Single-family permitting activity continued to weaken through the first seven months of 2026, while multifamily permitting remained stronger compared with the same period last year. Although single-family permits declined in most regions and states, multifamily permitting increased in three of the four regions, led by significant gains in the Northeast and West.
Over the first seven months of the year, the number of single-family permits issued nationwide reached 546,826. Compared with the same period in 2025, this represents a 3.3 percent decline from the July 2025 total of 565,208. In contrast, multifamily permitting activity remained stronger, with 304,876 permits issued nationwide, marking a 6.3 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
Regionally, year-to-date single-family permitting declined in three out of the four regions through July. The Midwest was essentially flat, with a 1.1 percent increase. The South declined 2.6 percent, the West fell 6.1 percent, and the Northeast posted the largest decline, at 9.6 percent. Multifamily permits increased in three of the four regions, led by the Northeast (39.9 percent), followed by the West (16.2 percent), and the Midwest (4.1 percent). The South was the only region to post a decline, with multifamily permits falling 6.5 percent, driven largely by reduced permitting activity in major metropolitan areas across the region.
At the state level, 20 states and the District of Columbia recorded increases in single-family permits compared with the same period last year, with gains ranging from 69.6 percent in the District of Columbia to 0.3 percent in Louisiana. The remaining 30 states posted declines. Nevada recorded the steepest decline, with single-family permits falling 27.5 percent.
The ten states issued the highest number of single-family permits accounted for 62.5 percent of all single-family permits issued nationwide. Texas led the nation with 87,795 permits issued through July 2026, although this represented a 3.1 percent decline from the same period in 2025. Florida, the second-highest state, recorded a 2.8 percent decline, while North Carolina, ranking third, posted a 7.7 percent decrease.
Through July, 30 states and the District of Columbia recorded increases in multifamily building permits, while 19 states experienced declines. Alaska remained unchanged. The District of Columbia posted the largest percentage increase, with multifamily permits rising 108.9 percent, from 541 to 1,130 units. In contrast, Nevada recorded the steepest decline, with permits falling 42.0 percent, from 3,916 to 2,271 units.
The ten states issued the highest number of multifamily permits accounted for 61.0 percent of all multifamily permits issued nationwide. Through the first seven months of 2026, Texas, which issued the largest number of multifamily permits, posted a 20.5 percent decline compared with the same period last year. California, the second-highest state, recorded a 25.9 percent increase, while Florida, ranking third, saw multifamily permits decrease by 31.2 percent.
At the local level, the following are the ten metropolitan areas with the highest number of single-family permits issued.
Below are the ten metropolitan areas with the highest levels of multifamily permitting activity.
