Single-family home permits see modest rise in Wisconsin

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Single family home permits saw modest growth in Wisconsin in the third quarter of 2025, a homebuilder association reported.

There were 3,439 new single-family housing permits issued statewide between July and September 2025, the Wisconsin Builders Association reported, with information from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. That’s a 4.8% increase from the same period in 2024, officials added.

The state has accumulated 10,399 issued permits since January, up 1.9% from 2024, WBA officials said.

“This steady growth is an encouraging sign that Wisconsin’s housing market is stabilizing,” said Mike Derrick, president of WBA, in a statement. “While some areas continue to experience challenges with labor, development costs and local regulations, the overall increase shows that builders are responding to strong housing demand across the state.”

WBA highlighted five counties with significant increases in permit activity compared to last year. They were:

• Racine County, which increased by 153.3%
• Portage County, which increased by 147.1%
• Price County, which increased by 160%
• Calumet County, which increased by 75%
• Door County, which increased by 74.8%

St. Croix, Waukesha, Marathon and Outagamie Counties had double-digit increases so far this year, officials said. However, Milwaukee County had a 54.8% decrease this year and Oneida and Vilas Counties had sharp drops in new permitting, they added.

The WBA and other building groups supported a bipartisan package of housing bills in the Wisconsin Legislature to help increase the housing supply and create affordability. Those bills included a new state loan program, a delay to the commercial building code, tax increment financing for workforce housing and expanding development of accessory dwelling units.

“These bills work together to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our housing market – from financing and lot development to regulatory barriers,” said Brad Boycks, executive director of WBA, in a statement. “If enacted, this legislative package will help Wisconsin communities deliver the types of homes families need at prices they can afford.”