HousingPermits

East South Central division · South

Kentucky

Kentucky authorized 14,940 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 4 East South Central states. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 36% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 4 East South Central states. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 5.7% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 4 East South Central states.

06,00012k18k24k2004: 22,623 units (18,480 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 3,168 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 21,159 units (17,929 single-family, 964 in 2–4 unit, 2,266 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 16,628 units (13,496 single-family, 962 in 2–4 unit, 2,170 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 14,938 units (11,553 single-family, 857 in 2–4 unit, 2,528 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,494 units (6,892 single-family, 660 in 2–4 unit, 2,942 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,398 units (5,978 single-family, 533 in 2–4 unit, 887 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,986 units (5,983 single-family, 502 in 2–4 unit, 1,501 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,782 units (4,793 single-family, 672 in 2–4 unit, 2,317 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,725 units (5,538 single-family, 593 in 2–4 unit, 3,594 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 8,955 units (6,077 single-family, 490 in 2–4 unit, 2,388 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 9,536 units (6,073 single-family, 596 in 2–4 unit, 2,867 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 10,566 units (6,606 single-family, 703 in 2–4 unit, 3,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 12,714 units (7,264 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 4,863 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 12,630 units (7,967 single-family, 695 in 2–4 unit, 3,968 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 13,826 units (7,776 single-family, 462 in 2–4 unit, 5,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 11,811 units (7,467 single-family, 527 in 2–4 unit, 3,817 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 11,281 units (8,876 single-family, 691 in 2–4 unit, 1,714 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 14,841 units (10,087 single-family, 459 in 2–4 unit, 4,295 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 15,078 units (8,783 single-family, 774 in 2–4 unit, 5,521 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 15,415 units (7,826 single-family, 1,134 in 2–4 unit, 6,455 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 16,264 units (8,919 single-family, 992 in 2–4 unit, 6,353 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 14,940 units (8,817 single-family, 1,017 in 2–4 unit, 5,106 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 22,6232009 low · 7,39808,00016k24k2004: 22,623 units (18,480 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 3,168 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 21,159 units (17,929 single-family, 964 in 2–4 unit, 2,266 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 16,628 units (13,496 single-family, 962 in 2–4 unit, 2,170 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 14,938 units (11,553 single-family, 857 in 2–4 unit, 2,528 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,494 units (6,892 single-family, 660 in 2–4 unit, 2,942 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 7,398 units (5,978 single-family, 533 in 2–4 unit, 887 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 7,986 units (5,983 single-family, 502 in 2–4 unit, 1,501 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 7,782 units (4,793 single-family, 672 in 2–4 unit, 2,317 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 9,725 units (5,538 single-family, 593 in 2–4 unit, 3,594 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 8,955 units (6,077 single-family, 490 in 2–4 unit, 2,388 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 9,536 units (6,073 single-family, 596 in 2–4 unit, 2,867 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 10,566 units (6,606 single-family, 703 in 2–4 unit, 3,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 12,714 units (7,264 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 4,863 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 12,630 units (7,967 single-family, 695 in 2–4 unit, 3,968 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 13,826 units (7,776 single-family, 462 in 2–4 unit, 5,588 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 11,811 units (7,467 single-family, 527 in 2–4 unit, 3,817 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 11,281 units (8,876 single-family, 691 in 2–4 unit, 1,714 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 14,841 units (10,087 single-family, 459 in 2–4 unit, 4,295 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 15,078 units (8,783 single-family, 774 in 2–4 unit, 5,521 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 15,415 units (7,826 single-family, 1,134 in 2–4 unit, 6,455 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 16,264 units (8,919 single-family, 992 in 2–4 unit, 6,353 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 14,940 units (8,817 single-family, 1,017 in 2–4 unit, 5,106 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 22,623

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits fell 8.1% between 2024 and 2025, the steepest decline among the 4 East South Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Ohio (37% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (6,455), single-family houses in 2004 (18,480).

2021–202558.1%58%5.7%36.2%36%2004–200682.6%83%4.8%12.6%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202558.1%58%5.7%36.2%36%2004–200682.6%83%4.8%12.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Kentucky authorized the most units in 2004 (22,623); 2025 reached 66% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana. Annual permits fell from 22,623 during the mid-2000s boom to 7,398 in 2009, a drop of 67%. The nearest bust profile among the states was North Carolina's (67%). The 2021–2025 pace of 15,308 units a year is 24% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Relative to population

With 4,606,864 residents in July 2025, Kentucky authorized 3.4 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are New Hampshire (3.5) and Louisiana (3.4).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 82% of the units authorized in Kentucky fell in counties belonging to one of its 9 metro areas; the other 18% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Cincinnati leads with 7,033 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Kentucky, 150 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Louisville-Jefferson County (unincorporated), with 14,181 units or 18% of the total, followed by Lexington-Fayette with 6,872.

  • Louisville-Jefferson County (unincorporated)18% (14,181 units)
  • Lexington-Fayette9% (6,872 units)
  • Boone County6.1% (4,654 units)
  • Warren County (unincorporated)6% (4,626 units)
  • Bowling Green5.6% (4,314 units)
  • Elizabethtown3.7% (2,828 units)
  • Scott County3% (2,267 units)
  • Bullitt County2.9% (2,201 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Kentucky reported 87% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 13% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Alabama, 13%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Alabama19,0614.017%
Louisiana14,2033.412%
Kentucky14,9403.436%
Oregon14,8394.238%
Oklahoma15,5133.514%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Kentucky beside Louisiana

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