HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

South Carolina

South Carolina authorized 45,862 new housing units in 2025. Relative to population, the rate was 8.2 units per 1,000 residents in 2025, the second-highest rate of the 50 states and DC. Single-family houses made up 86% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 50 states and DC.

015k30k45k60k2004: 43,230 units (36,081 single-family, 795 in 2–4 unit, 6,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 54,157 units (43,341 single-family, 960 in 2–4 unit, 9,856 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 50,776 units (41,675 single-family, 654 in 2–4 unit, 8,447 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 40,631 units (32,817 single-family, 392 in 2–4 unit, 7,422 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 25,918 units (19,778 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 5,785 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 15,529 units (13,444 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 1,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 14,021 units (12,691 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 1,229 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 15,542 units (12,852 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 2,579 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 18,708 units (15,288 single-family, 240 in 2–4 unit, 3,180 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 24,725 units (20,247 single-family, 293 in 2–4 unit, 4,185 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 27,537 units (21,464 single-family, 204 in 2–4 unit, 5,869 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 31,030 units (24,322 single-family, 269 in 2–4 unit, 6,439 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 32,165 units (26,349 single-family, 299 in 2–4 unit, 5,517 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 35,521 units (28,851 single-family, 197 in 2–4 unit, 6,473 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 35,487 units (30,579 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 4,774 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 36,034 units (31,052 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 4,640 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 42,340 units (36,226 single-family, 396 in 2–4 unit, 5,718 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 50,680 units (43,264 single-family, 458 in 2–4 unit, 6,958 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 46,038 units (37,906 single-family, 815 in 2–4 unit, 7,317 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 42,474 units (37,163 single-family, 1,225 in 2–4 unit, 4,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 47,072 units (40,558 single-family, 1,011 in 2–4 unit, 5,503 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 45,862 units (39,897 single-family, 784 in 2–4 unit, 5,181 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 54,1572010 low · 14,021020k40k60k2004: 43,230 units (36,081 single-family, 795 in 2–4 unit, 6,354 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 54,157 units (43,341 single-family, 960 in 2–4 unit, 9,856 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 50,776 units (41,675 single-family, 654 in 2–4 unit, 8,447 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 40,631 units (32,817 single-family, 392 in 2–4 unit, 7,422 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 25,918 units (19,778 single-family, 355 in 2–4 unit, 5,785 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 15,529 units (13,444 single-family, 173 in 2–4 unit, 1,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 14,021 units (12,691 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 1,229 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 15,542 units (12,852 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 2,579 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 18,708 units (15,288 single-family, 240 in 2–4 unit, 3,180 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 24,725 units (20,247 single-family, 293 in 2–4 unit, 4,185 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 27,537 units (21,464 single-family, 204 in 2–4 unit, 5,869 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 31,030 units (24,322 single-family, 269 in 2–4 unit, 6,439 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 32,165 units (26,349 single-family, 299 in 2–4 unit, 5,517 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 35,521 units (28,851 single-family, 197 in 2–4 unit, 6,473 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 35,487 units (30,579 single-family, 134 in 2–4 unit, 4,774 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 36,034 units (31,052 single-family, 342 in 2–4 unit, 4,640 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 42,340 units (36,226 single-family, 396 in 2–4 unit, 5,718 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 50,680 units (43,264 single-family, 458 in 2–4 unit, 6,958 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 46,038 units (37,906 single-family, 815 in 2–4 unit, 7,317 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 42,474 units (37,163 single-family, 1,225 in 2–4 unit, 4,086 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 47,072 units (40,558 single-family, 1,011 in 2–4 unit, 5,503 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 45,862 units (39,897 single-family, 784 in 2–4 unit, 5,181 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 54,157

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total reached 85% of the 2005 high, the fourth-closest to a series peak among the 50 states and DC.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Louisiana (12% in five-plus buildings).

2021–202585.6%86%1.8%12.5%12%2004–200681.7%82%1.6%16.6%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202585.6%86%1.8%12.5%2004–200681.7%82%1.6%16.6%17%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Maryland, Missouri, Oregon. Annual permits fell from 54,157 during the mid-2000s boom to 14,021 in 2010, a drop of 74%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Ohio's (74%). The 2021–2025 pace of 46,425 units a year is 6% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 7 years in a row up to 2017.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 94% of the units authorized in South Carolina fell in counties belonging to one of its 10 metro areas; the other 5.7% 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 South Carolina, 136 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Horry County (unincorporated), with 26,714 units or 12% of the total, followed by Spartanburg County (unincorporated) with 14,844.

  • Horry County (unincorporated)12% (26,714 units)
  • Spartanburg County (unincorporated)6.4% (14,844 units)
  • Greenville County (unincorporated)5.4% (12,606 units)
  • Columbia4.1% (9,536 units)
  • Berkeley County (unincorporated)4.1% (9,503 units)
  • Lexington County (unincorporated)3.6% (8,366 units)
  • North Charleston3.2% (7,382 units)
  • Charleston2.8% (6,579 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in South Carolina reported 82% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 18% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: New Jersey, 18%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Colorado33,7547.144%
Wisconsin25,5694.040%
Minnesota20,9474.645%
South Carolina45,8628.612%
Alabama19,0614.017%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put South Carolina beside Minnesota

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