Iran's Building Permits Plunge 37.4 Percent Year on Year, Raising Housing Supply Warning

According to the latest report from Iran's Statistical Center, the number of building permits issued in winter 1404 (December 2025 to March 2026) fell 37.4 percent compared with winter 1403, dropping from more than 40,000 to about 25,000. Ecoiran reported that the number of residential units projected under these permits saw the sharpest decline among key indicators, down 43.5 percent, while total permitted floor area fell 36.6 percent.

Since permit issuance is the first step of construction projects and a leading indicator of housing supply, the continuation of this trend could limit the entry of new units to the market in coming years. In Tehran, District 15 recorded the highest number of permits, while District 21 registered the most projected residential units due to large, high rise projects. A review of seasonal trends since 1400 (2021) shows that winter 1404, unlike the usual peak permit season, did not repeat the pattern of previous years.