FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary Gibbs, Lee County Community Development
(239) 479-8345
HOME PERMITS BREAK YET ANOTHER RECORD IN LEE COUNTY
FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 10, 2003) - Lee County's Department of Community Development issued yet another record of single-family home permits in August, topping the 500 permit mark for the first time only four months after the 400 permit mark was broken in April.
The county issued 571 permits for single-family houses in August totaling $93.2 million in value.
In April, 403 permits were issued - the first time ever the 400 mark had been broken - and in May 445 permits were issued. The number dropped to 365 in June but shot back up to 400 in July.
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 August, 2,381 building permits were issued for $181.4 million. In August 2002, 1,963 permits were issued for $145.1 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: