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Where Is Housing Slow to Build: And Is It Getting Slower?

Author

Listed:
  • Leonardo D’Amico

    (University of Chicago Booth School of Business)

  • Evan Soltas

    (Princeton University)

  • Audrey Wang

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

We estimate the time durations of permitting and development for standardized new housing projects across 60 U.S. cities from 2000 to 2025. We report three new facts. First, the fastest cities complete projects in the time the slowest cities take to merely approve them. Second, across cities, permitting duration is positively associated with housing prices and negatively associated with production. The strength of these relationships rivals that of other measures of land-use regulation and suggests a high cost of delay. Third, permitting duration has risen steadily over time, whereas total project duration has fluctuated cyclically.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo D’Amico & Evan Soltas & Audrey Wang, 2026. "Where Is Housing Slow to Build: And Is It Getting Slower?," Working Papers 357, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:cepsud:357
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    File URL: https://gceps.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/wp357_DAmico-Soltas-Wang_TimeToBuild.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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