New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows construction permits for multifamily and single-family housing have surged statewide since the start of 2019.

On a year-over-year basis, permits for housing developments with five or more units are up 17.6 percent, to 870 units, according to Census statistics released by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Single-family permits are up 13.6 percent, to 608.

Last year, Connecticut permitted 3,812 units – 1,949 in single-family homes and 1,733 in buildings with at least five units. Year to date, total permits are up 16.6 percent this year, to 1,512 from 1,297 through the end of April 2018.

A significant portion of the total increase came in April, when 433 units in multifamily buildings were permitted, over 247 the month before and 90 in April 2018.

Along with the statewide figures, DECD released totals for each town in Connecticut, showing that Stamford, South Windsor Greenwich and Ridgefield are driving much of the increase. Stamford permitted 330 new units in April and Ridgefield 30. Year-to-date, Stamford permitted 349 units in 2019 and 25 in 2018. South Windsor permitted 104 and 26 in the same periods, while Ridgefield permitted 40 and 3, respectively and Greenwich permitted 74 and 32.