May Permits Break Another Record

May Permits Break Another Record
Jun 6, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MAY PERMITS BREAK ANOTHER RECORD

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 6, 2005) - Lee County's Community Development Department issued 906 single-family home permits in the month of May - an all-time monthly record and the first time a month as recorded more than 900 permits. It is a 37 percent increase over the 660 permits issued in May 2004.

The 400 mark was broken in April 2003; 500 mark in August 2003; 600 mark in April 2004; 700 mark in January 2005; and 800 mark in April.

In the first five months of 2005, the county already has permitted $1.98 billion in construction activity, compared to $1.13 billion in the first five months of 2004.

Lee County's Community Development Department released its May 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 906 single-family home permits was $182.4 million. The county also issued permits for 204 duplex units and 348 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 26 months is:

2003 April - 403 May - 445 June - 365 July - 400 Aug. - 571 Sept. - 423 Oct. - 474 Nov. - 406 Dec. - 419

2004 Jan. - 547 Feb. - 466 Mar. - 570 April - 632 May - 660 June - 666 July - 638 Aug. - 463 Sep. - 510 Oct. - 641 Nov. - 662 Dec. - 698

2005 Jan. - 746 Feb. - 782 Mar. - 865 Apr. - 790 May - 906

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/.