- Columbus ranked #9 in multifamily permitting in August, with 9,548 units—its highest total on record and a 36% increase year-over-year.
- The city’s diverse economy, strong job growth, and high housing demand have made it a hotspot for apartment development.
- Columbus has remained in the top 10 permitting metros for four consecutive months, despite its relatively modest size compared to other markets.
Columbus Continues To Outperform Its Size
Columbus may not rank among the nation’s largest metros, but when it comes to apartment development, it’s outperforming expectations, reports Bisnow. They rank 32nd in metro population and 30th in apartment inventory among RealPage’s top 150 markets. Despite that, the city has consistently held a top 10 spot for multifamily permitting since May.
In August, the city hit a new milestone with 9,548 multifamily units permitted—up 36% year-over-year and the highest total in the city’s history.
A Strong Economic Foundation
Columbus is Ohio’s capital and home to The Ohio State University. The city benefits from a diverse economy with strong employment in government, education, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Job growth has averaged 1.2% over the past year—outpacing the national average of 0.8%—further supporting robust housing demand.
Permitting activity has remained high, averaging 16K total housing units in recent months. Multifamily development has taken the lead since mid-2022, accounting for 60% of all units permitted in August.
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Permitting Leaders
Columbus ranked #9 nationally in August, just behind Miami and ahead of Newark. Among the top 10 metros, Columbus had the fourth-largest annual increase in permitted units, trailing only Dallas, Orlando, and Miami.
Other notable shifts in the permitting landscape:
- Orlando jumped from #7 to #4 with a 49% YoY increase.
- Miami rose to #7 with a 44% gain.
- New York remained #1 overall but saw a 15% annual decline.
- Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta all reported YoY declines in permitting volumes.
Despite year-over-year increases in six of the top 10 markets, the total number of permitted units fell 0.8% annually and 3.3% from the previous month.
Permitting By City
At the city level, Columbus topped all US cities for multifamily permits issued in August with nearly 7,500 units—edging out Miami. Other top permitting cities included The Bronx and Brooklyn in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston’s unincorporated Harris County.
Most top cities saw permitting volumes dip from July. However, Columbus’ position remains strong, underscoring its central role in the region’s development momentum.
Why It Matters
Columbus’ emergence as a top permitting market highlights a broader shift toward high-growth, mid-sized cities. Larger markets like New York, Boston, and Washington, DC are beginning to cool off. As a result, developers are increasingly targeting affordable and economically diverse metros like Columbus for new multifamily projects.
Since 2022, multifamily permits have consistently outpaced single-family in Columbus. The city is now well-positioned to absorb future population growth and attract institutional capital seeking stable demand.
What’s Next
With a record-setting year already underway, Columbus is likely to remain a multifamily permitting leader through the rest of 2025. If current trends continue, Columbus could set a new standard for secondary markets. The city is gaining national traction in the multifamily space.
Expect continued developer interest and rising attention from investors looking for high-growth opportunities in smaller Sun Belt and Midwest markets.
