A surge in residential building permits helped push November permit numbers up compared with a year ago.
Last month, the city approved 91 building permits worth just under $9.4 million, compared with 62 permits worth $6.2 million in November 2022.
Commercial building interest was also stronger last month with 24 permits worth nearly $4.9 million handed out, compared with 17 permits worth about $2.8 million a year ago.
Public service activity was down sharply with six permits issued worth $755,000, compared with five worth nearly $1.9 million in November 2022. No industrial permits were issued last month. A year ago, one $550,000 permit was issued.
Overall, this year has see more permits issued but the value of the work is way down. Through November, 967 permits worth $86 million were issued, compared with 854 worth $149.8 million in the same 11 months in 2022.
That trend is mirrored in commercial activity. While the 223 permits is more than the 200 issued last year, the value of those permits is $43.9 million in 2023, compared with $63.4 million last year.
Residential building, which is often an indicator of a community general economic well-being, is roughly on par with 2022. There have been 656 residential building permits of all kinds issued worth $28.4 million, compared with 581 permits worth $28.2 million through November 2022.
An increase in residential home building would be welcomed in Red Deer, where housing inventories are at the lowest levels in decades, which is keeping house sale numbers down.
Among the big permits issued last month is a $1.7 million for interior and exterior renovations at 110, 2410 50th Ave. and tenant improvements nearby at 140, 2410 50th Ave. valued at $796,000. Planned interior office renovations at the former downtown post office building at 4909 50th Street are valued at just under $594,000. Interior renovations in a new building at 110, 4925 3oth Street are valued at $500,000 and the permit for a new home on Thompson Crescent is valued at $300,000.
