Rhode Island is touting a 150% increase in housing production over the past five years, citing “reforms and significant state investment” as key drivers of the effort to address the state’s dire housing shortage.
State agencies issued 3,778 permits for home construction in 2025, the highest number of units approved in one year since the late 1980s. That’s up 40% from 2024 and 150% from 2021, according to a report from the state’s Executive Office of Housing.
Gov. Dan McKee cited “consistent, meaningful progress year after year” to produce more housing. The Democrat previously told Realtor.com® that he wanted to speed up building and permitting reforms. He also says he wants to “seek solutions that will allow a more accurate account of permits issued across the state to better track building progress…