Lee permits rise

FORT MYERS — Contractors in Lee County pulled more than twice as many permits in July to build single-family homes as they did in the same month last year, reflecting improvement in the homebuilding industry.

While still relatively low compared with the boom years, builders pulled 63 permits to build single-family homes in July compared with 29 in July 2011, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.

Permits for multifamily homes were flat. Contractors pulled four permits for multifamily homes in July, the same as July 2011.

Commercial construction, which generally lags behind the residential-construction market by one to two years, does not yet show significant improvement. Contractors pulled permits worth $3.7 million in July, down 16% from the same month in 2011.