FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mary Gibbs, Lee County Community Development
              (239) 479-8345

MAY IS RECORD BREAKING MONTH FOR HOME PERMITS ISSUED IN LEE COUNTY

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 19, 2003) - May was a record-breaking month for single family housing construction permits in Lee County, according to data released today by the county's Community Development Department.

The county issued 445 building permits for single-family houses totaling $79.4 million in value. It was the second straight month that the 400+ mark has been attained - 403 permits were issued in April, the first time ever the 400 mark had been broken.

The numbers are 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.

Compared to last year, the county also saw an increase in the overall number of building permits and value for all construction, including duplexes, apartments and commercial construction. In May, 2,351 building permits were issued for $211.9 million. In May 2002, 1,877 permits were issued for $89 million.

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 188 people and has a fiscal year 2003 operating budget of $18.4 million.

To learn more about the department and its services, visit http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/. Or to view weekly, monthly or annual building reports, visit http://lee-county.com/dcd/Reports/ReportsMain.htm.

Through May this year, permit value has been $896 million. Below are annual permit activity statistics:

2002 - Single Family (3,763), Multi-Family (2,872), Total Value ($1,483,203,935)
2001 - S.F. (3,565), M.F. (3,765), T.V. ($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)