HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia authorized 1,591 new housing units in 2025. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 92% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 50 states and DC. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 63% above the 2004–2006 average, the largest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC.

02,5005,0007,50010k2004: 1,936 units (226 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,710 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,860 units (125 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 2,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,105 units (126 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 1,959 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,910 units (576 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 1,297 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 536 units (248 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 280 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,126 units (151 single-family, 86 in 2–4 unit, 889 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 739 units (177 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 495 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,612 units (227 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 4,285 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,823 units (271 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 3,484 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,255 units (333 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 2,810 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,189 units (288 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 3,845 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,956 units (255 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 4,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,690 units (336 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 4,320 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,037 units (352 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 5,623 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,615 units (112 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 4,463 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,945 units (168 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 5,683 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 7,370 units (139 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 7,133 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 4,740 units (376 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 4,333 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 7,705 units (409 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 7,228 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,020 units (166 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 2,779 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,737 units (146 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 1,506 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,591 units (181 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 1,372 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 7,7052008 low · 53603,0006,0009,0002004: 1,936 units (226 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 1,710 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,860 units (125 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 2,624 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,105 units (126 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 1,959 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,910 units (576 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 1,297 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 536 units (248 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 280 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,126 units (151 single-family, 86 in 2–4 unit, 889 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 739 units (177 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 495 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,612 units (227 single-family, 100 in 2–4 unit, 4,285 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 3,823 units (271 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 3,484 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 3,255 units (333 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 2,810 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,189 units (288 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 3,845 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,956 units (255 single-family, 113 in 2–4 unit, 4,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,690 units (336 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 4,320 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 6,037 units (352 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 5,623 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,615 units (112 single-family, 40 in 2–4 unit, 4,463 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 5,945 units (168 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 5,683 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 7,370 units (139 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 7,133 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 4,740 units (376 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 4,333 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 7,705 units (409 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 7,228 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,020 units (166 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 2,779 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,737 units (146 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 1,506 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,591 units (181 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 1,372 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 7,705

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 21% of the 2022 high of 7,705 units, the second-furthest below a series peak among the 50 states and DC.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is New York (73% in five-plus buildings). Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (7,228), single-family houses in 2007 (576).

2021–20256.8%1.6%91.6%92%2004–20066.9%1.9%91.2%91%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–20256.8%1.6%91.6%92%2004–20066.9%1.9%91.2%91%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 2 other states, among them South Dakota, Nebraska. Annual permits fell from 2,860 during the mid-2000s boom to 536 in 2008, a drop of 81%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Idaho's (82%). From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 8.4%.

Relative to population

With 693,645 residents in July 2025, District of Columbia authorized 5.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, 1.2 times the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Georgia (6.1) and Washington (5.5).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 100% of the units authorized in District of Columbia fell in counties belonging to one of its 1 metro area. Washington leads with 25,128 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in District of Columbia reported 100% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 0% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Delaware, 0.1%).

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 District of Columbia beside Alaska

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