Construction permitting data for the first 11 months of 2011 preview a pretty dismal year for counties in the central Utah area. This information compiled by the Utah Bureau of Economic and Business Research indicates that Millard, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne counties all experienced significant declines in permitted building activity. Only Sanpete County (down 12 percent) experienced a decline in values of less than 50 percent compared to the same time period in 2010.
A few bright spots did emerge in this rather bleak picture. In Millard County, the number of new residential unit permits issued almost doubled. Moreover, the vast majority of these permits were for single family homes.
In Sanpete County, nonresidential permitting took center stage--more than doubling the value of permits for January to November 2010. A permits for a private education building and a new church helped buoy up the county's nonresidential figures. Remember that public projects typically aren't issued a building permit.
Moreover, strong permitting for additions/alterations/repairs in both Millard and Sevier counties kept values from slipping even farther.
Housing markets across Utah seem to be stabilizing. Those market adjustments seem to indicate 2012 may prove a better year for construction activity in central Utah.
Use the interactive graphic below to explore (and download) central Utah's construction numbers. You can also access city-level data and detailed structure information at the Utah Bureau of Economic and Business Research website.
