HousingPermits

Pacific division · West

Alaska

Alaska authorized 848 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 66% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-weakest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 12% of its units in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 50 states and DC.

01,0002,0003,0004,0002004: 3,133 units (1,771 single-family, 732 in 2–4 unit, 630 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,885 units (1,653 single-family, 756 in 2–4 unit, 476 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,739 units (1,612 single-family, 407 in 2–4 unit, 720 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,706 units (984 single-family, 377 in 2–4 unit, 345 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 901 units (667 single-family, 153 in 2–4 unit, 81 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 916 units (617 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 169 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 904 units (753 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 877 units (713 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 994 units (818 single-family, 69 in 2–4 unit, 107 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,079 units (877 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 87 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,518 units (1,125 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 300 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,298 units (992 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,503 units (1,035 single-family, 164 in 2–4 unit, 304 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,539 units (1,127 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 242 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,677 units (1,227 single-family, 171 in 2–4 unit, 279 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,680 units (1,147 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 394 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,420 units (1,019 single-family, 146 in 2–4 unit, 255 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,552 units (1,158 single-family, 137 in 2–4 unit, 257 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 578 units (471 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 937 units (599 single-family, 63 in 2–4 unit, 275 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,032 units (446 single-family, 212 in 2–4 unit, 374 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 848 units (573 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 3,1332022 low · 57801,5003,0004,5002004: 3,133 units (1,771 single-family, 732 in 2–4 unit, 630 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,885 units (1,653 single-family, 756 in 2–4 unit, 476 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,739 units (1,612 single-family, 407 in 2–4 unit, 720 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,706 units (984 single-family, 377 in 2–4 unit, 345 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 901 units (667 single-family, 153 in 2–4 unit, 81 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 916 units (617 single-family, 130 in 2–4 unit, 169 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 904 units (753 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 877 units (713 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 994 units (818 single-family, 69 in 2–4 unit, 107 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,079 units (877 single-family, 115 in 2–4 unit, 87 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,518 units (1,125 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 300 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,298 units (992 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,503 units (1,035 single-family, 164 in 2–4 unit, 304 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,539 units (1,127 single-family, 170 in 2–4 unit, 242 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,677 units (1,227 single-family, 171 in 2–4 unit, 279 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,680 units (1,147 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 394 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,420 units (1,019 single-family, 146 in 2–4 unit, 255 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,552 units (1,158 single-family, 137 in 2–4 unit, 257 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 578 units (471 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 45 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 937 units (599 single-family, 63 in 2–4 unit, 275 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,032 units (446 single-family, 212 in 2–4 unit, 374 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 848 units (573 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 159 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 3,133

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits fell 18% between 2024 and 2025, the third-steepest decline among the 50 states and DC.

Houses or apartments

In Alaska, 66% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 22% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Rhode Island (23% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202565.6%66%11.9%12%22.4%22%2004–200657.5%58%21.6%22%20.9%21%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.6%66%11.9%22.4%22%2004–200657.5%58%21.6%22%20.9%21%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Alaska authorized the most units in 2004 (3,133); 2025 reached 27% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Vermont, New Hampshire, Kentucky. Annual permits fell from 3,133 during the mid-2000s boom to 877 in 2011, a drop of 72%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Missouri's (72%). Its quietest year came later, in 2022 (578 units).

Relative to population

With 737,270 residents in July 2025, Alaska authorized 1.4 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Illinois (1.5) and Rhode Island (1.4).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 55% of the units authorized in Alaska fell in counties belonging to one of its 2 metro areas; the other 45% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Anchorage leads with 515 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Alaska, 35 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Municipality of Anchorage, with 2,146 units or 43% of the total, followed by Juneau city and borough with 511. Among the three largest, Juneau city and borough put 52% of its units in five-plus buildings, Homer 1.7%.

  • Municipality of Anchorage43% (2,146 units)
  • Juneau city and borough10% (511 units)
  • Homer7% (348 units)
  • Wasilla5.5% (272 units)
  • Ketchikan Gateway Borough5.1% (250 units)
  • Bethel4.8% (239 units)
  • Kenai3.4% (169 units)
  • North Pole2.4% (119 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Alaska reported 72% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 28% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Maine, 31%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
North Dakota2,4403.731%
Alaska8481.422%
District of Columbia1,5915.592%
Vermont2,2943.838%
Wyoming2,2384.016%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Alaska beside District of Columbia

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