Clipboard : Single-Family Home Permits

Home construction continues in a tailspin. The number of single-family home permits issued during August, the most recent month for which information is available, reached its lowest monthly total in five years--116. The August figure left this year’s first eight months 68% behind 1989.

The decline has occurred all around the county. For example, there have been 45% fewer permits issued this year for building in unincorporated areas (most of which are in the South County) as well as large drops in Mission Viejo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. However, Anaheim, Orange, Yorba Linda and Buena Park have also seen major dips.

Here’s a look at the city-by-city decline:

Jan.-Aug. Jan.-Aug. 1989-’90 City 1989 1990 Change Unincorporated areas 2,366 1,308 -1,058 Mission Viejo 919 45 -874 Anaheim 668 106 -562 Orange 359 53 -306 Yorba Linda 409 151 -258 San Clemente 267 90 -177 Buena Park 125 6 -119 San Juan Capistrano 168 63 -105 Fullerton 90 20 -70 La Habra 88 25 -63 Huntington Beach 142 81 -61 Fountain Valley 36 5 -31 Irvine 45 30 -15 Villa Park 18 10 -8 Seal Beach 14 12 -2 Westminster 2 0 -2 Los Alamitos 0 0 No change Santa Ana 51 52 +1 Stanton 2 4 +2 Garden Grove 8 12 +4 Laguna Beach 43 50 +7 Cypress 2 16 +14 La Palma 5 19 +14 Placentia 0 18 +18 Newport Beach 53 84 +31 Brea 4 37 +33 Costa Mesa 27 79 +52 Tustin 1 73 +72 Dana Point * 10 87 +77 Laguna Niguel N/A N/A -- COUNTY TOTAL 5,922 2,536 -3,386

* Includes only June through August. Data for the first five months included under “unincorporated areas.” Source: Construction Industry Research Board