HousingPermits

Mountain division · West

Montana

Montana authorized 5,258 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 20% above the 2004–2006 average, the third-largest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 10% of its units in 2021–2025, the fourth-highest share among the 50 states and DC.

02,0004,0006,0008,0002004: 4,975 units (3,425 single-family, 696 in 2–4 unit, 854 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 4,803 units (3,459 single-family, 661 in 2–4 unit, 683 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,542 units (3,405 single-family, 626 in 2–4 unit, 511 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,153 units (3,035 single-family, 419 in 2–4 unit, 699 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,376 units (1,909 single-family, 249 in 2–4 unit, 218 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,686 units (1,363 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,022 units (1,322 single-family, 294 in 2–4 unit, 406 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,914 units (1,208 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 508 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,736 units (1,734 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 614 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,854 units (2,620 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 1,896 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,884 units (2,044 single-family, 531 in 2–4 unit, 1,309 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,826 units (2,992 single-family, 463 in 2–4 unit, 1,371 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,781 units (3,113 single-family, 469 in 2–4 unit, 1,199 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,932 units (3,161 single-family, 702 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,099 units (3,213 single-family, 706 in 2–4 unit, 1,180 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,776 units (3,014 single-family, 704 in 2–4 unit, 1,058 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,980 units (3,318 single-family, 938 in 2–4 unit, 1,724 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,272 units (3,169 single-family, 615 in 2–4 unit, 3,488 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,460 units (3,190 single-family, 512 in 2–4 unit, 2,758 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 4,307 units (2,274 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 1,691 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 5,367 units (3,036 single-family, 730 in 2–4 unit, 1,601 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 5,258 units (2,675 single-family, 700 in 2–4 unit, 1,883 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 7,2722009 low · 1,68603,0006,0009,0002004: 4,975 units (3,425 single-family, 696 in 2–4 unit, 854 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 4,803 units (3,459 single-family, 661 in 2–4 unit, 683 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,542 units (3,405 single-family, 626 in 2–4 unit, 511 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,153 units (3,035 single-family, 419 in 2–4 unit, 699 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,376 units (1,909 single-family, 249 in 2–4 unit, 218 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,686 units (1,363 single-family, 147 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,022 units (1,322 single-family, 294 in 2–4 unit, 406 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,914 units (1,208 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 508 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,736 units (1,734 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 614 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 4,854 units (2,620 single-family, 338 in 2–4 unit, 1,896 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,884 units (2,044 single-family, 531 in 2–4 unit, 1,309 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,826 units (2,992 single-family, 463 in 2–4 unit, 1,371 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,781 units (3,113 single-family, 469 in 2–4 unit, 1,199 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,932 units (3,161 single-family, 702 in 2–4 unit, 1,069 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 5,099 units (3,213 single-family, 706 in 2–4 unit, 1,180 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,776 units (3,014 single-family, 704 in 2–4 unit, 1,058 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 5,980 units (3,318 single-family, 938 in 2–4 unit, 1,724 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,272 units (3,169 single-family, 615 in 2–4 unit, 3,488 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 6,460 units (3,190 single-family, 512 in 2–4 unit, 2,758 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 4,307 units (2,274 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 1,691 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 5,367 units (3,036 single-family, 730 in 2–4 unit, 1,601 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 5,258 units (2,675 single-family, 700 in 2–4 unit, 1,883 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 7,272

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Single-family houses made up 50% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 8 Mountain states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Maryland (40% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 14%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (3,488), single-family houses in 2005 (3,459).

2021–202550.0%50%10.1%10%39.8%40%2004–200671.9%72%13.8%14%14.3%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202550.0%50%10.1%39.8%40%2004–200671.9%72%13.8%14%14.3%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Montana authorized the most units in 2021 (7,272); 2025 reached 72% of that. Its peak year is shared by 7 other states, among them Delaware, Idaho, Utah. Annual permits fell from 4,975 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,686 in 2009, a drop of 66%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Virginia's (67%).

Relative to population

With 1,144,694 residents in July 2025, Montana authorized 5.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Nebraska (5.2) and Maine (4.7).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 80% of the units authorized in Montana fell in counties belonging to one of its 5 metro areas; the other 20% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Bozeman leads with 1,982 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Montana, 68 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Bozeman, with 5,226 units or 18% of the total, followed by Missoula with 3,952. Among the three largest, Missoula put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, Billings 24%.

  • Bozeman18% (5,226 units)
  • Missoula14% (3,952 units)
  • Billings11% (3,237 units)
  • Gallatin County (unincorporated)11% (3,099 units)
  • Kalispell9.3% (2,664 units)
  • Yellowstone County (unincorporated)5.3% (1,526 units)
  • Belgrade5% (1,431 units)
  • Missoula County (unincorporated)4.3% (1,239 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Montana reported 78% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 22% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Hawaii, 22%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Maine6,9794.721%
Montana5,2585.140%
Rhode Island1,7381.423%
Delaware6,4686.611%
South Dakota5,3057.845%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Montana beside Rhode Island

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