2024 Development Review spotlights Huntsville’s growth and development
Published on January 29, 2025
The 2024 Huntsville Development Review revealed that single-family home construction along with commercial activity is growing throughout the City. The City’s population also continues to climb.
“The latest development review report continues to illustrate the City’s success with our economic growth strategy,” said Shane Davis, Director of Urban and Economic Development. “Since 2014, the creation of 46,000 new jobs has fueled new residential and commercial growth. The administration has been keen to ensure that job growth has been spread across areas of the City. This strategy continues to show new residential and commercial activities in all areas of the City.”
The City has meticulously worked to ensure that housing meets the demand of increased population and the growth in career opportunities in Huntsville.
In 2024, the City issued certificates of occupancy (COs) for 6,404 residential units, powered primarily by 5,211 permits (81%) for multi-family complexes. There were 16 multi-family complexes completed in 2024, the most since 1984. New single-family homes accounted for 1,193 of the COs (19%).
The numbers are more balanced for residential building permits issued in 2024. Multi-family complexes received 1,391 building permits (55%) while 1,116 permits for single-family homes were issued (45%). The data reflects an anticipated moderation on multi-family construction following multiple years of above-average building.
The most popular areas for new single-family homes were located in the Green Mountain area in southeast Huntsville, the East Limestone area in west Huntsville and on Alabama 53 north of Research Park Boulevard in north Huntsville. The City also issued its first residential building permit in Morgan County since annexing 659 acres south of the Tennessee River in 2018.
The approval of single-family home lots in 2024 continued to outpace historical averages for the eighth year in a row. The City approved at least 1,000 single-family residential lots for the third straight year.
Despite a slight dip in residential addition and alteration permits, home improvements are expanding beyond traditional geographic boundaries.
“In the past, we’ve seen home improvements mostly near downtown,” James Vandiver of the City’s Planning Department said. “Now we’re seeing more renovations in south Huntsville and east Huntsville neighborhoods increasing their renovations as well as northwest and southwest Huntsville. That’s good because it’s an indicator of neighborhood reinvestment and maintaining the value and care of the neighborhood. That’s always a good sign.”
Commercial growth saw a boost in 2024 as the City issued 574 non-residential building permits, an increase of 4.2%. Retail, restaurants and hotels accounted for 248 of the permits, followed by 104 for commercial office buildings. With 52 permits issued, Downtown had more non-residential building permits issued than any other Huntsville neighborhood. One project included in that count is Front Row, the under-construction mixed-use development on Clinton Avenue.
Other insights revealed in the 44-page report:
- 246,131 – City population estimate
- 18,639 – housing units added since April 1, 2020
- $396,778 – average home sales price
- 26 – number of acres added in six annexations
- 3,044 – number of homes sold
- 32 – number of multi-family complexes under construction
Data for this report was obtained from City records and the Valley Multiple Listing Service.