NAICS 236115 Quarterly Industry Report
New Single-Family Housing Construction (except Operative Builders)
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 236115Sector: Construction (23)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for New Single-Family Housing Construction (NAICS 236115) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[10], OSHA[9], and SBA size standards database[8]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, residential construction analysts, and homebuilding investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the new single-family housing construction (except operative builders) industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (NAICS 236115) encompasses general contractor establishments primarily responsible for the entire construction of new single-family housing on land owned by the property owner rather than the builder per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Covered structures include single-family detached houses and town houses or row houses where each unit is separated from its neighbors by a ground-to-roof wall. This classification also covers general contractors responsible for on-site assembly of modular and prefabricated houses, single-family housing design-build firms, and construction management firms acting as general contractors on custom home projects.
Roughly 57,797 firms operate 58,031 establishments employing 220,809 workers with $67.2 billion in revenue and $13.3 billion in annual payroll per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data. Average firm size is 3.8 employees, reflecting the fragmented nature of custom home building with most operators serving local or regional markets. Single-family building permits totaled 1,425,200 units authorized in recent annual data per Census Bureau[7] new residential construction reports.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], the size standard is $45 million in average annual receipts. State contractor licensing requirements vary widely, with some states requiring specific residential building contractor licenses and others relying on general business registration. International Residential Code (IRC) governs single-family and two-family dwelling construction in most jurisdictions. OSHA[9] construction safety standards under 29 CFR 1926 apply to all job sites, with fall protection, scaffolding, and trenching among the most frequently cited violations. EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires certified renovators for work on pre-1978 homes. Surety bond requirements for residential general contractors vary by state and project value, with many states setting bonding thresholds between $2,500 and $25,000.
What's Included in This Industry
- Custom single-family home general contracting
- Design-build residential construction services
- On-site assembly of modular and prefabricated homes
- Construction management for custom home projects
- Town house and row house new construction
- Residential foundation and structural framing
- Permit acquisition and building code compliance
- Subcontractor coordination and scheduling
- Construction quality control and punch list management
- Warranty service and post-construction callbacks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Construction | 23 |
| Subsector | Construction of Buildings | 236 |
| Industry Group | Residential Building Construction | 2361 |
| NAICS Industry | Residential Building Construction | 23611 |
| National Industry | New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | 236115 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 236117 | New Housing For-Sale Builders | New Housing For-Sale Builders construct homes on builder-owned land for speculative sale, while custom builders in this classification work on owner-occupied lots under contract, with both segments competing for the same subcontractor labor pools and facing identical building code and inspection requirements |
| 236116 | New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | New Multifamily Housing Construction builds apartment and condominium structures using many of the same general contracting and project management methods as single-family builders, though at larger scale with different structural systems, financing models, and regulatory requirements including ADA compliance |
| 236118 | Residential Remodelers | Residential Remodelers perform additions, alterations, and renovations to existing single-family homes that complement the new construction focus of this classification, with many firms offering both new construction and remodeling services to diversify revenue across housing market cycles |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12.0% | 7,130 |
| 2 | Texas | 7.7% | 4,607 |
| 3 | Florida | 7.0% | 4,156 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 5.8% | 3,461 |
| 5 | New York | 5.2% | 3,122 |
| 6 | Washington | 5.2% | 3,093 |
| 7 | Oregon | 4.4% | 2,603 |
| 8 | New Jersey | 3.2% | 1,892 |
| 9 | Georgia | 3.0% | 1,789 |
| 10 | Utah | 2.4% | 1,449 |
% Of Establishments
0%
12%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
5,712
Total SBA Loans
$1.9B
Total Loan Volume
$326K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.03%
Average Interest Rate
35,864
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], New Single-Family Housing Construction (NAICS 236115) has a size standard of $45 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[11] support equipment acquisition, working capital, and business expansion for qualifying residential construction firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Financial Bank USA | 192 | $376.2M | $2.0M |
| 2 | Northeast Bank | 1,552 | $309.8M | $200K |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 536 | $236.4M | $441K |
| 4 | Leader Bank, National Association | 48 | $120.0M | $2.5M |
| 5 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 328 | $77.3M | $236K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for custom home builders?
NAICS 236115 covers new single-family housing construction by general contractors building on owner-occupied land, including custom home builders and design-build firms per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard for single-family construction?
The SBA size standard[8] is $45 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the custom home building industry?
Roughly 57,797 firms employ 220,809 workers generating $67.2 billion in revenue per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data, with average firm size of 3.8 employees reflecting the fragmented local nature of custom home construction.
What building code governs single-family construction?
International Residential Code governs single-family and two-family dwelling construction in most U.S. jurisdictions per the International Code Council standards, with state and local amendments modifying base code requirements for climate, seismic, and wind exposure conditions.
What OSHA standards apply to home construction?
OSHA[9] construction safety standards under 29 CFR 1926 apply to all residential job sites, with fall protection, scaffolding, and trenching among the most frequently cited violations during residential construction inspections.
What is the difference between 236115 and 236117?
NAICS 236115 covers general contractors building on land owned by the homebuyer (custom homes), while 236117 covers for-sale builders constructing on their own land for speculative sale per the U.S. Census Bureau[5] classification structure.
What licensing do residential contractors need?
State contractor licensing varies widely, with some states requiring specific residential building contractor licenses and others relying on general business registration per state regulatory frameworks, with surety bond requirements ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on jurisdiction.
How many single-family building permits are issued annually?
Single-family building permits totaled 1,425,200 units authorized in recent annual data per Census Bureau[7] new residential construction reports, with permit volume serving as a leading indicator of future construction activity.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [9]OSHA osha.gov
- [10]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [11]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
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