HousingPermits

New England division · Northeast

Rhode Island

Rhode Island authorized 1,738 new housing units in 2025. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 20% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 50 states and DC. The housing bust cut annual permits by 75%, from 2,836 at the 2004–2006 high to 700 in 2011, the deepest drop among the 6 New England states.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,532 units (1,903 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 523 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,836 units (1,808 single-family, 238 in 2–4 unit, 790 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,370 units (1,801 single-family, 401 in 2–4 unit, 168 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,938 units (1,395 single-family, 245 in 2–4 unit, 298 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,058 units (874 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 961 units (704 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 133 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 934 units (727 single-family, 77 in 2–4 unit, 130 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 700 units (571 single-family, 123 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 731 units (665 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 928 units (812 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 52 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 952 units (796 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 88 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 998 units (841 single-family, 118 in 2–4 unit, 39 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,226 units (919 single-family, 206 in 2–4 unit, 101 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,153 units (981 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 102 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,294 units (936 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 199 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,400 units (1,020 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 163 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,374 units (976 single-family, 291 in 2–4 unit, 107 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,392 units (1,033 single-family, 233 in 2–4 unit, 126 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,372 units (960 single-family, 208 in 2–4 unit, 204 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,169 units (709 single-family, 143 in 2–4 unit, 317 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,757 units (825 single-family, 374 in 2–4 unit, 558 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,738 units (730 single-family, 498 in 2–4 unit, 510 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 2,8362011 low · 70001,0002,0003,0002004: 2,532 units (1,903 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 523 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,836 units (1,808 single-family, 238 in 2–4 unit, 790 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,370 units (1,801 single-family, 401 in 2–4 unit, 168 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,938 units (1,395 single-family, 245 in 2–4 unit, 298 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,058 units (874 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 961 units (704 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 133 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 934 units (727 single-family, 77 in 2–4 unit, 130 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 700 units (571 single-family, 123 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 731 units (665 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 928 units (812 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 52 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 952 units (796 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 88 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 998 units (841 single-family, 118 in 2–4 unit, 39 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,226 units (919 single-family, 206 in 2–4 unit, 101 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,153 units (981 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 102 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,294 units (936 single-family, 159 in 2–4 unit, 199 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,400 units (1,020 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 163 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,374 units (976 single-family, 291 in 2–4 unit, 107 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,392 units (1,033 single-family, 233 in 2–4 unit, 126 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,372 units (960 single-family, 208 in 2–4 unit, 204 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,169 units (709 single-family, 143 in 2–4 unit, 317 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,757 units (825 single-family, 374 in 2–4 unit, 558 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,738 units (730 single-family, 498 in 2–4 unit, 510 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 2,836

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Buildings with five or more units accounted for 23% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the second-lowest share among the 6 New England states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Alaska (22% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202557.3%57%19.6%20%23.1%23%2004–200671.2%71%9.6%10%19.1%19%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202557.3%57%19.6%20%23.1%23%2004–200671.2%71%9.6%19.1%19%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Rhode Island authorized the most units in 2005 (2,836); 2025 reached 61% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Maine, Hawaii, West Virginia. The 2021–2025 pace of 1,486 units a year is 42% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2016.

Relative to population

With 1,114,521 residents in July 2025, Rhode Island authorized 1.4 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Alaska (1.4).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 100% of the units authorized in Rhode Island fell in counties belonging to one of its 1 metro area. Providence leads with 2,365 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Rhode Island, 39 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Providence, with 951 units or 13% of the total, followed by Warwick with 690. Among the three largest, East Providence put 74% of its units in five-plus buildings, Providence 34%.

  • Providence13% (951 units)
  • Warwick9.3% (690 units)
  • East Providence5.8% (428 units)
  • South Kingstown town5.7% (425 units)
  • Lincoln town5.6% (414 units)
  • North Kingstown town5.1% (380 units)
  • Woonsocket4.1% (305 units)
  • Coventry town3.9% (290 units)

Share of the units authorized in Rhode Island, 2021–2025.

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Rhode Island reported 87% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 13% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Alabama, 13%).

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 Rhode Island beside Montana

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