Tampa sees construction permit values soar in fiscal '15, beat previous record
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 9, 2015

The number of construction permits pulled in the city of Tampa fell year over year in fiscal 2015, but the total dollar value rose by nearly $400 million.

In fiscal '15, 23,161 building permits (16,855 residential and 6,306 commercial) totaling $2.4 billion were pulled. In fiscal '14, the city had a total of 34,500 permits totaling $2.03 billion.

"Not only did construction services increase their permitting value by nearly $400 million, but they did so with a lean and mean staff," Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in a statement. "I can't wait to see what 2016 brings.”

It's the second year in a row of record-breaking total dollar value. Last year, the total dollar value beat out 2007's then-record of $1.78 billion, which represented more than 39,000 permits.

The total dollar value is likely bolstered by a comeback in commercial development and major renovation projects.

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.