Though overall values were down for the year, 2012 was nevertheless another busy year for building permits in North Battleford.
That is based on numbers from the final building report of 2012, submitted by Building Inspector Jerry Wintonyk.
Final numbers were presented to Monday's municipal services committee meeting. For the year 2012, 126 permits were issued for $43,320,900.
That compares to 131 permits issued for $74,523,350 in 2011.
But permit values in 2011 were inflated somewhat as approximately $50 million was comprised of the four components of the Credit Union CUPlex in the "new institutional" category. Setting aside the CUPlex numbers, permit values for the other categories in 2012 compare favourably to the previous year.
Most notable was an increase in new condo units. Four permits were issued for $17,883,000 in that category in 2012, compared to two for $3,704,000 in 2011.
Also showing a big spike in 2012 was the new industrial category, with six permits issued for $6,492,000. That compared to $669,000 in 2011.
New apartments saw one permit issued for $900,000 and new duplexes saw two permits issued for $645,000, both compared to nil in each category in 2011.
Most other categories saw little shift in numbers. New dwellings saw 16 permits issued for $4,158,500, compared to 18 for $4,395,000 in 2011.
Not surprisingly the biggest drop came in the new institutional category. Only one permit for $1,225,000 was issued for the year, compared to five for $51,766,000 in the same category in 2011 - four of which were CUPlex building permits.
The final monthly building permit numbers from December 2012 were also part of the report and they show a slight uptick to end the year.
Four building permits were issued for $125,500, compared to three for $40,000 issued the same month in 2011.
The December totals include one residential alteration for $25,000, two commercial alterations for $45,000 and one institutional alteration for $55,500.
The final permit value of $43 million may be down significantly from the $74.5 million of a year ago but is more in line with the final numbers from 2010, which saw permit values of $47,950,300 based on 154 permits issued.
Overall, those at the municipal services meeting expressed their satisfaction with the healthy building permit numbers for the past year.
"It's been a very robust year for new construction and renovations," said Mayor Ian Hamilton. "$43 million in permit values in 2012 is very, very significant. Great investment, great confidence being shown in North Battleford, I think that's worthy of note."
The final business license report for the year was also presented to Monday's municipal services committee meeting and showed little change compared to last year's numbers.
Last year 858 business licenses were issued for $189,243, compared to 2012 numbers of 883 business licenses for $188,218.
