Checked
Building Permits in Maine
New housing units authorized, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
- Units, last 12 months
- 6,830
- +8.4% from a year earlier
- Single-family homes
- 4,503
- In buildings with 5+ units
- 1,979
- 2 to 4 unit buildings
- 348
New housing units authorized in Maine
New housing units authorized each month (not seasonally adjusted)
By building type, last 12 months
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Building type | Buildings | Housing units | Construction value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family | 4,503 | 4,503 | $1.5B |
| 2 units | 122 | 244 | $53.27M |
| 3 and 4 units | 31 | 104 | $14.61M |
| 5 or more units | 127 | 1,979 | $308M |
Year by year
Final annual totals
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| Year | All units | Single-family | 5+ units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,979 | 4,764 | 1,874 |
| 2024 | 6,034 | 4,650 | 992 |
| 2023 | 6,183 | 4,540 | 1,307 |
| 2022 | 7,094 | 4,907 | 1,866 |
| 2021 | 6,530 | 5,238 | 980 |
| 2020 | 5,304 | 4,180 | 853 |
Building permits by county
Counties with a permit office in the survey
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| County | Units, last 12 months | Single-family | Units in 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | 321 | 253 | 453 |
| Aroostook County | 58 | 54 | 64 |
| Cumberland County | 2,165 | 834 | 1,756 |
| Franklin County | 181 | 167 | 184 |
| Hancock County | 292 | 264 | 318 |
| Kennebec County | 477 | 400 | 510 |
| Knox County | 197 | 121 | 191 |
| Lincoln County | 157 | 157 | 180 |
| Oxford County | 362 | 348 | 468 |
| Penobscot County | 510 | 360 | 486 |
| Piscataquis County | 121 | 121 | 140 |
| Sagadahoc County | 208 | 110 | 258 |
| Somerset County | 80 | 74 | 110 |
| Waldo County | 145 | 142 | 167 |
| Washington County | 90 | 90 | 107 |
| York County | 1,372 | 914 | 1,473 |
Frequently asked questions
- How many building permits were issued in Maine?
- 6,830 new housing units were authorized in Maine in the 12 months through Aug 2026, up 8.4% from the 12 months before.
- Which Maine counties authorize the most new homes?
- In the last 12 months the most units were authorized in Cumberland County (2,165), York County (1,372), Penobscot County (510).
- What does a building permit count mean?
- The Census Bureau counts new privately owned housing units authorized by building permits. A permit is not a finished home: some projects start months later and a few never start. Remodels and nonresidential buildings are not included.
- Why are some counties missing?
- Places without a local permit office are not covered, and some areas report only once a year. Census fills in estimates for permit offices that did not report in a given month.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey · Through Aug 2026