Building permits · May 2026

Tennessee Building Permits

Monthly residential building permits for Tennessee from the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey — 3,146 units authorized in May 2026, 42,288 over the last 12 months.

3,146
Units (latest month)
2,886
Single-family units
212
Multifamily (5+) units
$972,130,000
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 42,288 units permitted · latest month -6.3% vs. a year earlier.
Total units permitted, by monthDec 2024May 2026
Dec 2024May 2026
Structure typeUnitsShare
Single-family (1-unit)2,88691.7%
2-unit structures180.6%
3–4 unit structures301.0%
Multifamily (5+ units)2126.7%
All units3,146100%

Building permits across the U.S.

Total housing units permittedMay 2026 · by state
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Tennessee permits by county

Davidson County5,434Knox County5,247Rutherford County3,312Montgomery County2,437Sumner County2,038Wilson County1,984Hamilton County1,968Williamson County1,583Shelby County1,472Maury County1,433Sevier County1,398Robertson County848Putnam County826Blount County819Bradley County719Washington County681Loudon County604Sullivan County573Coffee County510Anderson County450Dickson County436Bedford County408Marshall County383Fayette County379Roane County366Franklin County336Jefferson County326Warren County319Greene County254Marion County244Madison County238Cheatham County236Hamblen County220Monroe County200Polk County194White County190Macon County171Rhea County171Lincoln County168Carter County167Gibson County164DeKalb County152Campbell County151Tipton County149Hawkins County148Smith County147Cumberland County118Hickman County117Trousdale County111Union County109Giles County103Claiborne County94Meigs County90McMinn County82Cannon County80Dyer County76Grainger County66Weakley County50Humphreys County42Haywood County38Hardeman County29Moore County29Clay County28Henderson County28Lauderdale County28Hardin County27Crockett County26Unicoi County26Lawrence County25Lewis County23Obion County21Stewart County19Chester County18Grundy County17Henry County16Sequatchie County16Carroll County13Perry County12Overton County11Decatur County10Fentress County8Johnson County7McNairy County7Scott County6Cocke County4Van Buren County4Lake County3Benton County2Houston County2Hancock County1Wayne County1Bledsoe County0Jackson County0Morgan County0

Top cities in Tennessee

By units permitted in the last 12 months.

Tennessee building permits — FAQ

How many building permits were issued in Tennessee?+

3,146 new residential housing units were authorized in Tennessee in May 2026, and 42,288 over the trailing 12 months, per the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey.

Is homebuilding rising or falling in Tennessee?+

In May 2026, Tennessee permitted units were down 6.3% versus the same month a year earlier. Over the trailing 12 months, 42,288 units were authorized.

What share is multifamily?+

8.3% of Tennessee's May 2026 permitted units were in multifamily (2+ unit) structures; 91.7% were single-family.

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