Building permits · May 2026

North Carolina Building Permits

Monthly residential building permits for North Carolina from the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey — 7,781 units authorized in May 2026, 85,035 over the last 12 months.

7,781
Units (latest month)
5,602
Single-family units
2,054
Multifamily (5+) units
$2,208,641,000
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 85,035 units permitted · latest month +5.9% vs. a year earlier.
Total units permitted, by monthDec 2024May 2026
Dec 2024May 2026
Structure typeUnitsShare
Single-family (1-unit)5,60272.0%
2-unit structures781.0%
3–4 unit structures470.6%
Multifamily (5+ units)2,05426.4%
All units7,781100%

Building permits across the U.S.

Total housing units permittedMay 2026 · by state
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North Carolina permits by county

Wake County14,640Mecklenburg County6,003Brunswick County4,710Durham County3,452Buncombe County3,135Guilford County2,971Forsyth County2,911Johnston County2,906Union County2,612Gaston County2,539New Hanover County2,415Catawba County2,283Harnett County2,028Cabarrus County1,851Onslow County1,739Alamance County1,678Iredell County1,530Pitt County1,295Davidson County1,228Henderson County1,144Pender County1,080Rowan County1,075Orange County1,023Moore County994Wayne County893Franklin County850Cumberland County743Randolph County739Lincoln County721Lee County652Hoke County564Craven County548Cleveland County543Chatham County520Burke County506Nash County450Haywood County443Granville County434Carteret County413Caldwell County411Robeson County374Dare County372Currituck County353Wilson County346Rockingham County345Stanly County320Watauga County310Jackson County253Surry County253Davie County235Cherokee County230Rutherford County228Warren County223Stokes County219Macon County218Pasquotank County218Avery County215Camden County195Ashe County191Transylvania County163Madison County157Montgomery County157McDowell County155Duplin County145Polk County144Lenoir County134Beaufort County132Sampson County129Wilkes County129Person County128Yancey County114Yadkin County113Clay County103Alexander County99Alleghany County99Pamlico County87Bladen County82Richmond County80Swain County77Halifax County73Vance County73Scotland County67Chowan County66Caswell County62Mitchell County55Greene County54Columbus County53Anson County52Edgecombe County51Perquimans County51Jones County38Bertie County34Hyde County31Graham County25Tyrrell County21Northampton County15Gates County11Washington County4Hertford County2Martin County0

Top cities in North Carolina

By units permitted in the last 12 months.

North Carolina building permits — FAQ

How many building permits were issued in North Carolina?+

7,781 new residential housing units were authorized in North Carolina in May 2026, and 85,035 over the trailing 12 months, per the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey.

Is homebuilding rising or falling in North Carolina?+

In May 2026, North Carolina permitted units were up 5.9% versus the same month a year earlier. Over the trailing 12 months, 85,035 units were authorized.

What share is multifamily?+

28.0% of North Carolina's May 2026 permitted units were in multifamily (2+ unit) structures; 72.0% were single-family.

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