The total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date for the full year 2022 was 972,180 nationwide, representing a 12.5% decrease from the number of permits issued in 2021, according to an analysis by the NAHB. The number of permits issued in 2022 decreased across all four regions, with the largest year-over-year declines in the Western region.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia; and Austin-Round Rock, Texas issued the most single-family permits in 2022. However, the number of permits issued by the top five metros decreased between 9% and 24% on a year-over-year basis. Of the ten metros to issue the most single-family permits in 2022, only Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina-South Carolina did not register a year-over-year decrease in permits issued.
Year-to-date ending in December, single-family permits declined in all four regions. The South posted a decline of 10.4%, while the Western region reported the steepest decline of 15.9%. The Northeast declined by 12.5% and the Midwest declined by 15.8% for single-family permits during this time. On the other hand, multifamily permits posted increased in all but one region, Northeast (-17.1%). Permits were 23.8% higher in the South, 12.7% higher in the Midwest, and 3.6% higher in the West.
Between December 2021 YTD and December 2022 YTD, New Mexico, Montana, and the District of Columbia saw growth in single-family permits issued. New Mexico recorded the highest growth rate during this time at 33.5% going from 5,492 permits to 7,331. Forty-eight states reported a decline in single-family permits during this time with Colorado posting the steepest decline of 30.0% declining from 34,244 permits to 23,965. The ten states issuing the highest number of single-family permits combined accounted for 63.5% of the total single-family permits issued.
