Number of multifamily building permits in the U.S. 2000-2021

There were 622,000 building permits for multifamily housing units granted in the United States in 2021, compared with 492,000 over the previous twelve months. In contrast, there were over one million building permits for single-family housing units authorized in 2021.

Multifamily housing projects on the increase

Multifamily homes refer to buildings that contain at least two housing units, including apartment buildings and duplexes. In 2021, building work had started on almost half a million multifamily housing units in the United States – the highest number recorded in recent decades. Overall, the number of multifamily dwellings in the United States is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years.

What are the trends in size of different properties?

One of the noticeable differences between multifamily and single-family housing is the size of the units. In 2020, the median size of a multifamily unit in the United States was over 1,000 square feet. In contrast, the median size of a single-family housing unit was more than twice as large.