HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

Iowa

Iowa authorized 13,664 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 7 West North Central states. The housing bust cut annual permits by 55%, from 16,766 at the 2004–2006 high to 7,526 in 2011, the fifth-mildest drop among the 50 states and DC. Permits rose 8.9% between 2024 and 2025, the second-largest increase among the 7 West North Central states.

05,00010k15k20k2004: 16,345 units (12,374 single-family, 850 in 2–4 unit, 3,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 16,766 units (12,812 single-family, 881 in 2–4 unit, 3,073 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,357 units (10,250 single-family, 621 in 2–4 unit, 2,486 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 11,171 units (8,674 single-family, 588 in 2–4 unit, 1,909 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,412 units (6,285 single-family, 393 in 2–4 unit, 1,734 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,729 units (5,705 single-family, 475 in 2–4 unit, 1,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,607 units (5,952 single-family, 450 in 2–4 unit, 1,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,526 units (5,875 single-family, 309 in 2–4 unit, 1,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,501 units (6,814 single-family, 408 in 2–4 unit, 2,279 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 10,877 units (7,578 single-family, 438 in 2–4 unit, 2,861 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 10,256 units (6,989 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,708 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 12,097 units (7,424 single-family, 786 in 2–4 unit, 3,887 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 14,317 units (8,203 single-family, 542 in 2–4 unit, 5,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 13,948 units (8,067 single-family, 474 in 2–4 unit, 5,407 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 11,518 units (7,318 single-family, 609 in 2–4 unit, 3,591 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 11,870 units (7,877 single-family, 620 in 2–4 unit, 3,373 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,623 units (8,633 single-family, 687 in 2–4 unit, 3,303 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 13,686 units (9,158 single-family, 744 in 2–4 unit, 3,784 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 12,704 units (7,624 single-family, 864 in 2–4 unit, 4,216 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 11,230 units (7,421 single-family, 757 in 2–4 unit, 3,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 12,544 units (7,780 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 4,113 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 13,664 units (7,326 single-family, 754 in 2–4 unit, 5,584 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 16,7662011 low · 7,52606,00012k18k2004: 16,345 units (12,374 single-family, 850 in 2–4 unit, 3,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 16,766 units (12,812 single-family, 881 in 2–4 unit, 3,073 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 13,357 units (10,250 single-family, 621 in 2–4 unit, 2,486 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 11,171 units (8,674 single-family, 588 in 2–4 unit, 1,909 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,412 units (6,285 single-family, 393 in 2–4 unit, 1,734 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,729 units (5,705 single-family, 475 in 2–4 unit, 1,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,607 units (5,952 single-family, 450 in 2–4 unit, 1,205 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,526 units (5,875 single-family, 309 in 2–4 unit, 1,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,501 units (6,814 single-family, 408 in 2–4 unit, 2,279 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 10,877 units (7,578 single-family, 438 in 2–4 unit, 2,861 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 10,256 units (6,989 single-family, 559 in 2–4 unit, 2,708 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 12,097 units (7,424 single-family, 786 in 2–4 unit, 3,887 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 14,317 units (8,203 single-family, 542 in 2–4 unit, 5,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 13,948 units (8,067 single-family, 474 in 2–4 unit, 5,407 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 11,518 units (7,318 single-family, 609 in 2–4 unit, 3,591 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 11,870 units (7,877 single-family, 620 in 2–4 unit, 3,373 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 12,623 units (8,633 single-family, 687 in 2–4 unit, 3,303 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 13,686 units (9,158 single-family, 744 in 2–4 unit, 3,784 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 12,704 units (7,624 single-family, 864 in 2–4 unit, 4,216 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 11,230 units (7,421 single-family, 757 in 2–4 unit, 3,052 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 12,544 units (7,780 single-family, 651 in 2–4 unit, 4,113 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 13,664 units (7,326 single-family, 754 in 2–4 unit, 5,584 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 16,766

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total reached 82% of the 2005 high, the second-closest to a series peak among the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

In Iowa, 62% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 32% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Florida (32% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 19%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.9% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (5,584), single-family houses in 2005 (12,812).

2021–202561.6%62%5.9%32.5%32%2004–200676.3%76%5.1%18.7%19%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202561.6%62%5.9%32.5%32%2004–200676.3%76%5.1%18.7%19%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 Nevada, Arkansas, Connecticut. The 2021–2025 pace of 12,766 units a year is 18% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Relative to population

With 3,238,387 residents in July 2025, Iowa authorized 4.0 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Alabama (4.0) and Wisconsin (4.0).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 79% of the units authorized in Iowa fell in counties belonging to one of its 9 metro areas; the other 21% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Omaha leads with 6,159 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Iowa, 579 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Waukee, with 5,560 units or 8.7% of the total, followed by Ankeny with 5,040. Among the three largest, Des Moines put 68% of its units in five-plus buildings, Ankeny 28%.

  • Waukee8.7% (5,560 units)
  • Ankeny7.9% (5,040 units)
  • Des Moines6.3% (4,031 units)
  • West Des Moines4.6% (2,912 units)
  • Cedar Rapids3.6% (2,285 units)
  • Urbandale3.2% (2,034 units)
  • Iowa City2.4% (1,560 units)
  • North Liberty2.1% (1,366 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Iowa reported 94% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 6.3% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Ohio, 6.4%).

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 Iowa beside Nevada

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