HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

Virginia

Virginia authorized 33,094 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 37% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-weakest recovery by this measure among the 9 South Atlantic states. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 38% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 9 South Atlantic states.

020k40k60k80k2004: 63,220 units (48,990 single-family, 1,511 in 2–4 unit, 12,719 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 61,518 units (49,959 single-family, 1,136 in 2–4 unit, 10,423 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 47,704 units (38,977 single-family, 1,083 in 2–4 unit, 7,644 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 38,362 units (30,944 single-family, 724 in 2–4 unit, 6,694 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 27,577 units (19,939 single-family, 484 in 2–4 unit, 7,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 21,452 units (16,268 single-family, 414 in 2–4 unit, 4,770 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 20,992 units (16,149 single-family, 299 in 2–4 unit, 4,544 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 23,297 units (15,625 single-family, 181 in 2–4 unit, 7,491 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 27,278 units (17,496 single-family, 523 in 2–4 unit, 9,259 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 31,944 units (20,895 single-family, 270 in 2–4 unit, 10,779 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 28,682 units (18,834 single-family, 331 in 2–4 unit, 9,517 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 28,469 units (19,865 single-family, 255 in 2–4 unit, 8,349 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 31,132 units (21,614 single-family, 506 in 2–4 unit, 9,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 33,760 units (22,497 single-family, 534 in 2–4 unit, 10,729 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 31,977 units (21,427 single-family, 634 in 2–4 unit, 9,916 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 32,418 units (21,056 single-family, 698 in 2–4 unit, 10,664 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 33,813 units (24,238 single-family, 766 in 2–4 unit, 8,809 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 39,388 units (25,118 single-family, 658 in 2–4 unit, 13,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 39,701 units (21,130 single-family, 446 in 2–4 unit, 18,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 36,096 units (21,321 single-family, 545 in 2–4 unit, 14,230 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 34,059 units (22,796 single-family, 528 in 2–4 unit, 10,735 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 33,094 units (20,458 single-family, 594 in 2–4 unit, 12,042 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 63,2202010 low · 20,992025k50k75k2004: 63,220 units (48,990 single-family, 1,511 in 2–4 unit, 12,719 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 61,518 units (49,959 single-family, 1,136 in 2–4 unit, 10,423 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 47,704 units (38,977 single-family, 1,083 in 2–4 unit, 7,644 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 38,362 units (30,944 single-family, 724 in 2–4 unit, 6,694 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 27,577 units (19,939 single-family, 484 in 2–4 unit, 7,154 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 21,452 units (16,268 single-family, 414 in 2–4 unit, 4,770 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 20,992 units (16,149 single-family, 299 in 2–4 unit, 4,544 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 23,297 units (15,625 single-family, 181 in 2–4 unit, 7,491 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 27,278 units (17,496 single-family, 523 in 2–4 unit, 9,259 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 31,944 units (20,895 single-family, 270 in 2–4 unit, 10,779 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 28,682 units (18,834 single-family, 331 in 2–4 unit, 9,517 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 28,469 units (19,865 single-family, 255 in 2–4 unit, 8,349 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 31,132 units (21,614 single-family, 506 in 2–4 unit, 9,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 33,760 units (22,497 single-family, 534 in 2–4 unit, 10,729 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 31,977 units (21,427 single-family, 634 in 2–4 unit, 9,916 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 32,418 units (21,056 single-family, 698 in 2–4 unit, 10,664 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 33,813 units (24,238 single-family, 766 in 2–4 unit, 8,809 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 39,388 units (25,118 single-family, 658 in 2–4 unit, 13,612 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 39,701 units (21,130 single-family, 446 in 2–4 unit, 18,125 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 36,096 units (21,321 single-family, 545 in 2–4 unit, 14,230 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 34,059 units (22,796 single-family, 528 in 2–4 unit, 10,735 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 33,094 units (20,458 single-family, 594 in 2–4 unit, 12,042 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 63,220

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Permits fell 2.8% between 2024 and 2025, the third-smallest decline among the 9 South Atlantic states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Oregon (38% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 18%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (18,125), single-family houses in 2005 (49,959).

2021–202560.8%61%1.5%37.7%38%2004–200680.0%80%2.2%17.9%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202560.8%61%1.5%37.7%38%2004–200680.0%80%2.2%17.9%18%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Virginia authorized the most units in 2004 (63,220); 2025 reached 52% of that. Its peak year is shared by 11 other states, among them Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin. Annual permits fell from 63,220 during the mid-2000s boom to 20,992 in 2010, a drop of 67%. The nearest bust profile among the states was Utah's (67%).

Relative to population

With 8,880,107 residents in July 2025, Virginia authorized 4.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, close to the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Oregon (4.2) and Indiana (4.1).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 89% of the units authorized in Virginia fell in counties belonging to one of its 11 metro areas; the other 11% came from smaller towns and rural counties. Washington leads with 25,128 units a year (counting its part in neighboring states).

Average units authorized per year, 2021–2025.

Busiest permit offices

Across Virginia, 159 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Chesterfield County, with 14,759 units or 8.1% of the total, followed by Fairfax County (unincorporated) with 12,273.

  • Chesterfield County8.1% (14,759 units)
  • Fairfax County (unincorporated)6.7% (12,273 units)
  • Henrico County6.3% (11,469 units)
  • Richmond6.2% (11,220 units)
  • Loudoun County (unincorporated)5.7% (10,308 units)
  • Arlington County4.6% (8,404 units)
  • Prince William County (unincorporated)4.3% (7,864 units)
  • Spotsylvania County3.2% (5,744 units)

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

Reported and estimated

Permit offices in Virginia reported 94% of the 2021–2025 units directly; the Census Bureau estimated 5.8% for offices that missed months (US: 8.2%; closest state: Illinois, 5.7%).

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Michigan23,0752.225%
New Jersey27,6613.654%
Virginia33,0944.238%
Washington34,9135.548%
Arizona51,5328.031%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Virginia beside New Jersey

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