Builders in Houston were issued the highest number of single-family permits in the country in 2023, according to a report from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB).

Nationwide, year-to-date single-family permits decreased by 6.5% year over year in December, declining in all four major regions of the United States. Permits also declined annually in all but seven states: Hawaii (+16.7%), Maryland (+8.7%), Nevada (+5.8%), West Virginia (+4.7%), Virginia (+0.8%) and North Carolina (+0.7%).

However, single-family permits increased by 5% annually in the Houston metropolitan area, the highest increase of any metro area in the country (tied with Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida). Houston also saw the largest quantity of single-family permits issued to builders, with 50,014 permits issued last year.

Additionally, Houston ranked among the metro areas with the highest quantity of multifamily construction permits, despite a 35% decline year over year. Builders and developers were issued 18,322 multifamily permits in 2023, the sixth-highest amount in the nation.

Statewide, Texas was the state with the most single-family and multifamily permits issued, although both segments saw year-over-year declines (down 6.5% and 24%, respectively).