Housing permits in Lee still near bottom

During January, Lee County Community Development issued 54 permits for single-family homes to be built in unincorporated Lee County, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach.

Residential permits were valued at $16.9 million in January. There were 35 permits issued the previous month and 305 in January 2007.

About 30 percent of the single-family home permits were for construction in Lehigh Acres.

There were 18 single-family home permits issued in Cape Coral compared to just nine last month and 122 in January 2007.

There were 20 multi-family units permitted in January, compared to 10 the previous month and 224 in January 2007.

Permits were issued for 15 new commercial buildings valued at $18.3 million, compared to $12.4 million the previous month and $12 million in January 2007.

Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, development, and building services, environmental review, building inspection and code enforcement for the unincorporated areas of the county, and permitting services for Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach.