Just over 8,000 residential permits were issued countywide compared with a high of over 17,000 permits in 2005. 

The largest drop occurred in unincorporated Hillsborough County.  Only 4,200 residential permits were issued in 2007 compared with over 9,200 permits in 2006 - a significant decrease of 55 percent.  The City of Tampa saw a modest decrease of 14 percent.  The majority of Tampa’s residential permits were multi-family. 

“It’s surprising to see the City of Tampa issued nearly the same number of residential permits as Unincorporated County” said Robert B. Hunter, FAICP, Planning Commission Executive Director.  “The future of development is smaller households, living closer to jobs,” remarked Hunter.      

Non-residential permit activity has been stable with total value just over $500 million each year for the past three years.  This is a marked increase from a low value of $272 million in 2002.  Countywide retail/wholesale and warehouse permits have decreased but the decline was offset by a slight increase in institutional/public permits.

The complete 2007 Permits Report can be found at http://www.theplanningcommission.org/library/onlinelibrary/reports/newconstruction/permits/folder.2007-05-30.6172882004/2007%20Annual_Permits%20Report.pdf

The Planning Commission is the official Land Planning Agency for the four jurisdictions, the cities of Plant City, Tampa, Temple Terrace and Unincorporated Hillsborough County.  It also serves as staff to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Hillsborough River Planning Board.

For more information contact:

Suzi Dieringer

Economic Research Manager

Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission

(813) 273-3774, ext. 348