HousingPermits

East North Central division · Midwest

Ohio

Ohio authorized 33,640 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 5 East North Central states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 31% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-largest recovery by this measure among the 5 East North Central states. Its 2025 total reached 65% of the 2004 high, the second-closest to a series peak among the 5 East North Central states.

015k30k45k60k2004: 51,695 units (42,543 single-family, 3,151 in 2–4 unit, 6,001 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 47,727 units (38,306 single-family, 3,516 in 2–4 unit, 5,905 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 34,422 units (27,514 single-family, 2,358 in 2–4 unit, 4,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 27,095 units (20,511 single-family, 1,802 in 2–4 unit, 4,782 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 17,666 units (12,873 single-family, 1,233 in 2–4 unit, 3,560 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 13,343 units (10,593 single-family, 519 in 2–4 unit, 2,231 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 13,710 units (10,603 single-family, 664 in 2–4 unit, 2,443 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 13,762 units (9,320 single-family, 673 in 2–4 unit, 3,769 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 16,905 units (10,894 single-family, 729 in 2–4 unit, 5,282 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 19,903 units (12,717 single-family, 887 in 2–4 unit, 6,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 19,872 units (12,535 single-family, 969 in 2–4 unit, 6,368 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 20,047 units (13,529 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 5,543 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,816 units (15,221 single-family, 946 in 2–4 unit, 6,649 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 23,917 units (16,153 single-family, 855 in 2–4 unit, 6,909 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 24,221 units (16,329 single-family, 1,065 in 2–4 unit, 6,827 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 23,047 units (16,078 single-family, 853 in 2–4 unit, 6,116 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 29,686 units (18,352 single-family, 1,199 in 2–4 unit, 10,135 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 30,418 units (20,506 single-family, 983 in 2–4 unit, 8,929 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 30,843 units (17,350 single-family, 1,760 in 2–4 unit, 11,733 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 27,318 units (16,009 single-family, 1,657 in 2–4 unit, 9,652 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 31,411 units (17,791 single-family, 1,605 in 2–4 unit, 12,015 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 33,640 units (17,327 single-family, 1,756 in 2–4 unit, 14,557 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 51,6952009 low · 13,343020k40k60k2004: 51,695 units (42,543 single-family, 3,151 in 2–4 unit, 6,001 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 47,727 units (38,306 single-family, 3,516 in 2–4 unit, 5,905 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 34,422 units (27,514 single-family, 2,358 in 2–4 unit, 4,550 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 27,095 units (20,511 single-family, 1,802 in 2–4 unit, 4,782 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 17,666 units (12,873 single-family, 1,233 in 2–4 unit, 3,560 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 13,343 units (10,593 single-family, 519 in 2–4 unit, 2,231 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 13,710 units (10,603 single-family, 664 in 2–4 unit, 2,443 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 13,762 units (9,320 single-family, 673 in 2–4 unit, 3,769 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 16,905 units (10,894 single-family, 729 in 2–4 unit, 5,282 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 19,903 units (12,717 single-family, 887 in 2–4 unit, 6,299 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 19,872 units (12,535 single-family, 969 in 2–4 unit, 6,368 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 20,047 units (13,529 single-family, 975 in 2–4 unit, 5,543 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,816 units (15,221 single-family, 946 in 2–4 unit, 6,649 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 23,917 units (16,153 single-family, 855 in 2–4 unit, 6,909 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 24,221 units (16,329 single-family, 1,065 in 2–4 unit, 6,827 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 23,047 units (16,078 single-family, 853 in 2–4 unit, 6,116 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 29,686 units (18,352 single-family, 1,199 in 2–4 unit, 10,135 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 30,418 units (20,506 single-family, 983 in 2–4 unit, 8,929 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 30,843 units (17,350 single-family, 1,760 in 2–4 unit, 11,733 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 27,318 units (16,009 single-family, 1,657 in 2–4 unit, 9,652 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 31,411 units (17,791 single-family, 1,605 in 2–4 unit, 12,015 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 33,640 units (17,327 single-family, 1,756 in 2–4 unit, 14,557 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 51,695

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

The housing bust cut annual permits by 74%, from 51,695 at the 2004–2006 high to 13,343 in 2009, the second-mildest drop among the 5 East North Central states.

Houses or apartments

In Ohio, 58% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 37% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Oregon (38% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 12%. Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 5.1% of units, against 3.5% nationally. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2025 (14,557), single-family houses in 2004 (42,543).

2021–202557.9%58%5.1%37.0%37%2004–200681.0%81%6.7%12.3%12%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202557.9%58%5.1%37.0%37%2004–200681.0%81%6.7%12.3%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 7.1%.

Relative to population

With 11,900,510 residents in July 2025, Ohio authorized 2.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Hawaii (2.7) and Pennsylvania (2.3).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 91% of the units authorized in Ohio fell in counties belonging to one of its 15 metro areas; the other 9% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Columbus, OH leads with 13,059 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Ohio, 702 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Columbus, with 31,128 units or 20% of the total, followed by Delaware County (unincorporated) with 6,843. Among the three largest, Columbus put 83% of its units in five-plus buildings, Delaware County (unincorporated) 12%.

  • Columbus20% (31,128 units)
  • Delaware County (unincorporated)4.5% (6,843 units)
  • Clermont County (unincorporated)3.9% (6,019 units)
  • Union County (unincorporated)3.5% (5,383 units)
  • Summit County (unincorporated)3.3% (5,024 units)
  • Warren County (unincorporated)2.8% (4,372 units)
  • Cincinnati2.2% (3,386 units)
  • Butler County (unincorporated)2% (3,101 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Ohio reported 94% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 6.4% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Iowa, 6.3%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Pennsylvania25,7092.339%
Illinois18,5511.540%
Ohio33,6402.637%
Georgia61,1966.128%
North Carolina86,1678.628%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Ohio beside Georgia

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