HousingPermits

West South Central division · South

Arkansas

Arkansas authorized 15,492 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 4 West South Central states. Its 2025 total reached 86% of the 2005 high, the second-closest to a series peak among the 50 states and DC. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 8.7% of its units in 2021–2025, the fifth-highest share among the 50 states and DC.

05,00010k15k20k2004: 15,855 units (10,563 single-family, 915 in 2–4 unit, 4,377 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 17,932 units (13,191 single-family, 1,032 in 2–4 unit, 3,709 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,885 units (10,769 single-family, 1,083 in 2–4 unit, 2,033 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 11,031 units (7,990 single-family, 894 in 2–4 unit, 2,147 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,810 units (5,219 single-family, 493 in 2–4 unit, 3,098 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,056 units (4,526 single-family, 513 in 2–4 unit, 2,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,177 units (4,648 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 1,940 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 6,800 units (4,141 single-family, 519 in 2–4 unit, 2,140 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 8,231 units (5,417 single-family, 560 in 2–4 unit, 2,254 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,481 units (5,521 single-family, 558 in 2–4 unit, 1,402 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,666 units (5,257 single-family, 494 in 2–4 unit, 1,915 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 8,500 units (5,709 single-family, 465 in 2–4 unit, 2,326 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 9,474 units (6,816 single-family, 752 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 10,795 units (7,376 single-family, 848 in 2–4 unit, 2,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 10,179 units (7,354 single-family, 775 in 2–4 unit, 2,050 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 12,723 units (7,869 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 3,879 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,493 units (8,802 single-family, 1,260 in 2–4 unit, 2,431 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 14,198 units (10,563 single-family, 1,183 in 2–4 unit, 2,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 14,364 units (9,473 single-family, 1,182 in 2–4 unit, 3,709 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 12,842 units (9,360 single-family, 1,386 in 2–4 unit, 2,096 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 13,684 units (9,819 single-family, 1,111 in 2–4 unit, 2,754 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,492 units (10,298 single-family, 1,280 in 2–4 unit, 3,914 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 17,9322011 low · 6,80008,00016k24k2004: 15,855 units (10,563 single-family, 915 in 2–4 unit, 4,377 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 17,932 units (13,191 single-family, 1,032 in 2–4 unit, 3,709 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,885 units (10,769 single-family, 1,083 in 2–4 unit, 2,033 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 11,031 units (7,990 single-family, 894 in 2–4 unit, 2,147 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,810 units (5,219 single-family, 493 in 2–4 unit, 3,098 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,056 units (4,526 single-family, 513 in 2–4 unit, 2,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,177 units (4,648 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 1,940 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 6,800 units (4,141 single-family, 519 in 2–4 unit, 2,140 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 8,231 units (5,417 single-family, 560 in 2–4 unit, 2,254 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,481 units (5,521 single-family, 558 in 2–4 unit, 1,402 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,666 units (5,257 single-family, 494 in 2–4 unit, 1,915 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 8,500 units (5,709 single-family, 465 in 2–4 unit, 2,326 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 9,474 units (6,816 single-family, 752 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 10,795 units (7,376 single-family, 848 in 2–4 unit, 2,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 10,179 units (7,354 single-family, 775 in 2–4 unit, 2,050 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 12,723 units (7,869 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 3,879 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,493 units (8,802 single-family, 1,260 in 2–4 unit, 2,431 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 14,198 units (10,563 single-family, 1,183 in 2–4 unit, 2,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 14,364 units (9,473 single-family, 1,182 in 2–4 unit, 3,709 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 12,842 units (9,360 single-family, 1,386 in 2–4 unit, 2,096 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 13,684 units (9,819 single-family, 1,111 in 2–4 unit, 2,754 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,492 units (10,298 single-family, 1,280 in 2–4 unit, 3,914 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 17,932

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits rose 13% between 2024 and 2025, the fifth-largest increase among the 50 states and DC.

Houses or apartments

In Arkansas, 70% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 21% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Idaho (21% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202570.2%70%8.7%9%21.1%21%2004–200672.4%72%6.4%21.2%21%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202570.2%70%8.7%21.1%21%2004–200672.4%72%6.4%21.2%21%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Iowa, Nevada, Connecticut. Annual permits fell from 17,932 during the mid-2000s boom to 6,800 in 2011, a drop of 62%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Maryland's (63%). The 2021–2025 pace of 14,116 units a year is 11% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Relative to population

With 3,114,791 residents in July 2025, Arkansas authorized 4.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Maine (4.7) and Minnesota (4.6).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 90% of the units authorized in Arkansas fell in counties belonging to one of its 7 metro areas; the other 10% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Fayetteville, AR leads with 7,645 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Arkansas, 221 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Fayetteville, with 7,172 units or 10% of the total, followed by Bentonville with 5,419.

  • Fayetteville10% (7,172 units)
  • Bentonville7.7% (5,419 units)
  • Little Rock6.5% (4,569 units)
  • Jonesboro5.8% (4,100 units)
  • Rogers5.3% (3,759 units)
  • Centerton4.9% (3,466 units)
  • Conway4.8% (3,371 units)
  • Bella Vista4.3% (3,043 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Arkansas reported 85% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 15% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: New Hampshire, 16%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Nevada18,5406.228%
Iowa13,6644.032%
Arkansas15,4924.621%
Kansas10,2993.224%
Mississippi8,4052.76.3%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Arkansas beside Iowa

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