Connecticut Ranks Last in U.S. for Housing Permits, State Officials Dispute Data Accuracy
Connecticut has been identified as ranking last in the United States for issuing building permits for new homes and apartments, according to a new report by the Lied Center for Real Estate at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The report analyzed housing permits granted between January and August 2026, but it only accounts for permits issued, not actual construction completions. Lied Center Research Director Nicholas Irwin noted that the U.S. Census Bureau's Building Permits survey, which formed the basis of the report, is a survey and not all municipalities participate. Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Dan O’Keefe has questioned the accuracy of this preliminary report, stating that Connecticut's permit data is consistently underreported by the U.S. Census Bureau, sometimes by as much as 30%. O'Keefe highlighted that the DECD's annual report, which includes participation from every Connecticut municipality, showed a 44% growth in 2025 compared to the Census ...
