Fort Smith metro building permit numbers up more than 4% in 2025

BusinessFort Smith

by Tina Alvey Dale ([email protected]) ago 18 views 

Building permit values in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled at least $282.576 million in 2025, up 4.2% compared with 2024. Greenwood, which averaged $1.097 million in monthly permit values through November, was unable to provide December numbers.

The 2025 total is down 45.7% compared with the record of $520.64 million in 2023.

Fort Smith and Van Buren reported a combined $12.812 million in building permit totals in December, up 34.4% compared with $9.495 million reported by the three cities in December 2024.

FORT SMITH NUMBERS
Fort Smith issued $251.11 million in building permits in 2025, up 6.5% from $235.776 million reported in 2024. The city issued 220 permits in December with a value of $11.37 million, up 29.6% from $8.771 million issued in December 2024.

There were 10 permits issued for construction of single-family homes in December with a total value of $2.766 million, down 4.95% from $2.91 million worth of 14 new single-family home projects in December 2024. There also were seven new residential duplex projects permitted in the month, with a total value of $1.657 million.

There were two commercial projects permitted in the month with a combined value of $3.294 million. There were no commercial projects permitted in the final month of 2024. The city issued a building permit for $1.294 for construction at 7500 Phoenix Ave. to the Fort Smith Airport Commission. According to Melissa Lorenz, a permit officer with the city of Fort Smith, there is a new gate and fire hydrant close to Ebbing Air National Guard Base being installed. Also, a new parking lot is being constructed near the entrance.

The city also issued a $2 million permit for construction of a new 6,540-square-feet commercial building at 9410 Rogers Ave. to Winston’s Pipe and Cigar Emporium LLC of Fort Smith.

VAN BUREN, GREENWOOD PERMITS
Van Buren, the region’s second largest city, had 54 projects permitted in December with a value of $1.442 million, up 198% from the $483,900 value in December 2024.

The city had 10 residential construction projects permitted with a value of $1.097 million, more than five times the $194,900 value of eight residential projects permitted in December of last year. There was one commercial project permitted with a value of $50,000, 66% less than the $149,500 value of three commercial projects in December 2024.

Van Buren had $19.785 million in permitted building activity in 2025, down 13.3% from $22.808 million in 2024.

Hunter Mikles, building inspector for the city of Greenwood, said the city was unable to provide December numbers or a year-end report because the city is using a new vendor and does not have access to 2025 data.

“Overall, building activity in Greenwood has slowed somewhat, with permit numbers trending downward compared to previous years,” Mikles said. “Even so, there’s still a mix of residential and commercial projects moving forward, and interest in development remains. Looking ahead, there are plans in progress for 2026 that should bring new opportunities and growth to the area.”

Through November, Greenwood issued building permits with a value of $12.071 million, 3.5% less than the total $12.512 million the city reported in all 12 months of 2024.

REGIONAL BUILDING ACTIVITY RECAP
Combined annual permit value totals for the three cities:
2025: $282.58 million*
2024: $271.09 million
2023: $520.64 million
2022: $480.37 million
2021: $343.28 million
2020: $265.97 million
2019: $241.74 million
2018: $231.78 million
2017: $210.84 million
2016: $211.34 million
2015: $218.89 million
(*The 2025 tally does not include December permit numbers for Greenwood.)