HousingPermits

East South Central division · South

Tennessee

Tennessee authorized 43,374 new housing units in 2025, the largest total of the 4 East South Central states. Relative to population, the rate was 6.9 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 4 East South Central states. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 7.3% above the 2004–2006 average, the largest recovery by this measure among the 4 East South Central states.

015k30k45k60k2004: 44,791 units (37,826 single-family, 1,370 in 2–4 unit, 5,595 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 46,615 units (40,174 single-family, 1,320 in 2–4 unit, 5,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 46,003 units (39,196 single-family, 1,264 in 2–4 unit, 5,543 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 37,359 units (29,518 single-family, 1,068 in 2–4 unit, 6,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 22,389 units (16,240 single-family, 928 in 2–4 unit, 5,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 15,005 units (11,926 single-family, 580 in 2–4 unit, 2,499 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 16,475 units (11,630 single-family, 488 in 2–4 unit, 4,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 14,977 units (11,513 single-family, 626 in 2–4 unit, 2,838 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 20,147 units (13,939 single-family, 740 in 2–4 unit, 5,468 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 23,816 units (16,548 single-family, 801 in 2–4 unit, 6,467 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 27,632 units (17,889 single-family, 486 in 2–4 unit, 9,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 32,219 units (21,636 single-family, 400 in 2–4 unit, 10,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 36,157 units (24,551 single-family, 566 in 2–4 unit, 11,040 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 37,912 units (27,119 single-family, 655 in 2–4 unit, 10,138 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 37,169 units (28,021 single-family, 566 in 2–4 unit, 8,582 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 41,361 units (29,598 single-family, 501 in 2–4 unit, 11,262 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 49,719 units (33,030 single-family, 1,077 in 2–4 unit, 15,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 57,484 units (36,986 single-family, 808 in 2–4 unit, 19,690 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 52,637 units (33,211 single-family, 1,453 in 2–4 unit, 17,973 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 47,463 units (31,293 single-family, 1,134 in 2–4 unit, 15,036 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 44,863 units (32,660 single-family, 1,020 in 2–4 unit, 11,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 43,374 units (32,068 single-family, 879 in 2–4 unit, 10,427 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 57,4842011 low · 14,977020k40k60k2004: 44,791 units (37,826 single-family, 1,370 in 2–4 unit, 5,595 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 46,615 units (40,174 single-family, 1,320 in 2–4 unit, 5,121 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 46,003 units (39,196 single-family, 1,264 in 2–4 unit, 5,543 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 37,359 units (29,518 single-family, 1,068 in 2–4 unit, 6,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 22,389 units (16,240 single-family, 928 in 2–4 unit, 5,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 15,005 units (11,926 single-family, 580 in 2–4 unit, 2,499 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 16,475 units (11,630 single-family, 488 in 2–4 unit, 4,357 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 14,977 units (11,513 single-family, 626 in 2–4 unit, 2,838 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 20,147 units (13,939 single-family, 740 in 2–4 unit, 5,468 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 23,816 units (16,548 single-family, 801 in 2–4 unit, 6,467 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 27,632 units (17,889 single-family, 486 in 2–4 unit, 9,257 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 32,219 units (21,636 single-family, 400 in 2–4 unit, 10,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 36,157 units (24,551 single-family, 566 in 2–4 unit, 11,040 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 37,912 units (27,119 single-family, 655 in 2–4 unit, 10,138 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 37,169 units (28,021 single-family, 566 in 2–4 unit, 8,582 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 41,361 units (29,598 single-family, 501 in 2–4 unit, 11,262 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 49,719 units (33,030 single-family, 1,077 in 2–4 unit, 15,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 57,484 units (36,986 single-family, 808 in 2–4 unit, 19,690 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 52,637 units (33,211 single-family, 1,453 in 2–4 unit, 17,973 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 47,463 units (31,293 single-family, 1,134 in 2–4 unit, 15,036 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 44,863 units (32,660 single-family, 1,020 in 2–4 unit, 11,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 43,374 units (32,068 single-family, 879 in 2–4 unit, 10,427 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 57,484

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total reached 76% of the 2021 high, the closest to a series peak among the 4 East South Central states.

Houses or apartments

In Tennessee, 68% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 30% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is North Dakota (31% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 12%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2021 (19,690), single-family houses in 2005 (40,174).

2021–202567.6%68%2.2%30.2%30%2004–200685.3%85%2.9%11.8%12%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202567.6%68%2.2%30.2%30%2004–200685.3%85%2.9%11.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 7 other states, among them Washington, Colorado, Utah. Annual permits fell from 46,615 during the mid-2000s boom to 14,977 in 2011, a drop of 68%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Washington's (68%). Permits rose 6 years in a row up to 2017.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 88% of the units authorized in Tennessee fell in counties belonging to one of its 10 metro areas; the other 12% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Nashville leads with 24,735 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Tennessee, 282 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Nashville-Davidson, with 54,444 units or 22% of the total, followed by Clarksville with 12,983. Among the three largest, Nashville-Davidson put 70% of its units in five-plus buildings, Knox County (unincorporated) 23%.

  • Nashville-Davidson22% (54,444 units)
  • Clarksville5.3% (12,983 units)
  • Knox County (unincorporated)4.9% (12,086 units)
  • Shelby County (unincorporated)3.1% (7,549 units)
  • Murfreesboro3.1% (7,517 units)
  • Knoxville2.6% (6,499 units)
  • Lebanon2.6% (6,417 units)
  • Gallatin2.5% (6,177 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Tennessee reported 91% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 8.8% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: West Virginia, 8.8%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Washington34,9135.548%
Arizona51,5328.031%
Tennessee43,3746.930%
Massachusetts12,4772.256%
Indiana29,0764.128%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Tennessee beside Massachusetts

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