Local News in Brief : Countywide : Number of Building Permits Declines

The number of building permits issued in the unincorporated areas of the county dropped 22% during the third quarter of this year from the same period in 1987, county officials reported Friday. It is the lowest level since 1986, they said.

Part of the decline was caused by the the incorporation of Mission Viejo, which now issues its own building permits, officials of the County Environmental Management Agency said. But even when that factor is considered, there still remains a 12% decline, they said.

The greatest decline, according to the agency, was in residential permits, which fell to 1,237 in the third quarter, the lowest level since 1985.

Officials attributed the declines to the use by developers of a large stockpile of permits that were issued during the first and second quarters of the year.

Officials said the rapid increase in the price of homes also contributed to building permit declines. In sharp contrast, alteration and improvement permits are at their highest level since 1977, the county agency said.