The total number of residential building permits issued by all local governments for the first half of 2007 is nearly 30 percent below the equivalent period in the prior year for both Central Coast counties.

The drop continues a steep three-year decline, according to permit data provided by the Construction Industry Research Board.

Through June 2007 in Santa Barbara County, all the cities and counties issued 403 residential permits, 27.7 percent below this time last year, which was down 10.5 percent from the same period in 2005, the statistics show.

Almost 88 percent of the homes permitted so far this year have been either in Santa Maria or the unincorporated county, according to the figures.

Single-family residential permits are down nearly 50 percent countywide, although multifamily permits are up about 25 percent compared to 2006.

In San Luis Obispo County, the 659 total residential permits local governments issued through June 2007 are 34.5 percent below the total issued by this time in 2006, and the total number of permits issued last year was 16.7 percent below 2005.

Almost 77 percent of the homes permitted this year in San Luis Obispo County have been in either Atascadero or the unincorporated county.

Single-family permits countywide are down nearly 50 percent, although multifamily permits are up by nearly one-third compared to last year.

The Home Builders Association and the San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund recently released a joint statement on housing policy that the two groups believe can help provide more affordable housing.

Copies of the document are available at www.hbacc.org; click on the Government Affairs link.

August 11, 2007