HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

Missouri

Missouri authorized 17,474 new housing units in 2025, the second-largest total of the 7 West North Central states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 40% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 7 West North Central states. Single-family houses made up 63% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the second-highest share among the 7 West North Central states.

010k20k30k40k2004: 32,791 units (26,269 single-family, 2,542 in 2–4 unit, 3,980 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 33,114 units (25,949 single-family, 2,892 in 2–4 unit, 4,273 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 29,172 units (19,926 single-family, 2,865 in 2–4 unit, 6,381 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 21,525 units (14,905 single-family, 2,014 in 2–4 unit, 4,606 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 13,273 units (7,777 single-family, 1,508 in 2–4 unit, 3,988 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,056 units (6,552 single-family, 800 in 2–4 unit, 2,704 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,699 units (6,901 single-family, 892 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,242 units (6,059 single-family, 1,146 in 2–4 unit, 2,037 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 12,297 units (7,998 single-family, 816 in 2–4 unit, 3,483 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 13,708 units (9,366 single-family, 770 in 2–4 unit, 3,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 16,003 units (9,072 single-family, 922 in 2–4 unit, 6,009 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,344 units (10,339 single-family, 1,017 in 2–4 unit, 6,988 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 18,997 units (11,292 single-family, 1,156 in 2–4 unit, 6,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 18,811 units (12,109 single-family, 1,082 in 2–4 unit, 5,620 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 16,875 units (11,376 single-family, 928 in 2–4 unit, 4,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,460 units (10,955 single-family, 1,001 in 2–4 unit, 5,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,839 units (13,107 single-family, 1,064 in 2–4 unit, 5,668 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 21,372 units (13,941 single-family, 1,073 in 2–4 unit, 6,358 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 20,901 units (11,598 single-family, 1,178 in 2–4 unit, 8,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 16,781 units (11,022 single-family, 1,209 in 2–4 unit, 4,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 18,464 units (11,528 single-family, 1,599 in 2–4 unit, 5,337 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 17,474 units (11,374 single-family, 1,334 in 2–4 unit, 4,766 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 33,1142011 low · 9,242015k30k45k2004: 32,791 units (26,269 single-family, 2,542 in 2–4 unit, 3,980 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 33,114 units (25,949 single-family, 2,892 in 2–4 unit, 4,273 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 29,172 units (19,926 single-family, 2,865 in 2–4 unit, 6,381 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 21,525 units (14,905 single-family, 2,014 in 2–4 unit, 4,606 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 13,273 units (7,777 single-family, 1,508 in 2–4 unit, 3,988 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 10,056 units (6,552 single-family, 800 in 2–4 unit, 2,704 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,699 units (6,901 single-family, 892 in 2–4 unit, 1,906 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,242 units (6,059 single-family, 1,146 in 2–4 unit, 2,037 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 12,297 units (7,998 single-family, 816 in 2–4 unit, 3,483 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 13,708 units (9,366 single-family, 770 in 2–4 unit, 3,572 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 16,003 units (9,072 single-family, 922 in 2–4 unit, 6,009 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,344 units (10,339 single-family, 1,017 in 2–4 unit, 6,988 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 18,997 units (11,292 single-family, 1,156 in 2–4 unit, 6,549 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 18,811 units (12,109 single-family, 1,082 in 2–4 unit, 5,620 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 16,875 units (11,376 single-family, 928 in 2–4 unit, 4,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 17,460 units (10,955 single-family, 1,001 in 2–4 unit, 5,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 19,839 units (13,107 single-family, 1,064 in 2–4 unit, 5,668 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 21,372 units (13,941 single-family, 1,073 in 2–4 unit, 6,358 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 20,901 units (11,598 single-family, 1,178 in 2–4 unit, 8,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 16,781 units (11,022 single-family, 1,209 in 2–4 unit, 4,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 18,464 units (11,528 single-family, 1,599 in 2–4 unit, 5,337 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 17,474 units (11,374 single-family, 1,334 in 2–4 unit, 4,766 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 33,114

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 6.7% of its units in 2021–2025, the second-highest share among the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is North Dakota (31% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 15%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (8,125), single-family houses in 2004 (26,269).

2021–202562.6%63%6.7%30.7%31%2004–200675.9%76%8.7%9%15.4%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202562.6%63%6.7%30.7%31%2004–200675.9%76%8.7%15.4%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Missouri authorized the most units in 2005 (33,114); 2025 reached 53% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Maryland, South Carolina, Massachusetts. Annual permits fell from 33,114 during the mid-2000s boom to 9,242 in 2011, a drop of 72%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Alaska's (72%). Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2016. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 5.4%.

Relative to population

With 6,270,541 residents in July 2025, Missouri authorized 3.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Kansas (3.2) and Maryland (2.9).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 85% of the units authorized in Missouri fell in counties belonging to one of its 8 metro areas; the other 15% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Kansas City leads with 9,804 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Missouri, 426 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Kansas City MO, with 10,306 units or 11% of the total, followed by Lees Summit with 3,984. Among the three largest, Kansas City MO put 61% of its units in five-plus buildings, Columbia 36%.

  • Kansas City MO11% (10,306 units)
  • Lees Summit4.2% (3,984 units)
  • Columbia3.1% (2,981 units)
  • St. Louis3.1% (2,975 units)
  • Jefferson County (unincorporated)2.6% (2,442 units)
  • St. Louis County (unincorporated)2.5% (2,360 units)
  • OFallon2.3% (2,151 units)
  • St. Peters2.2% (2,104 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Missouri reported 93% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 7.2% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Washington, 7.4%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Missouri17,4743.131%
Maryland13,3582.940%
Colorado33,7547.144%
Wisconsin25,5694.040%
Minnesota20,9474.645%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Missouri beside Maryland

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