HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

Minnesota

Minnesota authorized 20,947 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 7 West North Central states. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 45% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 7 West North Central states. The housing bust cut annual permits by 79%, from 41,843 at the 2004–2006 high to 8,890 in 2011, the deepest drop among the 7 West North Central states.

015k30k45k60k2004: 41,843 units (32,580 single-family, 1,256 in 2–4 unit, 8,007 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 36,509 units (29,566 single-family, 883 in 2–4 unit, 6,060 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 26,352 units (20,901 single-family, 513 in 2–4 unit, 4,938 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 17,930 units (14,508 single-family, 366 in 2–4 unit, 3,056 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 11,551 units (8,908 single-family, 250 in 2–4 unit, 2,393 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 9,425 units (7,314 single-family, 241 in 2–4 unit, 1,870 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,840 units (7,053 single-family, 263 in 2–4 unit, 2,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 8,890 units (6,733 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 1,934 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 16,095 units (9,197 single-family, 191 in 2–4 unit, 6,707 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 17,313 units (11,114 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 5,856 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 16,990 units (10,689 single-family, 291 in 2–4 unit, 6,010 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 19,545 units (10,900 single-family, 430 in 2–4 unit, 8,215 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 21,449 units (12,071 single-family, 339 in 2–4 unit, 9,039 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 21,953 units (13,508 single-family, 316 in 2–4 unit, 8,129 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,673 units (13,574 single-family, 393 in 2–4 unit, 11,706 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 28,586 units (13,709 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 14,501 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 28,148 units (14,707 single-family, 588 in 2–4 unit, 12,853 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 33,652 units (16,704 single-family, 637 in 2–4 unit, 16,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 31,126 units (13,483 single-family, 552 in 2–4 unit, 17,091 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 25,667 units (12,770 single-family, 487 in 2–4 unit, 12,410 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,913 units (13,420 single-family, 666 in 2–4 unit, 6,827 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 20,947 units (12,886 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 7,472 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 41,8432011 low · 8,890015k30k45k2004: 41,843 units (32,580 single-family, 1,256 in 2–4 unit, 8,007 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 36,509 units (29,566 single-family, 883 in 2–4 unit, 6,060 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 26,352 units (20,901 single-family, 513 in 2–4 unit, 4,938 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 17,930 units (14,508 single-family, 366 in 2–4 unit, 3,056 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 11,551 units (8,908 single-family, 250 in 2–4 unit, 2,393 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 9,425 units (7,314 single-family, 241 in 2–4 unit, 1,870 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,840 units (7,053 single-family, 263 in 2–4 unit, 2,524 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 8,890 units (6,733 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 1,934 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 16,095 units (9,197 single-family, 191 in 2–4 unit, 6,707 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 17,313 units (11,114 single-family, 343 in 2–4 unit, 5,856 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 16,990 units (10,689 single-family, 291 in 2–4 unit, 6,010 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 19,545 units (10,900 single-family, 430 in 2–4 unit, 8,215 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 21,449 units (12,071 single-family, 339 in 2–4 unit, 9,039 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 21,953 units (13,508 single-family, 316 in 2–4 unit, 8,129 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,673 units (13,574 single-family, 393 in 2–4 unit, 11,706 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 28,586 units (13,709 single-family, 376 in 2–4 unit, 14,501 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 28,148 units (14,707 single-family, 588 in 2–4 unit, 12,853 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 33,652 units (16,704 single-family, 637 in 2–4 unit, 16,311 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 31,126 units (13,483 single-family, 552 in 2–4 unit, 17,091 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 25,667 units (12,770 single-family, 487 in 2–4 unit, 12,410 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 20,913 units (13,420 single-family, 666 in 2–4 unit, 6,827 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 20,947 units (12,886 single-family, 589 in 2–4 unit, 7,472 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 41,843

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 50% of the 2004 high of 41,843 units, the second-furthest below a series peak among the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is South Dakota (45% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 18%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (17,091), single-family houses in 2004 (32,580).

2021–202552.4%52%2.2%45.4%45%2004–200679.3%79%2.5%18.2%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202552.4%52%2.2%45.4%45%2004–200679.3%79%2.5%18.2%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky. The 2021–2025 pace of 26,461 units a year is 24% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2019.

Relative to population

With 5,830,405 residents in July 2025, Minnesota authorized 4.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Arkansas (4.6) and Oregon (4.2).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 84% of the units authorized in Minnesota fell in counties belonging to one of its 9 metro areas; the other 16% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Minneapolis leads with 19,395 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Minnesota, 762 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Minneapolis, with 9,255 units or 7% of the total, followed by St. Paul with 5,254. Among the three largest, Minneapolis put 94% of its units in five-plus buildings, Rochester 70%.

  • Minneapolis7% (9,255 units)
  • St. Paul4% (5,254 units)
  • Rochester3.1% (4,064 units)
  • Lakeville2.8% (3,671 units)
  • Woodbury2.5% (3,366 units)
  • Rosemount2.2% (2,845 units)
  • Maple Grove2% (2,657 units)
  • Shakopee1.9% (2,556 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Minnesota reported 96% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 4.4% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Wisconsin, 4.5%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Maryland13,3582.940%
Colorado33,7547.144%
Wisconsin25,5694.040%
Minnesota20,9474.645%
South Carolina45,8628.612%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Minnesota beside Wisconsin

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