Wisconsin Single-Family New Home Permits Increase in Fourth Quarter, End 2025 on Positive Note
- Lakeland Builders Association
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
Single-family new home permit activity across Wisconsin increased in the fourth quarter of 2025, contributing to modest overall growth for the year, and signaling continued demand for new housing in many areas of the state.
According to data compiled from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), 2,936 single-family housing permits were issued statewide from October through December 2025, compared to 2,634 permits during the same period in 2024, representing an 11.5% increase.
For the full year, Wisconsin communities issued a total of 13,335 single-family housing permits in 2025, up from 12,837 permits in 2024, reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year increase.
“An uptick in permit activity during the fourth quarter helped close out the year on a positive note,” said Andy Selner, President of the Wisconsin Builders Association. “While market conditions remain challenging, these numbers show that builders continue to respond to housing demand.
Regional Highlights Several counties posted strong gains during the fourth quarter, including Dane County, Waukesha County, Brown County, Chippewa County, and Door County, while other areas across the state also experienced notable increases. Growth in both urban and rural counties underscores the broad need for new housing options at a range of price points.
Counties with notable gains for the quarter include:
Richland, 1,400%
Dane, 657.5%
Pepin, 500%
Ashland, 200%
Adams, 161.5%
Columbia, 150%
Chippewa, 150%
Year-to Date-Summary
Year-to-date permit totals also showed meaningful gains in several regions, including Waukesha County (+35.0%), Door County (+66.1%), Calumet County (+32.5%), Marathon County (+31.5%), and St. Croix County (+20.7%).
At the same time, some markets experienced slower activity, reflecting the continued impact of higher interest rates, construction costs, and workforce constraints.
Walworth County was down 18.5% for the fourth quarter with 88 permits pulled, compared to 108 pulled in Q4 2025. Year to date, Walworth County has seen a 7.5% drop with 393 permits pulled in 2025 and 425 in 2024.
Wisconsin counties with significant drops for the year include:
Vilas, -88.1%
Oneida, -76.2%
Iron, 75.6%
Milwaukee, -53.7%
“Housing affordability remains a significant concern for Wisconsin families,” Selner added. “Sustained housing growth will depend on policies that support workforce development, reduce regulatory barriers, and promote responsible development statewide, which WBA continues to advocate for.”
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About the Wisconsin Builders Association The Wisconsin Builders Association is a professional trade association comprised of 20 local associations dedicated to helping members build communities around the state. We advocate the interests of 4,000 home building industry members to keep housing affordable and accessible for Wisconsin families, Protecting the American Dream for over 75 years.
About the Lakeland Builders Association
Lakeland Builders Associations (LBA) is local association that is part of the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Chartered in 1979. LBA serves the building industry and their communities in and around the Lake Geneva area of Walworth County, Wisconsin.
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