HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

North Dakota

North Dakota authorized 2,440 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total was only 20% of the 2014 high of 12,178 units, the furthest below a series peak among the 50 states and DC. The housing bust cut annual permits by 30%, from 4,038 at the 2004–2006 high to 2,833 in 2008, the mildest drop among the 50 states and DC.

04,0008,00012k16k2004: 4,033 units (2,521 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 1,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 4,038 units (2,367 single-family, 210 in 2–4 unit, 1,461 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 3,529 units (2,297 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 1,046 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,360 units (2,194 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 1,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,833 units (1,888 single-family, 83 in 2–4 unit, 862 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,195 units (1,704 single-family, 87 in 2–4 unit, 1,404 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,833 units (2,084 single-family, 86 in 2–4 unit, 1,663 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 6,201 units (2,913 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 10,340 units (4,540 single-family, 543 in 2–4 unit, 5,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 10,532 units (3,899 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 6,305 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 12,178 units (4,531 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 7,541 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 6,256 units (3,440 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 2,731 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 3,981 units (2,359 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 1,515 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 3,411 units (2,111 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 1,248 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,211 units (1,905 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 1,241 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,495 units (1,767 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 680 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,493 units (2,171 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 1,104 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,600 units (2,266 single-family, 266 in 2–4 unit, 1,068 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,440 units (1,961 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 1,277 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,618 units (1,499 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 985 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,319 units (1,651 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 474 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,440 units (1,761 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 613 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252014 high · 12,1782024 low · 2,31905,00010k15k2004: 4,033 units (2,521 single-family, 158 in 2–4 unit, 1,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 4,038 units (2,367 single-family, 210 in 2–4 unit, 1,461 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 3,529 units (2,297 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 1,046 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 3,360 units (2,194 single-family, 149 in 2–4 unit, 1,017 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 2,833 units (1,888 single-family, 83 in 2–4 unit, 862 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,195 units (1,704 single-family, 87 in 2–4 unit, 1,404 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 3,833 units (2,084 single-family, 86 in 2–4 unit, 1,663 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 6,201 units (2,913 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 3,115 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 10,340 units (4,540 single-family, 543 in 2–4 unit, 5,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 10,532 units (3,899 single-family, 328 in 2–4 unit, 6,305 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 12,178 units (4,531 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 7,541 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 6,256 units (3,440 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 2,731 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 3,981 units (2,359 single-family, 107 in 2–4 unit, 1,515 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 3,411 units (2,111 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 1,248 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,211 units (1,905 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 1,241 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,495 units (1,767 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 680 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,493 units (2,171 single-family, 218 in 2–4 unit, 1,104 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,600 units (2,266 single-family, 266 in 2–4 unit, 1,068 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,440 units (1,961 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 1,277 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 2,618 units (1,499 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 985 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,319 units (1,651 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 474 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 2,440 units (1,761 single-family, 66 in 2–4 unit, 613 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252014 high · 12,178

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Single-family houses made up 63% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Missouri (31% in five-plus buildings). Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 6% of units, against 3.5% nationally.

2021–202563.4%63%6.0%30.6%31%2004–200661.9%62%4.8%33.3%33%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202563.4%63%6.0%30.6%31%2004–200661.9%62%4.8%33.3%33%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its quietest year came later, in 2024 (2,319 units). The 2021–2025 pace of 2,883 units a year is 25% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 6 years in a row up to 2014. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 5.2%.

Relative to population

With 799,358 residents in July 2025, North Dakota authorized 3.7 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Vermont (3.8) and New Jersey (3.6).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 83% of the units authorized in North Dakota fell in counties belonging to one of its 4 metro areas; the other 17% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Fargo leads with 1,937 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across North Dakota, 214 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Fargo, with 5,162 units or 36% of the total, followed by Bismarck with 1,665. Among the three largest, Fargo put 67% of its units in five-plus buildings, Bismarck 10%.

  • Fargo36% (5,162 units)
  • Bismarck12% (1,665 units)
  • Horace10% (1,477 units)
  • West Fargo7.1% (1,017 units)
  • Minot3.8% (548 units)
  • Grand Forks3.8% (541 units)
  • Mandan2.3% (332 units)
  • Dickinson1.9% (273 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in North Dakota reported 95% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 4.9% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Kansas, 4.6%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
South Dakota5,3057.845%
North Dakota2,4403.731%
Alaska8481.422%
District of Columbia1,5915.592%
Vermont2,2943.838%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put North Dakota beside Alaska

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