HousingPermits

Metro area in Washington

Yakima, WA

The Yakima metro area authorized 713 new housing units in 2025. The housing bust cut annual permits by 53%, from 939 at the 2004–2006 high to 438 in 2011, the mildest drop among the 48 metro areas based in the Pacific states. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 13% of its units in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 85 metro areas of 250,000 to 499,999 residents.

04008001,2001,6002004: 939 units (759 single-family, 103 in 2–4 unit, 77 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 780 units (739 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 27 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 692 units (653 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 26 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,224 units (1,093 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 760 units (617 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 137 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 508 units (426 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 624 units (343 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 274 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 438 units (298 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 100 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 471 units (301 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 358 units (300 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 34 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 442 units (352 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 395 units (390 single-family, 5 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 422 units (405 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 434 units (412 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 578 units (480 single-family, 83 in 2–4 unit, 15 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,043 units (569 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 575 units (494 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 13 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,103 units (631 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 351 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 706 units (426 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 650 units (453 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 58 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 515 units (418 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 23 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 713 units (602 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 80 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252007 high · 1,2242013 low · 35805001,0001,5002004: 939 units (759 single-family, 103 in 2–4 unit, 77 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 780 units (739 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 27 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 692 units (653 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 26 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,224 units (1,093 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 71 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 760 units (617 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 137 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 508 units (426 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 624 units (343 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 274 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 438 units (298 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 100 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 471 units (301 single-family, 49 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 358 units (300 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 34 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 442 units (352 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 395 units (390 single-family, 5 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 422 units (405 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 434 units (412 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 578 units (480 single-family, 83 in 2–4 unit, 15 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,043 units (569 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 370 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 575 units (494 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 13 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,103 units (631 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 351 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 706 units (426 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 650 units (453 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 58 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 515 units (418 single-family, 74 in 2–4 unit, 23 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 713 units (602 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 80 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252007 high · 1,224

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits rose 38% between 2024 and 2025, the largest increase among the 11 metro areas based in Washington.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 14 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Yakima, with 1,593 units or 43% of the total, followed by Yakima County (unincorporated) with 697. Among the three largest, Yakima put 33% of its units in five-plus buildings, Yakima County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Yakima43% (1,593 units)
  • Yakima County (unincorporated)19% (697 units)
  • Grandview15% (548 units)
  • Selah6.3% (232 units)
  • Moxee4.9% (180 units)
  • Sunnyside4.5% (167 units)
  • Tieton2.7% (99 units)
  • Granger1.3% (47 units)

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

Houses or apartments

In Yakima, 69% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 18% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Jackson, MI (18% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 5.4%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2019 (370), single-family houses in 2007 (1,093).

2021–202568.6%69%13.2%13%18.2%18%2004–200689.2%89%5.4%5.4%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202568.6%69%13.2%13%18.2%18%2004–200689.2%89%5.4%5.4%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Relative to population

With 259,185 residents in July 2025, Yakima authorized 2.9 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Philadelphia (2.9) and Sioux City (2.9).

Boom, bust and since

Yakima authorized the most units in 2007 (1,224); 2025 reached 58% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Macon, Fort Smith, Decatur, AL. Its quietest year came later, in 2013 (358 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 737 units a year is 8.2% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI4871.814%
Yakima, WA7132.918%
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA4701.946%
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ1,7188.216%
Tyler, TX5433.03.9%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Yakima beside Santa Cruz

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