HousingPermits

East North Central division · Midwest

Illinois

Illinois authorized 18,551 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 69% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC. Its 2025 total was only 28% of the 2005 high of 66,942 units, the fourth-furthest below a series peak among the 50 states and DC.

020k40k60k80k2004: 59,753 units (46,207 single-family, 3,763 in 2–4 unit, 9,783 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 66,942 units (47,705 single-family, 4,674 in 2–4 unit, 14,563 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 58,802 units (37,903 single-family, 3,370 in 2–4 unit, 17,529 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 43,020 units (24,511 single-family, 2,402 in 2–4 unit, 16,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 22,528 units (11,827 single-family, 1,517 in 2–4 unit, 9,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,859 units (7,844 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,456 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 12,318 units (7,624 single-family, 695 in 2–4 unit, 3,999 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 11,809 units (6,834 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 4,324 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,797 units (8,564 single-family, 796 in 2–4 unit, 4,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,545 units (9,869 single-family, 796 in 2–4 unit, 4,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 20,578 units (10,553 single-family, 832 in 2–4 unit, 9,193 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 19,571 units (10,076 single-family, 899 in 2–4 unit, 8,596 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,603 units (10,187 single-family, 1,062 in 2–4 unit, 11,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 24,992 units (10,181 single-family, 1,193 in 2–4 unit, 13,618 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 21,510 units (10,041 single-family, 1,247 in 2–4 unit, 10,222 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 20,524 units (8,745 single-family, 1,325 in 2–4 unit, 10,454 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 18,058 units (9,237 single-family, 1,025 in 2–4 unit, 7,796 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,658 units (10,937 single-family, 1,226 in 2–4 unit, 7,495 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 20,549 units (9,765 single-family, 1,260 in 2–4 unit, 9,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 16,863 units (9,554 single-family, 1,310 in 2–4 unit, 5,999 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,326 units (10,326 single-family, 1,229 in 2–4 unit, 8,771 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 18,551 units (10,821 single-family, 1,463 in 2–4 unit, 6,267 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 66,942025k50k75k2004: 59,753 units (46,207 single-family, 3,763 in 2–4 unit, 9,783 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 66,942 units (47,705 single-family, 4,674 in 2–4 unit, 14,563 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 58,802 units (37,903 single-family, 3,370 in 2–4 unit, 17,529 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 43,020 units (24,511 single-family, 2,402 in 2–4 unit, 16,107 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 22,528 units (11,827 single-family, 1,517 in 2–4 unit, 9,184 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,859 units (7,844 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,456 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 12,318 units (7,624 single-family, 695 in 2–4 unit, 3,999 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 11,809 units (6,834 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 4,324 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,797 units (8,564 single-family, 796 in 2–4 unit, 4,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,545 units (9,869 single-family, 796 in 2–4 unit, 4,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 20,578 units (10,553 single-family, 832 in 2–4 unit, 9,193 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 19,571 units (10,076 single-family, 899 in 2–4 unit, 8,596 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,603 units (10,187 single-family, 1,062 in 2–4 unit, 11,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 24,992 units (10,181 single-family, 1,193 in 2–4 unit, 13,618 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 21,510 units (10,041 single-family, 1,247 in 2–4 unit, 10,222 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 20,524 units (8,745 single-family, 1,325 in 2–4 unit, 10,454 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 18,058 units (9,237 single-family, 1,025 in 2–4 unit, 7,796 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,658 units (10,937 single-family, 1,226 in 2–4 unit, 7,495 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 20,549 units (9,765 single-family, 1,260 in 2–4 unit, 9,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 16,863 units (9,554 single-family, 1,310 in 2–4 unit, 5,999 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,326 units (10,326 single-family, 1,229 in 2–4 unit, 8,771 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 18,551 units (10,821 single-family, 1,463 in 2–4 unit, 6,267 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 66,942

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 40% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 5 East North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Maryland (40% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 23%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 6.8% of units, against 3.5% nationally.

2021–202553.6%54%6.8%39.7%40%2004–200671.1%71%6.4%22.6%23%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202553.6%54%6.8%39.7%40%2004–200671.1%71%6.4%22.6%23%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 Georgia, New Jersey, Arizona. Annual permits fell from 66,942 during the mid-2000s boom to 10,859 in 2009, a drop of 84%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Georgia's (84%). From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 8.7%.

Relative to population

With 12,719,141 residents in July 2025, Illinois authorized 1.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Connecticut (1.6) and Alaska (1.4).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 94% of the units authorized in Illinois fell in counties belonging to one of its 12 metro areas; the other 5.8% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Chicago leads with 16,707 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Illinois, 722 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Chicago, with 24,368 units or 25% of the total, followed by Plainfield village with 2,365. Among the three largest, Champaign put 90% of its units in five-plus buildings, Plainfield village 0%.

  • Chicago25% (24,368 units)
  • Plainfield village2.5% (2,365 units)
  • Champaign2.3% (2,213 units)
  • Naperville2.1% (2,042 units)
  • Oswego village2.1% (1,978 units)
  • Yorkville1.7% (1,670 units)
  • Joliet1.7% (1,638 units)
  • Elgin1.5% (1,452 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Illinois reported 94% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 5.7% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Indiana, 5.7%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Pennsylvania25,7092.339%
Illinois18,5511.540%
Ohio33,6402.637%
Georgia61,1966.128%
North Carolina86,1678.628%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Illinois beside Pennsylvania

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