Business

POSTED: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

Building permits down in Bellingham

Building permit activity in Bellingham has slowed down significantly in the past year, particularly in residential categories, according to a new report.

Through July, the City of Bellingham issued 478 building permits, down 22 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the city's Building Services Division. For the first seven months of the year, the valuation of those permits was $91.8 million, down from $150.8 million for the same period last year.

Other comparisons from the report:

-- Through July, only three permits have been issued for multi-family (such as apartment or condominium) projects, and no new permit have been issued since March. Last year, there were 42 permits issued in that category for the same time period.

-- For the first seven months, there hasn't been a permit issued for duplexes. Last year, there were 14 permits.

-- The number of permits for single-family homes issued through July has been 59, well off last year's pace of 195.

-- The number of new commercial buildings issued through July was 10. Number of permits issued in 2007 was 36.