PACIFIC COUNTY Judging by building permits, construction is picking up in Pacific County. There was a 47 percent increase in the valuation listed for projects in the county this May compared to May 2010, after an 80 percent increase in values between this April and last April.

Permits are usually only estimates of what a new building or remodeling project will really cost. Actual construction may lag substantially behind the issuance of a permit. But permits are generally regarded as a good advance indication of future activity for contractors, suppliers and others. The permits reported here were primarily issued by the Pacific County Department of Community Development.

The Peninsula is starting to see more new home construction, with seven permits issued this May, compared to two last May, four in May 2009 and nine in May 2008. The total value of permits issued in South County was $1.85 million this April and May. This compares to $1.3 million in Naselle and North County or about $417,000 after deducting several permits issued to the city of Raymond for public sanitation buildings.

The upswing in home building hasnt extended to North County, where there was only one new single-family residence permit issued during the two-month period. 

Total building permits for all sorts of projects countywide continue to lag far behind the boom year of 2008, when nearly $10 million were issued in April and May including $4.2 million for the new South County Building on Sandridge Road. In comparison, the county total for this April and May was $3.15 million, up from about $2.3 million in 2010, but down from $4.56 million in 2009.

None of these figures include agricultural buildings or manufactured homes, which are exempt from permit requirements. In addition, a substantial amount of work is done without a permit.