HousingPermits

East North Central division · Midwest

Michigan

Michigan authorized 23,075 new housing units in 2025. The housing bust cut annual permits by 87%, from 54,721 at the 2004–2006 high to 6,884 in 2009, the second-deepest drop among the 50 states and DC. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 49% below the 2004–2006 average, the fifth-weakest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC.

015k30k45k60k2004: 54,721 units (45,881 single-family, 1,619 in 2–4 unit, 7,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 45,328 units (38,875 single-family, 989 in 2–4 unit, 5,464 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 29,191 units (24,782 single-family, 766 in 2–4 unit, 3,643 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 17,767 units (15,195 single-family, 420 in 2–4 unit, 2,152 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,911 units (8,984 single-family, 375 in 2–4 unit, 1,552 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 6,884 units (6,236 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 517 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,075 units (7,755 single-family, 298 in 2–4 unit, 1,022 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,341 units (7,937 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,160 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 11,692 units (10,234 single-family, 277 in 2–4 unit, 1,181 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,757 units (12,915 single-family, 518 in 2–4 unit, 2,324 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,933 units (12,381 single-family, 509 in 2–4 unit, 3,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,226 units (13,398 single-family, 606 in 2–4 unit, 4,222 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 20,408 units (14,534 single-family, 772 in 2–4 unit, 5,102 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 23,623 units (16,652 single-family, 696 in 2–4 unit, 6,275 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 19,580 units (15,633 single-family, 718 in 2–4 unit, 3,229 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 20,600 units (14,623 single-family, 811 in 2–4 unit, 5,166 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,735 units (15,154 single-family, 859 in 2–4 unit, 3,722 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 21,732 units (16,760 single-family, 845 in 2–4 unit, 4,127 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 21,780 units (14,809 single-family, 1,005 in 2–4 unit, 5,966 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,592 units (14,413 single-family, 1,016 in 2–4 unit, 5,163 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 21,750 units (15,045 single-family, 932 in 2–4 unit, 5,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 23,075 units (15,566 single-family, 1,243 in 2–4 unit, 6,266 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 54,7212009 low · 6,884020k40k60k2004: 54,721 units (45,881 single-family, 1,619 in 2–4 unit, 7,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 45,328 units (38,875 single-family, 989 in 2–4 unit, 5,464 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 29,191 units (24,782 single-family, 766 in 2–4 unit, 3,643 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 17,767 units (15,195 single-family, 420 in 2–4 unit, 2,152 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,911 units (8,984 single-family, 375 in 2–4 unit, 1,552 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 6,884 units (6,236 single-family, 131 in 2–4 unit, 517 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,075 units (7,755 single-family, 298 in 2–4 unit, 1,022 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,341 units (7,937 single-family, 244 in 2–4 unit, 1,160 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 11,692 units (10,234 single-family, 277 in 2–4 unit, 1,181 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,757 units (12,915 single-family, 518 in 2–4 unit, 2,324 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 15,933 units (12,381 single-family, 509 in 2–4 unit, 3,043 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,226 units (13,398 single-family, 606 in 2–4 unit, 4,222 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 20,408 units (14,534 single-family, 772 in 2–4 unit, 5,102 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 23,623 units (16,652 single-family, 696 in 2–4 unit, 6,275 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 19,580 units (15,633 single-family, 718 in 2–4 unit, 3,229 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 20,600 units (14,623 single-family, 811 in 2–4 unit, 5,166 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,735 units (15,154 single-family, 859 in 2–4 unit, 3,722 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 21,732 units (16,760 single-family, 845 in 2–4 unit, 4,127 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 21,780 units (14,809 single-family, 1,005 in 2–4 unit, 5,966 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,592 units (14,413 single-family, 1,016 in 2–4 unit, 5,163 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 21,750 units (15,045 single-family, 932 in 2–4 unit, 5,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 23,075 units (15,566 single-family, 1,243 in 2–4 unit, 6,266 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 54,721

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 25% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 5 East North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Kansas (24% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%.

2021–202570.3%70%4.6%25.1%25%2004–200684.8%85%2.6%12.6%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202570.3%70%4.6%25.1%25%2004–200684.8%85%2.6%12.6%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Michigan authorized the most units in 2004 (54,721); 2025 reached 42% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Permits rose 8 years in a row up to 2017. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 6.1%.

Relative to population

With 10,127,884 residents in July 2025, Michigan authorized 2.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are West Virginia (2.2) and Connecticut (1.6).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 81% of the units authorized in Michigan fell in counties belonging to one of its 16 metro areas; the other 19% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Detroit leads with 7,957 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Michigan, 791 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Detroit, with 8,166 units or 7.5% of the total, followed by Livingston County Part (unincorporated) with 2,941. Among the three largest, Detroit put 68% of its units in five-plus buildings, Livingston County Part (unincorporated) 16%.

  • Detroit7.5% (8,166 units)
  • Livingston County Part (unincorporated)2.7% (2,941 units)
  • Grand Traverse County Part (unincorporated)2.6% (2,819 units)
  • Grand Rapids2.5% (2,675 units)
  • Macomb township1.6% (1,739 units)
  • Cascade charter township1.4% (1,551 units)
  • Canton charter township1.4% (1,516 units)
  • Sterling Heights1.3% (1,468 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Michigan reported 86% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 14% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Kentucky, 13%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Georgia61,1966.128%
North Carolina86,1678.628%
Michigan23,0752.225%
New Jersey27,6613.654%
Virginia33,0944.238%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Michigan beside New Jersey

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