October 2014 Residential Permit Statistics

Housing Permits Total Highest One-Month Count Since 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 3, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Area home builders are preparing for the spring buying season as they plan for winter construction.  With 465 single family residential permits issued during October, the total for 2014 stands at 3,591–129 units more than last year at this time according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report.   Multi-family housing production continues to climb as October added another 78 units, bringing the yearly total to 3,246. Combined single family and multi-family permits take the year-to-date total to 6,837.

“With this nice bounce in permits during October it’s steady as we go into year end,” said Executive Vice President Sara Corless.  “We’re hoping the weather will warm up one more time, of course, so foundations can get in and we finish ahead of last year’s numbers.”

Of the eight counties in the Kansas City metro area, six have increased in their permit count during 2014, as compared to 2013.  Clay County has the highest percentage gain at 17%, representing an increase of 91 single family units.  Several smaller cities stand out for their increased activity:  Basehor’s permit count is 21 units higher than last year, Tonganoxie has added 17 to their count and Gardner is up 13 permits from 2013, while on the Missouri side Grain Valley has issued 17 more permits and Smithville has increased by 29.  Overall, Kansas City remains the highest permitting locality, with most of its building occurring in Clay County.  Johnson County continues to lead the counties in the region, with 1,410 single family units permitted county-wide in 2014.

Click here to view the October permit statistics report.