HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

Georgia

Georgia authorized 61,196 new housing units in 2025, the fifth-largest total of the 50 states and DC. The housing bust cut annual permits by 84%, from 109,336 at the 2004–2006 high to 17,265 in 2010, the fifth-deepest drop among the 50 states and DC. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 37% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 9 South Atlantic states.

030k60k90k120k2004: 108,356 units (87,731 single-family, 1,668 in 2–4 unit, 18,957 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 109,336 units (94,467 single-family, 1,316 in 2–4 unit, 13,553 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 104,200 units (86,106 single-family, 1,556 in 2–4 unit, 16,538 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 73,165 units (55,210 single-family, 1,406 in 2–4 unit, 16,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 35,368 units (24,879 single-family, 816 in 2–4 unit, 9,673 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 18,228 units (14,674 single-family, 433 in 2–4 unit, 3,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 17,265 units (14,779 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 2,166 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 18,493 units (13,817 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 4,428 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 24,350 units (17,297 single-family, 471 in 2–4 unit, 6,582 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 36,174 units (24,810 single-family, 452 in 2–4 unit, 10,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 39,423 units (27,503 single-family, 671 in 2–4 unit, 11,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 45,549 units (32,621 single-family, 404 in 2–4 unit, 12,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 51,675 units (36,481 single-family, 363 in 2–4 unit, 14,831 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 51,240 units (40,311 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 10,574 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 59,315 units (42,287 single-family, 538 in 2–4 unit, 16,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 53,823 units (42,939 single-family, 668 in 2–4 unit, 10,216 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 55,827 units (47,982 single-family, 1,024 in 2–4 unit, 6,821 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 67,223 units (53,419 single-family, 988 in 2–4 unit, 12,816 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 77,542 units (47,026 single-family, 1,644 in 2–4 unit, 28,872 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 63,621 units (44,405 single-family, 1,211 in 2–4 unit, 18,005 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 68,367 units (48,243 single-family, 2,105 in 2–4 unit, 18,019 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 61,196 units (44,351 single-family, 1,349 in 2–4 unit, 15,496 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 109,3362010 low · 17,265040k80k120k2004: 108,356 units (87,731 single-family, 1,668 in 2–4 unit, 18,957 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 109,336 units (94,467 single-family, 1,316 in 2–4 unit, 13,553 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 104,200 units (86,106 single-family, 1,556 in 2–4 unit, 16,538 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 73,165 units (55,210 single-family, 1,406 in 2–4 unit, 16,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 35,368 units (24,879 single-family, 816 in 2–4 unit, 9,673 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 18,228 units (14,674 single-family, 433 in 2–4 unit, 3,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 17,265 units (14,779 single-family, 320 in 2–4 unit, 2,166 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 18,493 units (13,817 single-family, 248 in 2–4 unit, 4,428 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 24,350 units (17,297 single-family, 471 in 2–4 unit, 6,582 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 36,174 units (24,810 single-family, 452 in 2–4 unit, 10,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 39,423 units (27,503 single-family, 671 in 2–4 unit, 11,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 45,549 units (32,621 single-family, 404 in 2–4 unit, 12,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 51,675 units (36,481 single-family, 363 in 2–4 unit, 14,831 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 51,240 units (40,311 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 10,574 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 59,315 units (42,287 single-family, 538 in 2–4 unit, 16,490 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 53,823 units (42,939 single-family, 668 in 2–4 unit, 10,216 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 55,827 units (47,982 single-family, 1,024 in 2–4 unit, 6,821 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 67,223 units (53,419 single-family, 988 in 2–4 unit, 12,816 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 77,542 units (47,026 single-family, 1,644 in 2–4 unit, 28,872 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 63,621 units (44,405 single-family, 1,211 in 2–4 unit, 18,005 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 68,367 units (48,243 single-family, 2,105 in 2–4 unit, 18,019 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 61,196 units (44,351 single-family, 1,349 in 2–4 unit, 15,496 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 109,336

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits fell 10% between 2024 and 2025, the second-steepest decline among the 9 South Atlantic states.

Houses or apartments

In Georgia, 70% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 28% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is North Carolina (28% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 15%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (28,872), single-family houses in 2005 (94,467).

2021–202570.3%70%2.2%27.6%28%2004–200683.4%83%1.4%15.2%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202570.3%70%2.2%27.6%28%2004–200683.4%83%1.4%15.2%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Georgia authorized the most units in 2005 (109,336); 2025 reached 56% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Illinois, New Jersey, Arizona. Permits rose 6 years in a row up to 2016.

Relative to population

With 11,302,748 residents in July 2025, Georgia authorized 6.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, 1.3 times the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Nevada (6.2) and District of Columbia (5.5).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 85% of the units authorized in Georgia fell in counties belonging to one of its 15 metro areas; the other 15% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Atlanta leads with 40,249 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Georgia, 411 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Atlanta, with 35,618 units or 10% of the total, followed by Gwinnett County (unincorporated) with 16,197. Among the three largest, Atlanta put 83% of its units in five-plus buildings, Gwinnett County (unincorporated) 13%.

  • Atlanta10% (35,618 units)
  • Gwinnett County (unincorporated)4.8% (16,197 units)
  • Forsyth County (unincorporated)2.5% (8,342 units)
  • Paulding County (unincorporated)2.2% (7,290 units)
  • Henry County (unincorporated)2.1% (7,095 units)
  • Cobb County (unincorporated)1.9% (6,280 units)
  • Cherokee County (unincorporated)1.8% (5,989 units)
  • Athens-Clarke County1.6% (5,267 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Georgia reported 89% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 11% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Utah, 11%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Illinois18,5511.540%
Ohio33,6402.637%
Georgia61,1966.128%
North Carolina86,1678.628%
Michigan23,0752.225%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Georgia beside North Carolina

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