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

In April 2007, the dollar value of residential permits issued in the East Bay was down from the previous month, dropping from $219 million in March to $177 million in April.  Residential permits continued to increase dramatically in the San Francisco region, increasing over $80 million dollars between March and April.  Non-residential permit values were down in the East Bay, where $94 million in permits were issued in April, compared with $155 million in March.  Non-residential permits also declined In the San Jose and Napa MSAs, while increases were seen in the San Francisco and Vallejo-Fairfield MSAs.

In a month-over-month comparison of April 2007 with April 2006, the total value of construction permits issued, which include residential (single-family and multi-family) and non-residential, increased 25 percent in the East Bay.

When comparing the two previous twelve month periods of May 2005 – April 2006 and May 2006-April 2007, the San Jose region was the only Bay Area region to not see a decrease in the value of residential permits issued.  In the East Bay, the value of residential permits issued was roughly $430 million less, or 13 percent lower, in the period ending April 2007 than in the previous period ending April 2006. The East Bay saw a moderate increase in non-residential permit values, while the San Francisco and San Jose regions both saw significant increases in non-residential permits during the same period.

A comparison of commercial and industrial permits for the same two twelve-month periods shows commercial permit values in the East Bay, San Francisco, and San Jose regions between May 2006 and April 2007, were higher than in the previous twelve-month period.  In San Francisco, roughly $160 million more in commercial permits were issued than in the previous twelve-month period. 

In terms of industrial permits, the East Bay, San Francisco and San Jose regions saw permit value increases.   The Vallejo-Fairfield area saw a significant decrease of $200 million in the same comparison.  Industrial permits in the East Bay were up $45 million over the previous period.

When compared with the twelve month period ending in April 2007, the number of single-family permits was down in all of the Bay Area MSAs.  The number of multi-family permits issued increased in all MSAs with the exception of San Francisco and Vallejo-Fairfield.

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, and saw decreases in non residential and commercial, as well as a small increase in residential permits issued. In the same comparison, Contra Costa County permit values for residential and industrial construction declined in the second twelve-month period.

Both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties saw decreases in the number of Single-Family construction permits issued, while multi-family permits increased substantially.

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 April 2007.