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July Permits Show Slight Dip
Aug 2, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 2, 2005) - Lee County's Community Development Department issued 729 single-family home permits in the month of July - a slight dip this year but still 14 percent more than in July 2004. One of the reasons for the dip may be that permits are not recorded as issued until they are picked up. There are a number of permits that have been approved but not picked up by developers and builders, and the county's Community Development Department continues to be very busy. The year, in total, still remains on a record pace. In the first seven months of 2005, the county already has permitted $2.7 billion in construction activity, compared to $1.7 billion in the first seven months of 2004. Lee County's Community Development Department released its July statistics today. The totals are for unincorporated Lee County, City of Bonita Springs and Town of Fort Myers Beach. Both Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach contract with the county to do their permitting services. The value of the 729 single-family home permits was $163.8 million. The county also issued permits for 240 duplex units and 332 multi-family units. Permitting value in Lee County experienced a record increase in 2004, surging $1 billion to hit the $3 billion mark. In 2003, permit value was $2 billion; in 2002 it was $1.5 billion. Single-family permitting for the last 28 months is: 2003 2004 2005 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 230 people and has a fiscal year 2005 operating budget of $23.4 million. To learn more about the department and its services, visit http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/. |