Merle Bishop, Growth Management Department Director for the City of Winter Haven, has created another quarterly report for building activity for the first three quarters of 2018:
In terms of total permits, the year-to-date (as of September 28, 2018) is 96% of last year’s annual total, which means, with three months left in the calendar year, total permits are on track to exceed last year’s total. One and two family permits for the first three quarters are at 86.5% of last year’s annual total. Again, this is on-track to exceed last year’s total of 704 single/two-family permits, which was the highest annual total over the previous 10-year period.
In terms of total permits, the year-to-date (as of September 28, 2018) is 96% of last year’s annual total, which means, with three months left in the calendar year, total permits are on track to exceed last year’s total. One and two family permits for the first three quarters are at 86.5% of last year’s annual total. Again, this is on-track to exceed last year’s total of 704 single/two-family permits, which was the highest annual total over the previous 10-year period.

Applying a 2018 monthly average permits of 67 to the last quarter 2018 yields a projected annual total of 810 permits (very close to the historical high of 905 annual permits for single/two-family homes issued in 2005).
Commercial permits issued in the first three quarters of 2018 total 17, which equals the highest annual commercial permits issued in 2016 for the previous 10-year period. This is on-track have the highest annual permits for new commercial construction over the previous 10 year period.
New single family lots created through plat approvals for the first three quarters totaled 480, which exceeds the total annual new single family lots created over the previous 10-year period. Lot absorption is high and new construction permits are being pulled on new lots almost as fast as they are created with infrastructure in-place.
Total inspections continues to be significantly higher than the previous 10-years and the 2018 third quarter represents an all-time high over the three month period. In summary, building permit activity for the first three quarters remains very high and indicates a very strong local economy and high growth rate for the City.
Commercial permits issued in the first three quarters of 2018 total 17, which equals the highest annual commercial permits issued in 2016 for the previous 10-year period. This is on-track have the highest annual permits for new commercial construction over the previous 10 year period.
New single family lots created through plat approvals for the first three quarters totaled 480, which exceeds the total annual new single family lots created over the previous 10-year period. Lot absorption is high and new construction permits are being pulled on new lots almost as fast as they are created with infrastructure in-place.
Total inspections continues to be significantly higher than the previous 10-years and the 2018 third quarter represents an all-time high over the three month period. In summary, building permit activity for the first three quarters remains very high and indicates a very strong local economy and high growth rate for the City.