HousingPermits

Mountain division · West

Utah

Utah authorized 26,775 new housing units in 2025, the third-largest total of the 8 Mountain states. Relative to population, the rate was 8.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the fourth-highest rate of the 50 states and DC. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 13% above the 2004–2006 average, the fifth-largest recovery by this measure among the 50 states and DC.

015k30k45k60k2004: 24,267 units (20,236 single-family, 1,386 in 2–4 unit, 2,645 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 27,799 units (24,019 single-family, 1,097 in 2–4 unit, 2,683 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 25,873 units (22,595 single-family, 935 in 2–4 unit, 2,343 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 20,292 units (16,480 single-family, 931 in 2–4 unit, 2,881 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,905 units (7,084 single-family, 503 in 2–4 unit, 3,318 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 9,982 units (6,314 single-family, 405 in 2–4 unit, 3,263 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,171 units (6,883 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 1,952 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,983 units (6,860 single-family, 288 in 2–4 unit, 2,835 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,007 units (9,969 single-family, 429 in 2–4 unit, 2,609 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,818 units (11,857 single-family, 615 in 2–4 unit, 3,346 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 17,510 units (11,282 single-family, 617 in 2–4 unit, 5,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,297 units (12,523 single-family, 630 in 2–4 unit, 5,144 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,662 units (15,210 single-family, 745 in 2–4 unit, 6,707 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 24,679 units (17,247 single-family, 1,520 in 2–4 unit, 5,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,574 units (18,545 single-family, 1,361 in 2–4 unit, 5,668 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 28,779 units (18,191 single-family, 1,065 in 2–4 unit, 9,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 31,775 units (22,301 single-family, 1,452 in 2–4 unit, 8,022 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 39,058 units (24,423 single-family, 1,359 in 2–4 unit, 13,276 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 31,749 units (19,132 single-family, 806 in 2–4 unit, 11,811 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 25,361 units (14,913 single-family, 936 in 2–4 unit, 9,512 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 23,902 units (17,674 single-family, 705 in 2–4 unit, 5,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 26,775 units (16,774 single-family, 780 in 2–4 unit, 9,221 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 39,0582010 low · 9,171015k30k45k2004: 24,267 units (20,236 single-family, 1,386 in 2–4 unit, 2,645 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 27,799 units (24,019 single-family, 1,097 in 2–4 unit, 2,683 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 25,873 units (22,595 single-family, 935 in 2–4 unit, 2,343 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 20,292 units (16,480 single-family, 931 in 2–4 unit, 2,881 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 10,905 units (7,084 single-family, 503 in 2–4 unit, 3,318 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 9,982 units (6,314 single-family, 405 in 2–4 unit, 3,263 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 9,171 units (6,883 single-family, 336 in 2–4 unit, 1,952 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 9,983 units (6,860 single-family, 288 in 2–4 unit, 2,835 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 13,007 units (9,969 single-family, 429 in 2–4 unit, 2,609 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 15,818 units (11,857 single-family, 615 in 2–4 unit, 3,346 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 17,510 units (11,282 single-family, 617 in 2–4 unit, 5,611 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 18,297 units (12,523 single-family, 630 in 2–4 unit, 5,144 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 22,662 units (15,210 single-family, 745 in 2–4 unit, 6,707 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 24,679 units (17,247 single-family, 1,520 in 2–4 unit, 5,912 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 25,574 units (18,545 single-family, 1,361 in 2–4 unit, 5,668 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 28,779 units (18,191 single-family, 1,065 in 2–4 unit, 9,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 31,775 units (22,301 single-family, 1,452 in 2–4 unit, 8,022 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 39,058 units (24,423 single-family, 1,359 in 2–4 unit, 13,276 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 31,749 units (19,132 single-family, 806 in 2–4 unit, 11,811 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 25,361 units (14,913 single-family, 936 in 2–4 unit, 9,512 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 23,902 units (17,674 single-family, 705 in 2–4 unit, 5,523 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 26,775 units (16,774 single-family, 780 in 2–4 unit, 9,221 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 39,058

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits rose 12% between 2024 and 2025, the largest increase among the 8 Mountain states.

Houses or apartments

In Utah, 63% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 34% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Hawaii (34% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 9.8%.

2021–202563.3%63%3.1%33.6%34%2004–200685.8%86%4.4%9.8%10%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202563.3%63%3.1%33.6%34%2004–200685.8%86%4.4%9.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Utah authorized the most units in 2021 (39,058); 2025 reached 69% of that. Its peak year is shared by 7 other states, among them Idaho, Montana, Colorado. Annual permits fell from 27,799 during the mid-2000s boom to 9,171 in 2010, a drop of 67%. The nearest bust profile among the states was North Carolina's (67%). Permits rose 11 years in a row up to 2021.

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 85% of the units authorized in Utah fell in counties belonging to one of its 5 metro areas; the other 15% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Salt Lake City leads with 8,826 units a year.

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Utah, 194 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Salt Lake City, with 14,996 units or 10% of the total, followed by Lehi with 7,021. Among the three largest, Salt Lake City put 90% of its units in five-plus buildings, Saratoga Springs 8.6%.

  • Salt Lake City10% (14,996 units)
  • Lehi4.8% (7,021 units)
  • Saratoga Springs4.7% (6,974 units)
  • St. George4.2% (6,212 units)
  • Eagle Mountain3.8% (5,594 units)
  • South Jordan3.1% (4,547 units)
  • Washington2.9% (4,214 units)
  • Salt Lake County (unincorporated)2.6% (3,759 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Utah reported 89% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 11% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Georgia, 11%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Connecticut7,2731.656%
Utah26,7758.534%
Nevada18,5406.228%
Iowa13,6644.032%
Arkansas15,4924.621%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Utah beside Connecticut

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