HousingPermits

West North Central division · Midwest

South Dakota

South Dakota authorized 5,305 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 27% above the 2004–2006 average, the second-largest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC. The housing bust cut annual permits by 52%, from 5,839 at the 2004–2006 high to 2,813 in 2011, the third-mildest drop among the 50 states and DC.

02,5005,0007,50010k2004: 5,839 units (4,659 single-family, 327 in 2–4 unit, 853 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,685 units (4,693 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,304 units (4,013 single-family, 373 in 2–4 unit, 918 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 5,112 units (3,617 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 1,135 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,884 units (2,664 single-family, 310 in 2–4 unit, 910 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,691 units (2,510 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 958 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,946 units (2,186 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 575 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,813 units (1,961 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 707 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,178 units (2,788 single-family, 165 in 2–4 unit, 1,225 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,482 units (3,193 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 2,137 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,722 units (2,798 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 1,666 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,482 units (2,868 single-family, 357 in 2–4 unit, 1,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 5,686 units (3,195 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 2,305 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 5,407 units (3,386 single-family, 231 in 2–4 unit, 1,790 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,963 units (2,985 single-family, 228 in 2–4 unit, 1,750 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,415 units (3,127 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 1,068 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,660 units (3,726 single-family, 324 in 2–4 unit, 2,610 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,917 units (4,324 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 3,175 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 9,421 units (3,917 single-family, 432 in 2–4 unit, 5,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 7,072 units (3,252 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,373 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 6,017 units (3,257 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 2,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 5,305 units (3,296 single-family, 207 in 2–4 unit, 1,802 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 9,4212011 low · 2,81304,0008,00012k2004: 5,839 units (4,659 single-family, 327 in 2–4 unit, 853 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,685 units (4,693 single-family, 388 in 2–4 unit, 604 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,304 units (4,013 single-family, 373 in 2–4 unit, 918 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 5,112 units (3,617 single-family, 360 in 2–4 unit, 1,135 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,884 units (2,664 single-family, 310 in 2–4 unit, 910 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 3,691 units (2,510 single-family, 223 in 2–4 unit, 958 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,946 units (2,186 single-family, 185 in 2–4 unit, 575 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,813 units (1,961 single-family, 145 in 2–4 unit, 707 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 4,178 units (2,788 single-family, 165 in 2–4 unit, 1,225 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 5,482 units (3,193 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 2,137 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 4,722 units (2,798 single-family, 258 in 2–4 unit, 1,666 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 4,482 units (2,868 single-family, 357 in 2–4 unit, 1,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 5,686 units (3,195 single-family, 186 in 2–4 unit, 2,305 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 5,407 units (3,386 single-family, 231 in 2–4 unit, 1,790 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 4,963 units (2,985 single-family, 228 in 2–4 unit, 1,750 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,415 units (3,127 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 1,068 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 6,660 units (3,726 single-family, 324 in 2–4 unit, 2,610 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 7,917 units (4,324 single-family, 418 in 2–4 unit, 3,175 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 9,421 units (3,917 single-family, 432 in 2–4 unit, 5,072 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 7,072 units (3,252 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,373 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 6,017 units (3,257 single-family, 256 in 2–4 unit, 2,504 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 5,305 units (3,296 single-family, 207 in 2–4 unit, 1,802 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 9,421

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Relative to population, the rate was 7.8 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 7 West North Central states.

Houses or apartments

In South Dakota, 50% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 45% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Colorado (44% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 14%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (5,072), single-family houses in 2005 (4,693).

2021–202550.5%50%4.9%44.6%45%2004–200679.4%79%6.5%14.1%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202550.5%50%4.9%44.6%45%2004–200679.4%79%6.5%14.1%14%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

South Dakota authorized the most units in 2022 (9,421); 2025 reached 56% of that. Its peak year is shared by 2 other states, among them District of Columbia, Nebraska. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 12%.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 76% of the units authorized in South Dakota fell in counties belonging to one of its 3 metro areas; the other 24% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Sioux Falls leads with 3,650 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across South Dakota, 200 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Sioux Falls, with 14,286 units or 40% of the total, followed by Rapid City with 4,187. Among the three largest, Rapid City put 70% of its units in five-plus buildings, Custer County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Sioux Falls40% (14,286 units)
  • Rapid City12% (4,187 units)
  • Custer County (unincorporated)3.5% (1,263 units)
  • Harrisburg3.4% (1,209 units)
  • Box Elder2.8% (996 units)
  • Spearfish2.3% (819 units)
  • Tea2.1% (761 units)
  • Watertown2.1% (752 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in South Dakota reported 94% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 6% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Florida, 5.9%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Rhode Island1,7381.423%
Delaware6,4686.611%
South Dakota5,3057.845%
North Dakota2,4403.731%
Alaska8481.422%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put South Dakota beside Delaware

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