New home construction in Walker County
A year after posting record housing growth, Walker County continued to experience robust construction of new homes in 2024.
Walker County’s Planning Office issued 276 permits for the construction of new single-family homes last year in the unincorporated areas of the county. The number of housing starts in 2024 rivaled only 2023’s record number of 352 and far outpaced every other year from the past decade and a half.
“Walker County is a shining example of where nature and community thrive,” said Jon Pursley, director of planning. “Between the wealth of outdoor activities available to residents, the family-oriented atmosphere, and proximity to a vibrant mid-sized city, home builders have discovered our community is a desirable location for home buyers.”
Most of the new home construction occurred in the unincorporated areas near Rossville, Chickamauga and LaFayette. Homebuilders pulled 96 permits in the Rossville district, which includes homes in The Stables, a new subdivision off Turner Ridge Road, and Hawks Ridge off Happy Valley Road. In 2022, only five new homes were built near Rossville.
Construction on 52 homes also got underway in the Chickamauga area and 48 homes near LaFayette. In addition, roughly 30 permits were issued in both the Rock Spring and Rising Fawn districts last year.
The average size of a new home built in 2024 in unincorporated Walker County increased 62 square feet to 2,519. The average cost of construction was $267,630. Slightly larger home sizes, coupled with inflation, likely accounted for a $24,570 increase in construction costs per home over the previous year. Total valuation of all homes built in 2024 in unincorporated Walker County reached over $73 million.
January is traditionally a slow period for new housing starts. However, home builders pulled 32 permits last month in Walker County, maintaining momentum. “With over 150 new homes under construction in the northern part of the county and another development bringing 75 new homes to the LaFayette area, 2025 is shaping up to be another remarkable year for Walker County,” said Mr. Pursley.
Walker County Single Family Home Permits - 2015 to 2024
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
|
86
|
123
|
135
|
124
|
128
|
150
|
157
|
142
|
352
|
276
|