Building permits · May 2026
Virginia Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Virginia from the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey — 4,191 units authorized in May 2026, 34,347 over the last 12 months.
4,191
Units (latest month)
1,852
Single-family units
2,290
Multifamily (5+) units
$766,036,000
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 34,347 units permitted · latest month +62.4% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 1,852 | 44.2% |
| 2-unit structures | 40 | 1.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 9 | 0.2% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 2,290 | 54.6% |
| All units | 4,191 | 100% |
Building permits across the U.S.
Total housing units permittedMay 2026 · by state
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Virginia permits by county
Fairfax County3,098Arlington County2,881Chesterfield County2,768Richmond (Independent City)2,425Henrico County1,749Chesapeake(Independent City)1,631Loudoun County1,350Prince William County1,182Rockingham County782Albemarle County727Frederick County701Virginia Beach (Independent City)641Spotsylvania County629Suffolk (Independent City)582Montgomery County523Norfolk (Independent City)490Fauquier County479Stafford County472Waynesboro (Independent City)438Louisa County362Botetourt County342Isle of Wight County321Culpeper County302Orange County292Hanover County291Bedford County285James City County251Augusta County242Campbell County240Caroline County238New Kent County235Goochland County233Lynchburg (Independent City)229Westmoreland County219Fluvanna County202Greene County201York County194Roanoke (Independent City)194Portsmouth (Independent City)186King William County184Shenandoah County175Roanoke County173Gloucester County172Northampton County160Prince George County156Accomack County155Warren County154Charlottesville (Independent City)153Harrisonburg (Independent City)146Page County141Mecklenburg County139Franklin County137Washington County127Powhatan County124King George County122Newport News (Independent City)120Amherst County119Petersburg (Independent City)111Halifax County105Poquoson (Independent City)92Lancaster County91Rockbridge County91Manassas Park (Independent City)88Buckingham County86Dinwiddie County84Wythe County84Cumberland County78Appomattox County77Staunton (Independent City)77Manassas (Independent City)76Carroll County75Middlesex County72Floyd County70Pittsylvania County69Northumberland County64Hampton (Independent City)63Southampton County62Nelson County60Amelia County58Wise County56Winchester (Independent City)54Martinsville (Independent City)53Pulaski County52Madison County48Fairfax (Independent City)46Salem (Independent City)46Sussex County45Nottoway County44Charlotte County43Henry County39King and Queen County38Surry County37Hopewell (Independent City)37Essex County35Prince Edward County35Brunswick County34Charles City County33Rappahannock County33Alexandria (Independent City)31Grayson County30Fredericksburg(Independent City)30Richmond County29Patrick County27Lunenburg County26Williamsburg (Independent City)26Scott County24Mathews County23Greensville County21Lee County21Clarke County20Giles County20Craig County17Bath County16Danville (Independent City)16Smyth County15Radford (Independent City)15Alleghany County14Highland County14Colonial Heights (Independent City)14Falls Church (Independent City)14Russell County13Buchanan County11Tazewell County10Bristol (Independent City)9Dickenson County8Bland County6Buena Vista (Independent City)6Galax (Independent City)6Emporia (Independent City)3Lexington (Independent City)3Covington (Independent City)2Norton (Independent City)2
Top cities in Virginia
By units permitted in the last 12 months.
Richmond2,425Chesapeake1,631Virginia Beach641Suffolk582Norfolk490Waynesboro438Christiansburg town235Lynchburg229Roanoke194Portsmouth186Charlottesville153Harrisonburg146Newport News120Petersburg111Poquoson92Manassas Park88Leesburg town87Blacksburg town81Cape Charles town79Staunton77Manassas76Hampton63Herndon town63Winchester54Martinsville53Fairfax46Salem46Hopewell37Abingdon town36Warrenton town32
Virginia building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Virginia?+
4,191 new residential housing units were authorized in Virginia in May 2026, and 34,347 over the trailing 12 months, per the U.S. Census Building Permits Survey.
Is homebuilding rising or falling in Virginia?+
In May 2026, Virginia permitted units were up 62.4% versus the same month a year earlier. Over the trailing 12 months, 34,347 units were authorized.
What share is multifamily?+
55.8% of Virginia's May 2026 permitted units were in multifamily (2+ unit) structures; 44.2% were single-family.