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Ashland County building-permit report shows average of about 30 rural dwellings per year; 2024 slightly lower
Summary
Staff presented April and May permit tallies and a five-year summary showing an average of roughly 30 dwelling permits per year outside city limits, with COVID-era 2021 a notable spike.
County staff presented issued-permit and revenue account data for April and a handout for May and summarized five years of permit records for unincorporated areas.
Staff said dwellings constitute most permits outside city limits and showed the five-year totals: 35 dwelling permits in 2020, a COVID-era high of 55 in 2021, and 30, 32 and 29 in 2022' 2023 and 2024 respectively. Staff estimated the county is "right on track" for about 30 homes per year, with roughly 13' 15 permits issued in the first half of the current year.
Committee members noted that high construction costs and interest rates are reducing new construction this year. One member observed that tariffs on Canadian lumber and higher materials costs have increased building prices and dampened housing starts. The committee treated the report as informational; there was no vote taken on the permit report.
Staff said they plan to work on the spreadsheet format to make the permit data more visually accessible and to continue monthly reporting to the clerk's office.
