HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

Nebraska

Nebraska authorized 10,596 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total reached 95% of the 2022 high, the closest to a series peak among the 50 states and DC. The housing bust cut annual permits by 53%, from 10,920 at the 2004–2006 high to 5,150 in 2009, the fourth-mildest drop among the 50 states and DC.

03,0006,0009,00012k2004: 10,920 units (9,052 single-family, 345 in 2–4 unit, 1,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 9,929 units (8,687 single-family, 259 in 2–4 unit, 983 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 8,230 units (6,554 single-family, 306 in 2–4 unit, 1,370 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 7,604 units (6,015 single-family, 316 in 2–4 unit, 1,273 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 6,346 units (4,690 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 1,478 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,150 units (4,552 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 5,401 units (3,779 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 1,280 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 5,203 units (3,597 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 1,395 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 6,116 units (4,316 single-family, 219 in 2–4 unit, 1,581 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,543 units (5,151 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 2,253 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,605 units (4,744 single-family, 156 in 2–4 unit, 2,705 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 8,096 units (5,198 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 2,720 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 8,078 units (5,080 single-family, 215 in 2–4 unit, 2,783 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 8,863 units (5,436 single-family, 294 in 2–4 unit, 3,133 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 7,866 units (4,900 single-family, 264 in 2–4 unit, 2,702 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,025 units (4,672 single-family, 238 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 9,483 units (5,745 single-family, 396 in 2–4 unit, 3,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 10,723 units (6,328 single-family, 295 in 2–4 unit, 4,100 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 11,115 units (5,073 single-family, 604 in 2–4 unit, 5,438 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 8,877 units (4,666 single-family, 374 in 2–4 unit, 3,837 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 10,479 units (5,655 single-family, 415 in 2–4 unit, 4,409 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 10,596 units (5,561 single-family, 551 in 2–4 unit, 4,484 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 11,1152009 low · 5,15004,0008,00012k2004: 10,920 units (9,052 single-family, 345 in 2–4 unit, 1,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 9,929 units (8,687 single-family, 259 in 2–4 unit, 983 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 8,230 units (6,554 single-family, 306 in 2–4 unit, 1,370 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 7,604 units (6,015 single-family, 316 in 2–4 unit, 1,273 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 6,346 units (4,690 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 1,478 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 5,150 units (4,552 single-family, 142 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 5,401 units (3,779 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 1,280 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 5,203 units (3,597 single-family, 211 in 2–4 unit, 1,395 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 6,116 units (4,316 single-family, 219 in 2–4 unit, 1,581 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 7,543 units (5,151 single-family, 139 in 2–4 unit, 2,253 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 7,605 units (4,744 single-family, 156 in 2–4 unit, 2,705 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 8,096 units (5,198 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 2,720 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 8,078 units (5,080 single-family, 215 in 2–4 unit, 2,783 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 8,863 units (5,436 single-family, 294 in 2–4 unit, 3,133 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 7,866 units (4,900 single-family, 264 in 2–4 unit, 2,702 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 8,025 units (4,672 single-family, 238 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 9,483 units (5,745 single-family, 396 in 2–4 unit, 3,342 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 10,723 units (6,328 single-family, 295 in 2–4 unit, 4,100 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 11,115 units (5,073 single-family, 604 in 2–4 unit, 5,438 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 8,877 units (4,666 single-family, 374 in 2–4 unit, 3,837 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 10,479 units (5,655 single-family, 415 in 2–4 unit, 4,409 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 10,596 units (5,561 single-family, 551 in 2–4 unit, 4,484 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 11,115

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Relative to population, the rate was 5.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the second-highest rate of the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

In Nebraska, 53% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 43% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Colorado (44% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (5,438), single-family houses in 2004 (9,052).

2021–202552.7%53%4.3%43.0%43%2004–200683.5%84%3.1%13.3%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202552.7%53%4.3%43.0%43%2004–200683.5%84%3.1%13.3%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 2 other states, among them South Dakota, District of Columbia. The 2021–2025 pace of 10,358 units a year is 6.9% above the 2004–2006 pace.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 84% of the units authorized in Nebraska fell in counties belonging to one of its 4 metro areas; the other 16% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Omaha leads with 6,159 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Nebraska, 301 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Omaha, with 18,122 units or 35% of the total, followed by Lincoln with 11,368. Among the three largest, Lincoln put 59% of its units in five-plus buildings, Papillion 33%.

  • Omaha35% (18,122 units)
  • Lincoln22% (11,368 units)
  • Papillion6.9% (3,566 units)
  • Gretna3.4% (1,777 units)
  • Bellevue2.9% (1,486 units)
  • Grand Island2.2% (1,115 units)
  • Sarpy County (unincorporated)1.6% (817 units)
  • Fremont1.4% (721 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Nebraska reported 97% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 2.6% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Oregon, 3.2%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
New Mexico7,7473.818%
Idaho17,9449.521%
Nebraska10,5965.243%
West Virginia3,9622.212%
Hawaii3,7082.734%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Nebraska beside Idaho

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