HousingPermits

East South Central division · South

Alabama

Alabama authorized 19,061 new housing units in 2025, the second-largest total of the 4 East South Central states. The housing bust cut annual permits by 65%, from 32,034 at the 2004–2006 high to 11,261 in 2010, the mildest drop among the 4 East South Central states. Relative to population, the rate was 4.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the second-highest rate of the 4 East South Central states.

010k20k30k40k2004: 27,411 units (22,392 single-family, 529 in 2–4 unit, 4,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 30,612 units (24,654 single-family, 303 in 2–4 unit, 5,655 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 32,034 units (24,132 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 7,547 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 25,845 units (18,946 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 6,697 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 17,464 units (12,017 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 5,253 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 13,266 units (9,409 single-family, 233 in 2–4 unit, 3,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 11,261 units (8,702 single-family, 232 in 2–4 unit, 2,327 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 11,667 units (8,858 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 2,687 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,506 units (9,184 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 4,210 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 11,763 units (9,278 single-family, 296 in 2–4 unit, 2,189 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 13,369 units (9,506 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 3,535 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 14,054 units (10,257 single-family, 350 in 2–4 unit, 3,447 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 15,001 units (11,692 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 2,971 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 14,799 units (12,233 single-family, 348 in 2–4 unit, 2,218 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 14,824 units (12,978 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 1,598 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,748 units (14,705 single-family, 480 in 2–4 unit, 2,563 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,982 units (17,551 single-family, 306 in 2–4 unit, 2,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 22,100 units (17,879 single-family, 297 in 2–4 unit, 3,924 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 19,499 units (15,961 single-family, 367 in 2–4 unit, 3,171 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,337 units (16,298 single-family, 397 in 2–4 unit, 3,642 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,725 units (17,423 single-family, 353 in 2–4 unit, 2,949 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 19,061 units (15,402 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 3,299 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 32,034015k30k45k2004: 27,411 units (22,392 single-family, 529 in 2–4 unit, 4,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 30,612 units (24,654 single-family, 303 in 2–4 unit, 5,655 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 32,034 units (24,132 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 7,547 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 25,845 units (18,946 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 6,697 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 17,464 units (12,017 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 5,253 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 13,266 units (9,409 single-family, 233 in 2–4 unit, 3,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 11,261 units (8,702 single-family, 232 in 2–4 unit, 2,327 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 11,667 units (8,858 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 2,687 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,506 units (9,184 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 4,210 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 11,763 units (9,278 single-family, 296 in 2–4 unit, 2,189 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 13,369 units (9,506 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 3,535 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 14,054 units (10,257 single-family, 350 in 2–4 unit, 3,447 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 15,001 units (11,692 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 2,971 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 14,799 units (12,233 single-family, 348 in 2–4 unit, 2,218 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 14,824 units (12,978 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 1,598 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,748 units (14,705 single-family, 480 in 2–4 unit, 2,563 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,982 units (17,551 single-family, 306 in 2–4 unit, 2,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 22,100 units (17,879 single-family, 297 in 2–4 unit, 3,924 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 19,499 units (15,961 single-family, 367 in 2–4 unit, 3,171 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,337 units (16,298 single-family, 397 in 2–4 unit, 3,642 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,725 units (17,423 single-family, 353 in 2–4 unit, 2,949 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 19,061 units (15,402 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 3,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 32,034

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Single-family houses made up 82% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the second-highest share among the 4 East South Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Wyoming (16% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202581.6%82%1.7%16.7%17%2004–200679.0%79%1.3%19.6%20%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202581.6%82%1.7%16.7%17%2004–200679.0%79%1.3%19.6%20%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Alabama authorized the most units in 2006 (32,034); 2025 reached 60% of that. Its peak year is shared by 3 other states, among them Louisiana, Kansas, North Carolina. The 2021–2025 pace of 20,344 units a year is 32% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 8%.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 93% of the units authorized in Alabama fell in counties belonging to one of its 13 metro areas; the other 6.8% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Huntsville leads with 5,174 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Alabama, 233 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Huntsville, with 9,968 units or 9.8% of the total, followed by Madison County (unincorporated) with 7,175. Among the three largest, Madison put 56% of its units in five-plus buildings, Madison County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Huntsville9.8% (9,968 units)
  • Madison County (unincorporated)7% (7,175 units)
  • Madison4.4% (4,477 units)
  • Foley4.4% (4,450 units)
  • Auburn4.4% (4,440 units)
  • Baldwin County (unincorporated)4.1% (4,142 units)
  • Birmingham3.5% (3,542 units)
  • Tuscaloosa3% (3,071 units)

Share of the units authorized in Alabama, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Alabama reported 87% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 13% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Kentucky, 13%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Minnesota20,9474.645%
South Carolina45,8628.612%
Alabama19,0614.017%
Louisiana14,2033.412%
Kentucky14,9403.436%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Alabama beside South Carolina

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