Fort Mill Grew 6.7% in a Year, and Commercial Building Value Doubled in Unincorporated York County

York County has released its yearly snapshot of how fast the area is building, and Fort Mill once again stands out. The FY 2025 to 2026 Annual Development Report, presented to York County Council on Sept. 21 and posted by the county on Sept. 30, covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. (York County)

Here is what it shows, with one important note up front: the population table covers the whole county and each town, but the permit figures cover only unincorporated York County, the areas outside town and city limits. (Annual Development Report)

Population: Fort Mill and York lead

The report's population table, which cites U.S. Census Bureau figures, shows:

• Fort Mill: 38,673, up 6.7% from 36,244 the year before.
• York: 10,620, up 8.0% from 9,830.
• Clover: 7,659, up 3.1%.
• Tega Cay: 14,457, up 1.1%.
• Rock Hill: 75,911, up 0.2%.
• York County overall: 306,887, up 1.3%.

Fort Mill has added about 5,000 people since the report's 2023 figure of 33,626. (Annual Development Report)

New homes outside town limits

In unincorporated York County, the county issued permits for:

• 557 single family homes, up about 4% from the year before.
• 37 townhomes, up from 14.
• No apartment buildings.

Single family homes made up about 94% of new dwellings. The report also lists a callout of 588 new homes, which does not match the table's total of 594. The report does not explain the difference, so we are using the table figures. (Annual Development Report)

Fewer commercial projects, but much bigger ones

Non-residential building permits in unincorporated areas fell to 160, down 31% from 233. Their combined value went the other way, to $420.2 million from $188.4 million, an increase of about 123%. In plain terms, the county saw fewer commercial and industrial projects, but they were much larger. The report does not list the individual projects. (Annual Development Report)

Total permits of all kinds came to 5,614, down 6%. The county handled 48 rezoning applications.

Subdivisions in the pipeline

The county's Planning Commission reviewed preliminary plats for 268 lots on about 104 acres:

• Newport Commons, Old York Highway and Adnah Church Road: 138 single family lots and 57 townhomes on 63.5 acres.
• Wedgewood Townhomes, Coltharp Road and Pleasant Road: 57 lots on 10.8 acres.
• Sage Mill, Haire Road: 10 lots on 20.2 acres.
• Gates at Springfield, Osborne Farm Road at Hammond Road: 6 lots on 9.7 acres.

A preliminary plat is an early step that lays out lots and streets. It does not mean homes are under construction, and timing depends on the developer. (Annual Development Report)

Why it matters

If you live in Fort Mill or are looking there, the growth numbers line up with what you see on the roads: more people, steady new home construction, and larger commercial projects in the county's unincorporated areas. Homes inside Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Rock Hill are permitted by those towns, so this report does not capture their building activity.

What to keep in mind

• The population figures are estimates, and the table's year labels are a little inconsistent. Treat them as a trend, not an exact count.
• The report covers the fiscal year that ended June 30, so it does not show anything permitted since July.

Read the full report for maps and charts.

Last verified October 21, 2026.