FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Mary Gibbs, Lee County Community Development
                (941) 479-8345

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 9, 2002) – Lee County had another record-breaking year for building permits, according to annual data released today by the county’s Community Development Department.

The county issued permits totaling $1.5 billion in value during 2001, an 11.5 percent increase over 2000 and a doubling of construction value in the last six years. In that total, the county issued a record 3,565 single-family home permits – the second 3,000-plus permit year in a row.

The activity is for unincorporated Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs and the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Both Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach contract with the county to do their permitting services.

"This is just another verification of how much growth this area is experiencing," said Mary Gibbs, county community development director. "It’s a huge volume for this office to process and we’re pleased that we’ve been able to keep up with it and continue to provide quality service to the building industry and residents."

The number of multi-family units issued was somewhat flat from 2000, when a significant jump from the prior year was recorded.

The six-year unit totals are (total values include all other construction, including commercial):

    2001 – Single Family (3,565), Multi-Family (3,765), Total Value ($1,533,532,447)

    2000 – S.F. (3,053), M.F. (3,814), T.V. ($1,375,370,432)

    1999 – S.F. (2,876), M.F. (2,772), T.V. ($1,075,174,580)

    1998 – S.F. (2,433), M.F. (3,088), T.V. ($975,046,849)

    1997 – S.F. (2,252), M.F. (2,498), T.V. ($1,022,062,818)

    1996 – S.F. (2,536), M.F. (1,968), T.V. ($747,081,850)

Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, and development services such as permitting, development review, code enforcement and building inspections in the unincorporated areas of the county and for Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach. It employs 180 people and has a fiscal year 2002 operating budget of $16.4 million.

In October, Lee County began accepting credit card payments for all Community Development fees (building permits, zoning, home occupations, etc.), including associated Utilities and Solid Waste fees but excluding Impact Fees. Visa, MasterCard and Discover Cards are accepted, as are Debit Cards that display one of these credit card logos. To learn more about the department and its services, visit http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/.