Residential building permits in NWA’s 4 largest cities jumped 25.2% last year

Residential building permits in Northwest Arkansas’ four largest cities took a leap forward in 2023.

According to data collected by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal from each city, 1,982 residential permits were issued last year in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. That’s up 25.2% from 2022 (1,582).

The double-digit increase was a big turnaround from a year ago when permit activity decreased by 10.3% compared with 2021 (1,764).

Residential building permit values in 2023 were up 28% from $489.17 million in 2022 to $625.77 million last year.

The annual report comparison from each city was:

• Fayetteville: 574 permits, $182.92 million (2023); 686 permits, $260.10 million (2022).
• Rogers: 517 permits, $160.37 million (2023); 263 permits, $100.41 million (2022).
• Bentonville: 469 permits, $178.44 million (2023); 425 permits, $215.82 million (2022).
• Springdale: 422 permits, $104.04 million (2023); 208 permits, $84.70 million (2022).

Among other cities, Centerton ended the year with 543 single-family building permits valued at $187.25 million. That’s down 29% compared with 770 permits in 2022.

Farmington planners issued 213 residential building permits last year (151 single-family and 62 duplex) valued at $79.48 million. That’s up from 147 (126 single-family and 21 multifamily) worth $56.27 million in 2022.

In Bella Vista, there were 497 single-family permits issued valued at $179.09. That’s down 7.8% from 539 permits in 2022, valued at $182.40.