Building Permits Down Sharply
By Kerri Testement
The number of new residential building permits in Jackson County issued during the first quarter of 2008 dropped more than 60 percent, compared to the same time last year.
An analysis of building permits issued in the county and its nine cities confirms that the new residential market in Jackson County is slowing down.
In the first three months of 2007, there were 337 new residential permits issued; for the same time period in 2008, that figure fell to 132 — accounting for a 60 percent drop.
In Jackson County, cities issue their own building permits while the county approves permits for unincorporated areas.
The three largest government agencies that issue building permits — Jackson County, Braselton and Jefferson — also reflect a sharp decline in new residential growth.
In the first quarter of 2008, Jefferson issued 10 new residential permits, compared to 63 during the same time period in 2007.
Jackson County’s permits declined by 56 percent, from 134 issued in the first quarter of 2007 to 58 in the first quarter of 2008.
By the end of 2007, there were 989 new residential building permits issued in Jackson County and its nine cities.
For the first quarter of 2007 and 2008 (January through March), other cities reported issuing the following number of building permits: Hoschton, four permits in 2007 and two permits in 2008 (a 50 percent drop); Arcade, one permit in 2007 and no permits in 2008 (a 100 percent drop); Talmo, no permits issued in 2007 or 2008; Pendergrass, 18 permits issued in 2007 and none in 2008 (a 100 percent drop); Commerce, nine permits in 2007 and four in 2008 (a 55.5 percent drop); Maysville, five permits in 2007 and six in 2008 (a 20 percent increase); and Nicholson, one permit in 2007 and four in 2008 (a 300 percent increase).
Houses And Lots
According to statistics from the Jackson County Public Development Department, fewer lots are being platted, thanks to the housing slowdown.
From a high of 2,445 lots plated in 2005, the number fell to 1,687 in 2006 and only 1,094 last year. Through three months of 2008, only 107 lots were platted.
Meanwhile, the department calculated that some 672 speculative houses were on the market at the end of March. The vast majority - 412 - were in unincorporated Jackson County, Jefferson had 133, Braselton 69 and Commerce 28.
