Brunswick County building permits up 23.75 percent

BOLIVIA, N.C. — Building permits issued in Brunswick County in fiscal year 2015 increased by nearly 25 percent compared to the year before.

There were 2,714 building permits issued in Brunswick County during the 2014-15 fiscal year, including 2,295 residential construction permits and 419 commercial construction permits. In the 2013-14 fiscal year, there were 2,193 building permits issued, including 1,967 residential permits and 226 commercial permits.

While the total number of building permits issued in the county increased by 23.75 percent in fiscal year 2015, the number of commercial construction permits issued increased by 85.4 percent.

The value of the construction being permitted also increased by $249,742,000, or about 69 percent, from $361,895,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 to $611,637,000 in fiscal year 2014-15.

“This is exciting news,” said County Manager Ann Hardy, who added that the increase in building activity, both commercial and residential, was a positive sign that Brunswick County’s economy is continuing to improve.