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CONSTRUCTION

The following two charts of residential and non-residential permit values issued in each of the Bay Area’s regions since August 2004 provide a quick, comparative view of activity. Data follows in subsequent tables.

In August 2007, the dollar value of residential permits issued in the East Bay fell $3 million from July 2007, while the San Francisco and San Jose saw increases of over $23 million and $53 million, respectively.

The value of non-residential construction permits issued in the East Bay in August 2007 increased $4.5 over July. With the exception of Vallejo-Fairfield, all Bay Area regions saw month-over-month increases in non-residential construction permit values.

12-Month Analysis of Construction Permits

The following tables and graphs compare the twelve-month periods of September 2005 – August 2006 and September 2006 – August 2007. This method provides a year-over-year comparison and can be less volatile than the month-over-month comparison in the previous section, which is used to show a historic overview of construction permit values.

In a comparison of these two twelve- month periods, the East Bay showed the largest percentage decrease in construction permit values, dropping 17.3 percent from the previous period. San Jose was the only region to see an increase in the double-digits, with 10.3 percent dollar growth in than in the previous period.

Residential & Non-Residential Permits

When comparing the two previous twelve-month periods of September 2005 – August 2006 and September 2006 - August 2007, all regions saw decreases in the dollar value of residential permits issued. The steepest declines in this comparison of residential permit values were seen in the East Bay and Vallejo-Fairfield regions. Total non-residential (commercial, industrial and institutional) permit values increased around the Bay Area, with the East Bay being the exception, showing a modest decrease when compared with the previous period.

In a comparison of commercial and industrial construction permits issued during the same two twelve-month periods, the San Francisco and San Jose regions saw dramatic increases in commercial permit values, while the East Bay and Vallejo-Fairfield regions experienced declines.   With the exception of the Vallejo-Fairfield region, industrial permit values increased throughout the Bay Area.

The number of single-family permits issued in the twelve-month period ending August 2007 fell sharpest in the East Bay and Vallejo-Fairfield regions, while San Jose  and Napa saw more modest decreases.  The East Bay was the only region to see an increase in the number of multi-family permits issued.

EAST BAY CONSTRUCTION

The following tables examine these permit categories for the same comparative time periods for Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

When compared with the twelve-month period ending in 2006, Alameda County saw an exceptional increase in industrial permit values, while residential, non-residential and commercial permit values saw slight to moderate decreases. In the same comparison, Contra Costa County residential and industrial permit values declined, while permits issued for commercial structures increased, helping non-residential permit values to increase slightly.

The issuing of single-family permits decreased dramatically in both East Bay counties during in the second twelve-month period ending in 2007, with Alameda County issuing 1,370 fewer single-family permits and Contra Costa County issuing 1,846 fewer.  Both counties also saw minimal decreases in the number of multi-family permits issued.

The following charts show the number and value of single, multi-family, residential and non-residential construction permits issued in East Bay cities for the twelve-month period ending August 2007. 

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