HousingPermits

West South Central division · South

Louisiana

Louisiana authorized an average of 15,490 new housing units a year in 2021–2025, the second-largest total of the 4 West South Central states. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 12% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the fourth-lowest share among the 50 states and DC. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 38% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 4 West South Central states.

08,00016k24k32k2004: 22,989 units (20,684 single-family, 778 in 2–4 unit, 1,527 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 22,811 units (20,206 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 2,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 28,671 units (23,806 single-family, 830 in 2–4 unit, 4,035 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 23,379 units (16,640 single-family, 1,079 in 2–4 unit, 5,660 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 16,305 units (11,689 single-family, 1,006 in 2–4 unit, 3,610 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 12,513 units (10,755 single-family, 644 in 2–4 unit, 1,114 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 11,343 units (10,210 single-family, 499 in 2–4 unit, 634 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 12,173 units (9,959 single-family, 669 in 2–4 unit, 1,545 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,018 units (11,526 single-family, 493 in 2–4 unit, 999 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 14,015 units (12,380 single-family, 477 in 2–4 unit, 1,158 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,255 units (12,844 single-family, 525 in 2–4 unit, 1,886 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 13,830 units (12,322 single-family, 439 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 14,503 units (12,518 single-family, 518 in 2–4 unit, 1,467 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 15,224 units (13,557 single-family, 457 in 2–4 unit, 1,210 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 15,835 units (13,733 single-family, 405 in 2–4 unit, 1,697 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 15,793 units (14,013 single-family, 633 in 2–4 unit, 1,147 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 17,283 units (15,457 single-family, 577 in 2–4 unit, 1,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,147 units (16,937 single-family, 558 in 2–4 unit, 1,652 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 15,544 units (13,557 single-family, 694 in 2–4 unit, 1,293 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 14,247 units (11,243 single-family, 638 in 2–4 unit, 2,366 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 14,310 units (12,120 single-family, 529 in 2–4 unit, 1,661 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 14,203 units (11,199 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 2,415 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 28,671010k20k30k2004: 22,989 units (20,684 single-family, 778 in 2–4 unit, 1,527 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 22,811 units (20,206 single-family, 587 in 2–4 unit, 2,018 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 28,671 units (23,806 single-family, 830 in 2–4 unit, 4,035 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 23,379 units (16,640 single-family, 1,079 in 2–4 unit, 5,660 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 16,305 units (11,689 single-family, 1,006 in 2–4 unit, 3,610 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 12,513 units (10,755 single-family, 644 in 2–4 unit, 1,114 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 11,343 units (10,210 single-family, 499 in 2–4 unit, 634 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 12,173 units (9,959 single-family, 669 in 2–4 unit, 1,545 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,018 units (11,526 single-family, 493 in 2–4 unit, 999 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 14,015 units (12,380 single-family, 477 in 2–4 unit, 1,158 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,255 units (12,844 single-family, 525 in 2–4 unit, 1,886 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 13,830 units (12,322 single-family, 439 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 14,503 units (12,518 single-family, 518 in 2–4 unit, 1,467 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 15,224 units (13,557 single-family, 457 in 2–4 unit, 1,210 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 15,835 units (13,733 single-family, 405 in 2–4 unit, 1,697 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 15,793 units (14,013 single-family, 633 in 2–4 unit, 1,147 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 17,283 units (15,457 single-family, 577 in 2–4 unit, 1,249 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 19,147 units (16,937 single-family, 558 in 2–4 unit, 1,652 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 15,544 units (13,557 single-family, 694 in 2–4 unit, 1,293 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 14,247 units (11,243 single-family, 638 in 2–4 unit, 2,366 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 14,310 units (12,120 single-family, 529 in 2–4 unit, 1,661 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 14,203 units (11,199 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 2,415 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 28,671

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 50% of the 2006 high of 28,671 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 4 West South Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is South Carolina (12% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202584.0%84%3.9%12.1%12%2004–200686.9%87%2.9%10.2%10%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202584.0%84%3.9%12.1%2004–200686.9%87%2.9%10.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 3 other states, among them Alabama, Kansas, North Carolina. Annual permits fell from 28,671 during the mid-2000s boom to 11,343 in 2010, a drop of 60%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Texas's (61%).

Relative to population

With 4,618,189 residents in July 2025, Louisiana 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 Kentucky (3.4) and Kansas (3.2).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 94% of the units authorized in Louisiana fell in counties belonging to one of its 10 metro areas; the other 6.3% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Baton Rouge leads with 3,926 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Louisiana, 174 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was St. Tammany Parish (unincorporated), with 5,933 units or 7.7% of the total, followed by New Orleans with 5,126. Among the three largest, New Orleans put 32% of its units in five-plus buildings, St. Tammany Parish (unincorporated) 0%.

  • St. Tammany Parish (unincorporated)7.7% (5,933 units)
  • New Orleans6.6% (5,126 units)
  • Livingston Parish (unincorporated)5.5% (4,276 units)
  • Lafayette Parish (unincorporated)5% (3,867 units)
  • Baton Rouge4.9% (3,821 units)
  • East Baton Rouge Parish (unincorporated)4.6% (3,574 units)
  • Tangipahoa Parish (unincorporated)4.4% (3,397 units)
  • Hammond3.8% (2,923 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Louisiana reported 79% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 21% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Massachusetts, 20%).

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 Louisiana beside Kentucky

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