FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mary Gibbs, Lee County Community Development
              (239) 479-8345

2003: ANOTHER RECORD PERMIT YEAR IN LEE/$2 BILLION MARK BROKEN/HOME PERMITS UP 29%

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 8, 2004) - Permitting value in Lee County experienced a huge increase in 2003, surging a whopping $500 million to surpass the $2 billion mark, according to annual data released today by the county's Community Development Department.

Last year total permit value was $1.48 billion.

In addition, single-family home permits increased 29 percent from 3,763 to 4,840 and multi-family home permits (apartments, duplexes and condos) rose 47% from 2,872 to 4,209.

The activity is for unincorporated Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs and the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Both Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach contract with the county to do their permitting services.

"Community Development staff was swamped last year and this is proof of that activity," said Mary Gibbs, county community development director. "We were breaking monthly records by midyear and it didn't slow down much after that. We're pleased we were able to continue to provide quality service to the building industry and residents of the community."

Annual unit totals for the last eight years are (total values include all other construction, including commercial):

• 2002 - Single Family (4,840), Multi-Family (4,209), Total Value ($2,004,517,591)
• 2002 - S.F. (3,763), M.F. (2,872), T.V. ($1,483,203,935)
• 2001 - S.F. (3,565), M.F. (3,765), T.V. ($1,533,532,447)
• 2000 - S.F. (3,053), M.F. (3,814), T.V. ($1,375,370,432)
• 1999 - S.F. (2,876), M.F. (2,772), T.V. ($1,075,174,580)
• 1998 - S.F. (2,433), M.F. (3,088), T.V. ($975,046,849)
• 1997 - S.F. (2,252), M.F. (2,498), T.V. ($1,022,062,818)
• 1996 - S.F. (2,536), M.F. (1,968), T.V. ($747,081,850)

Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, and development services such as permitting, development review, code enforcement and building inspections in the unincorporated areas of the county and for Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach. It employs 205 people and has a fiscal year 2004 operating budget of $21 million.

To learn more about the department and its services, visit http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/.