Data compiled from city and county building departments by the Northeast Florida Builders Association for the greater Jacksonville area (Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties) show a decrease in the number of permits issued in May compared to April, but an increase over the same period last year.
The monthly average in 2005 is 1,394 permits issued, putting Jacksonville on a path to exceed last year’s total by more than 20 percent if the pace continues. Experts believe this will be another high-growth year for the local housing market.
Compared to May last year, 1,501 permits were issued in the four-county area this year and 1,259 were issued in 2004. Nationally, new single-family home sales are at an all time high with 1.32 million sales reported in April.
Bryan Lendry, president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, said area builders remain very busy, and that demand for new homes is outpacing current inventories.
“Northeast Florida is growing at record numbers,” said Lendry. “And the influx of people into our area continues to fuel the need for more housing.”
St. Johns County was the only county in the greater Jacksonville area reporting an increase in May compared to April. This increase may be due to the impending impact fees and an attempt by builders to secure permits before the impact fees go into effect.
The drop of permits in Nassau County from 116 in April to 65 in May is seen as a return to steady growth after the spikes in March (117 permits) and April. Clay and Duval counties experienced decreases compared to April 2005, but increases over the same period last year.
The latest permit numbers
DUVAL COUNTY
May 2005: 682
April 2005: 776
2005 Total YTD: 3,184
2004 Total: 6,101
2003 Total: 5,646
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
May 2005: 502
April 2005: 392
2005 Total YTD: 1,925
2004 Total: 3,610
2003 Total: 3,002
CLAY COUNTY
May 2005: 252
April 2005: 321
2005 Total YTD: 1,416
2004 Total: 2,687
2003 Total: 2,313
NASSAU COUNTY
May 2005: 65
April 2005: 116
2005 Total YTD: 446
2004 Total: 1,238
2003 Total: 1,005
Greater Jacksonville Area
(Clay, Duval Nassau and St. Johns counties)
2005 May: 1,501
2005 April: 1,605
2005 Total YTD: 6,971
2004 Total: 13,636
2003 Total: 11,976
2002 Total: 10,618
2001 Total: 9,075