168 in 2025)
  • Arlington County, VA6.7% (1,309 in 2025)
  • Prince William County, VA6.4% (1,340 in 2025)
  • Spotsylvania County, VA4.6% (681 in 2025)
  • Charles County, MD4.4% (935 in 2025)
  • Jefferson County, WV3.6% (1,324 in 2025)
  • Stafford County, VA2.5% (450 in 2025)

11 smaller counties not shown.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Mount Vernon (54% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 29%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (23,799), single-family houses in 2004 (27,709).

2021–202546.1%46%0.7%53.2%53%2004–200670.1%70%0.5%29.4%29%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202546.1%46%0.7%53.2%53%2004–200670.1%70%0.5%29.4%29%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix. Annual permits fell from 38,985 during the mid-2000s boom to 12,147 in 2009, a drop of 69%. The nearest bust profile in the South Atlantic states was Dover's (69%). The 2021–2025 pace of 25,128 units a year is 29% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2014. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 16%.

The wider Washington-Baltimore-Arlington region

The Census Bureau groups Washington with 5 neighboring metro areas in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 35,852 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Washington accounted for 70%. The others, with their yearly averages: Baltimore (6,809), Hagerstown (1,818), Winchester (1,011), Chambersburg (637), Lexington Park (450).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 42 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Washington, with 18,793 units or 15% of the total, followed by Prince Georges County (unincorporated) with 14,268. Among the three largest, Washington put 92% of its units in five-plus buildings, Prince Georges County (unincorporated) 46%.

  • Washington15% (18,793 units)
  • Prince Georges County (unincorporated)11% (14,268 units)
  • Montgomery County (unincorporated)10% (12,510 units)
  • Fairfax County (unincorporated)9.8% (12,273 units)
  • Loudoun County (unincorporated)8.2% (10,308 units)
  • Arlington County6.7% (8,404 units)
  • Prince William County (unincorporated)6.3% (7,864 units)
  • Spotsylvania County4.6% (5,744 units)

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

Relative to population

With 6,465,724 residents in July 2025, Washington authorized 4.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Santa Fe (4.0) and Appleton (4.0).

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA33,6706.434%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV17,9904.053%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL23,4533.467%
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD12,9002.951%
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ39,6999.036%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Washington beside Atlanta

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