HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

North Carolina

North Carolina authorized 86,167 new housing units in 2025, the fourth-largest total of the 50 states and DC. Relative to population, the rate was 8.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the second-highest rate of the 50 states and DC. Its 2025 total reached 86% of the 2006 high, the third-closest to a series peak among the 50 states and DC.

030k60k90k120k2004: 93,077 units (77,147 single-family, 1,828 in 2–4 unit, 14,102 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 97,910 units (84,975 single-family, 1,776 in 2–4 unit, 11,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 99,979 units (82,672 single-family, 1,797 in 2–4 unit, 15,510 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 85,777 units (70,339 single-family, 1,434 in 2–4 unit, 14,004 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 54,652 units (39,082 single-family, 823 in 2–4 unit, 14,747 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 33,800 units (25,388 single-family, 532 in 2–4 unit, 7,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 33,889 units (26,047 single-family, 645 in 2–4 unit, 7,197 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 32,804 units (24,863 single-family, 694 in 2–4 unit, 7,247 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 48,692 units (29,945 single-family, 835 in 2–4 unit, 17,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 51,290 units (35,316 single-family, 455 in 2–4 unit, 15,519 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 49,911 units (35,051 single-family, 504 in 2–4 unit, 14,356 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 54,757 units (38,937 single-family, 750 in 2–4 unit, 15,070 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 60,550 units (43,675 single-family, 442 in 2–4 unit, 16,433 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 67,047 units (49,366 single-family, 609 in 2–4 unit, 17,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 71,691 units (51,248 single-family, 731 in 2–4 unit, 19,712 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 71,307 units (51,642 single-family, 620 in 2–4 unit, 19,045 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 80,474 units (60,505 single-family, 602 in 2–4 unit, 19,367 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 94,874 units (68,636 single-family, 780 in 2–4 unit, 25,458 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 94,118 units (65,183 single-family, 826 in 2–4 unit, 28,109 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 98,853 units (65,860 single-family, 1,069 in 2–4 unit, 31,924 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 95,163 units (70,047 single-family, 1,085 in 2–4 unit, 24,031 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 86,167 units (65,303 single-family, 1,406 in 2–4 unit, 19,458 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 99,9792011 low · 32,804040k80k120k2004: 93,077 units (77,147 single-family, 1,828 in 2–4 unit, 14,102 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 97,910 units (84,975 single-family, 1,776 in 2–4 unit, 11,159 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 99,979 units (82,672 single-family, 1,797 in 2–4 unit, 15,510 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 85,777 units (70,339 single-family, 1,434 in 2–4 unit, 14,004 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 54,652 units (39,082 single-family, 823 in 2–4 unit, 14,747 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 33,800 units (25,388 single-family, 532 in 2–4 unit, 7,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 33,889 units (26,047 single-family, 645 in 2–4 unit, 7,197 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 32,804 units (24,863 single-family, 694 in 2–4 unit, 7,247 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 48,692 units (29,945 single-family, 835 in 2–4 unit, 17,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 51,290 units (35,316 single-family, 455 in 2–4 unit, 15,519 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 49,911 units (35,051 single-family, 504 in 2–4 unit, 14,356 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 54,757 units (38,937 single-family, 750 in 2–4 unit, 15,070 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 60,550 units (43,675 single-family, 442 in 2–4 unit, 16,433 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 67,047 units (49,366 single-family, 609 in 2–4 unit, 17,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 71,691 units (51,248 single-family, 731 in 2–4 unit, 19,712 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 71,307 units (51,642 single-family, 620 in 2–4 unit, 19,045 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 80,474 units (60,505 single-family, 602 in 2–4 unit, 19,367 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 94,874 units (68,636 single-family, 780 in 2–4 unit, 25,458 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 94,118 units (65,183 single-family, 826 in 2–4 unit, 28,109 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 98,853 units (65,860 single-family, 1,069 in 2–4 unit, 31,924 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 95,163 units (70,047 single-family, 1,085 in 2–4 unit, 24,031 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 86,167 units (65,303 single-family, 1,406 in 2–4 unit, 19,458 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 99,979

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 3.3% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-largest recovery by this measure among the 9 South Atlantic states.

Houses or apartments

In North Carolina, 71% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 28% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Georgia (28% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 14%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (31,924), single-family houses in 2005 (84,975).

2021–202571.4%71%1.1%27.5%28%2004–200684.1%84%1.9%14.0%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202571.4%71%1.1%27.5%28%2004–200684.1%84%1.9%14.0%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 3 other states, among them Alabama, Louisiana, Kansas. Annual permits fell from 99,979 during the mid-2000s boom to 32,804 in 2011, a drop of 67%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Kentucky's (67%). From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 9.5%.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 88% of the units authorized in North Carolina fell in counties belonging to one of its 16 metro areas; the other 12% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Charlotte leads with 26,985 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across North Carolina, 232 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Mecklenburg County, with 61,382 units or 13% of the total, followed by Raleigh with 31,292. Among the three largest, Raleigh put 74% of its units in five-plus buildings, Durham 49%.

  • Mecklenburg County13% (61,382 units)
  • Raleigh6.7% (31,292 units)
  • Durham4.1% (19,328 units)
  • New Hanover County (unincorporated)3% (13,886 units)
  • Brunswick County (unincorporated)2.9% (13,510 units)
  • Johnston County (unincorporated)2.6% (12,103 units)
  • Iredell County (unincorporated)2.6% (12,094 units)
  • Cabarrus County2.3% (10,717 units)

Share of the units authorized in North Carolina, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in North Carolina reported 93% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 6.7% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Arizona, 6.6%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Illinois18,5511.540%
Ohio33,6402.637%
Georgia61,1966.128%
North Carolina86,1678.628%
Michigan23,0752.225%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put North Carolina beside Georgia

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