June 2002

Building Permit Data Tell Tales

One of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's core functions is to maintain a database of building permit activity throughout the Baltimore region. Building permits are issued by the counties and incorporated cities and towns for new construction, as well as alterations, additions and remodeling, for both residential and non-residential projects. Building permit data provide a snapshot of where and what kind of development investment is occurring. Comparing data from year to year provides insight into demographic and business trends in the region.

A comparison of building permit data from 2000 and 2001 leads to some interesting conclusions.

Permits for new single-family homes increased by 9.5 percent, to 9,999. Bel Air-Fallston led the region with 899 new single-family units permitted, a noteworthy 70 percent increase from the record of 523 units in 2000. Randallstown and Edgewood-Joppa followed closely with 808 and 729 new single-family units, respectively.

Permits for new multi-family units declined by 23 percent from 2000, to a total of 1,528. Baltimore County led the region with 858 new units permitted, followed by Anne Arundel County with 404 units. The total of these two counties accounts for more than 80 percent of the entire region. Pikesville led with 246 units permitted, followed by Randallstown with 199 units and Rossville with 120.

In total, 11,527 new residential permits were issued in the Baltimore region in 2001, up 3.7 percent from the 2000 level of 11,117. Nationwide, the residential permitting level was virtually unchanged from 2000 to 2001.

Residential remodeling was a growth market in 2001, reaching a total of $278 million spent, or an 18.8 percent increase from 2000. All jurisdictions showed growth in this category. Anne Arundel County was the regional leader, issuing permits for projects totaling nearly $85 million. Baltimore County came in second with $78 million in permits, while Baltimore City posted $43.6 million, nearly 22 percent higher than in 2000.

The value of new non-residential construction declined 18.8 percent to $481 million, compared with $592 million in 2000. Anne Arundel County led the region for the third consecutive year with $128 million permitted. Baltimore County followed with $109 million, a noteworthy increase of 83 percent compared with 2000. Harford County also posted a 31 percent increase, to $60 million.

New retail establishments replaced office buildings in total investment in 2001, with $134 million spent. Retail comprised 28 percent of all new non-residential construction in 2001. Among the largest new retail projects were a new Giant supermarket at the Rock Spring shopping center in Bel Air, a new Home Depot store in Eldersburg, and new Wal-Mart stores in South Baltimore, Rosedale and adjacent to Arundel Mills.

Office buildings accounted for a $115 million investment, but showed a decline of 24 percent from 2000. The investment in new school construction also declined, by 30 percent to $65.1 million. The most notable school projects include the $28.8 million New Town High School in Owings Mills, and a $9 million alternative learning center in Howard County.

New hotel construction increased by 27.9 percent, as permits were issued for four new hotels, totaling $21.2 million. The projects include a new four-story hotel in Columbia, a 150-room Hampton Inn at Arundel Mills, and new hotels at BWI Airport and in Edgewood-Joppa.

Investments in senior housing related projects more than doubled, from $19.7 million permitted in 2000 to $46.9 million in 2001. The most significant project is the Baywoods Cooperative Housing community for seniors in Epping Forest, which includes 147 one- and two-bedroom apartments, a 46-bed health center, a 250-car parking facility, and a 3-story commons building.

Although the value of non-residential additions, alterations and repairs was down 8.7 percent from 2000, there were increases in some jurisdictions. Baltimore County led the region with $363 million permitted, a 40 percent increase from 2000. Baltimore City followed with $354 million, a 28 percent increase.

Posted: July 12, 2002