Lane County Building Permits Increase in 2024
April 15, 2025Building permit data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that new housing construction in Lane County as measured by permits for living units rose to 1,808 in 2024 from 1,239 in 2023. It is the highest level since 2021 when there were 2,136 units.
Building permits in Lane County peaked in 2005 before the Great Recession and dropped dramatically from 2006 to 2010. The recession was characterized by job losses and mortgage foreclosures, which lead to additional housing on the market and less demand, increasing the inventory of available housing. Since then, the level of permits as measured by living units has generally risen, largely through the addition of buildings with five or more units.
The construction industry in Lane County increased along with building permits in the period following the COVID-19 recession although construction employment dropped in 2024 while the number of building permits for living units increased. Annual average employment data shows that construction employment in Lane County rose from 7,400 in 2020 to 8,000 in 2023 before dropping back to 7,600 in 2024.