HousingPermits

South Atlantic division · South

West Virginia

West Virginia authorized 3,962 new housing units in 2025. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 12% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the third-lowest share among the 50 states and DC. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 3.1% of its units in 2021–2025, the highest share among the 9 South Atlantic states.

02,0004,0006,0008,0002004: 5,716 units (5,115 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 475 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 6,140 units (5,483 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 530 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,645 units (5,160 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 364 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,795 units (3,918 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 772 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,481 units (2,560 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 792 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,235 units (1,966 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,395 units (1,796 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 494 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,220 units (1,588 single-family, 114 in 2–4 unit, 518 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,718 units (1,763 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 828 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,575 units (1,945 single-family, 204 in 2–4 unit, 426 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,677 units (1,908 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 2,814 units (2,029 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,544 units (1,994 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 425 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 2,719 units (2,348 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 269 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,887 units (2,341 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 3,010 units (2,551 single-family, 254 in 2–4 unit, 205 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,204 units (2,803 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,692 units (3,112 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 478 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,406 units (2,947 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 358 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 4,014 units (3,278 single-family, 95 in 2–4 unit, 641 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,192 units (3,515 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 583 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,962 units (3,618 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 6,1402011 low · 2,22002,5005,0007,5002004: 5,716 units (5,115 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 475 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 6,140 units (5,483 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 530 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 5,645 units (5,160 single-family, 121 in 2–4 unit, 364 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 4,795 units (3,918 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 772 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 3,481 units (2,560 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 792 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 2,235 units (1,966 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 164 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 2,395 units (1,796 single-family, 105 in 2–4 unit, 494 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 2,220 units (1,588 single-family, 114 in 2–4 unit, 518 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,718 units (1,763 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 828 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,575 units (1,945 single-family, 204 in 2–4 unit, 426 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,677 units (1,908 single-family, 178 in 2–4 unit, 591 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 2,814 units (2,029 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 2,544 units (1,994 single-family, 125 in 2–4 unit, 425 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 2,719 units (2,348 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 269 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,887 units (2,341 single-family, 90 in 2–4 unit, 456 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 3,010 units (2,551 single-family, 254 in 2–4 unit, 205 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,204 units (2,803 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,692 units (3,112 single-family, 102 in 2–4 unit, 478 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 3,406 units (2,947 single-family, 101 in 2–4 unit, 358 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 4,014 units (3,278 single-family, 95 in 2–4 unit, 641 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 4,192 units (3,515 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 583 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 3,962 units (3,618 single-family, 198 in 2–4 unit, 146 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 6,140

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

The housing bust cut annual permits by 64%, from 6,140 at the 2004–2006 high to 2,220 in 2011, the second-mildest drop among the 9 South Atlantic states.

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 50 other states is Delaware (11% in five-plus buildings). Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2012 (828), single-family houses in 2005 (5,483).

2021–202585.5%86%3.1%11.5%12%2004–200690.0%90%2.1%7.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202585.5%86%3.1%11.5%2004–200690.0%90%2.1%7.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

West Virginia authorized the most units in 2005 (6,140); 2025 reached 64% of that. Its peak year is shared by 19 other states, among them Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico. The 2021–2025 pace of 3,853 units a year is 34% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 5 years in a row up to 2021. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 5.5%.

Relative to population

With 1,766,147 residents in July 2025, West Virginia authorized 2.2 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The states with the nearest rates are Massachusetts (2.2) and Michigan (2.2).

Metro areas

In 2021–2025, 84% of the units authorized in West Virginia fell in counties belonging to one of its 10 metro areas; the other 16% 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 West Virginia, 137 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Berkeley County (unincorporated), with 6,524 units or 34% of the total, followed by Charles Town with 1,619. Among the three largest, Charles Town put 75% of its units in five-plus buildings, Berkeley County (unincorporated) 1.6%.

  • Berkeley County (unincorporated)34% (6,524 units)
  • Charles Town8.4% (1,619 units)
  • Jefferson County (unincorporated)7.9% (1,520 units)
  • Ranson corporation7.1% (1,370 units)
  • Hampshire County (unincorporated)3.2% (626 units)
  • Kanawha County (unincorporated)2.8% (548 units)
  • Morgan County (unincorporated)2.8% (541 units)
  • Putnam County (unincorporated)2.5% (477 units)

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

Reported and estimated

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

Similar in size

State2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Idaho17,9449.521%
Nebraska10,5965.243%
West Virginia3,9622.212%
Hawaii3,7082.734%
New Hampshire5,0303.528%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put West Virginia beside Nebraska

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