Building has slowed dramatically in Polk County over the last two years.

Residential building permits so far in 2009 have totalled 47 in the county, including for both Polk County and the Town of Columbus compared to 93 last year and 162 in 2007.

Commercial building has also slowed with just three commercial building permits so far this year in Polk County compared to nine last year in the county.

The past two years have seen a dramatic decrease in any type of building, especially compared to residential permits in 2006, where 191 building permits were issued at a value of $37,801,191. The largest number of residential building permits issued over the last 14 years has been in 2003 with 218 residential building permits issued at a total value of $22,289,921.

Polk County had nine commercial building permits in 2008 valued at $523,608 compared to just three commercial building permits issued by the end of November this year valued at $286,259. The Town of Columbus had many more commercial building permits with 13 in 2008 valued at $1,206,100 total and 10 in 2009 valued at $663,742.

Polk County Building Inspector Steve Jones says single family dwelling permits are down about 50 percent from last year and miscellaneous permits are down about 20 percent from last year. Jones says he has seen more renovations and additions to homes this year than hes seen in the past.

All in all this has not been a bad year for Polk County after talking to other counties and municipalities which are down as much as 75 to 80 percent, Jones said. The workload for this department remains steady and has actually increased due to the loss of two staff members.

The trend in Polk County for building permits changed drastically between 2006 and 2007 where Polk was seeing a steady increase in permits and in between 2006 and 2007 saw an over 10 percent decrease. Between 2007 and 2008 was a&bsp; much higher decrease in residential permits down over 46 percent.

Polk is similar to nearby counties when it comes to building permits between 2004 and 2008. Henderson County slightly increased between 2004 and 2007 then saw an almost 65 percent decrease in 2008.&bsp; Rutherford County saw slight increases until 2007 when it dropped by 18.5 percent and then saw a 36.5 percent decrease in residential permits in 2008.Single Family House Construction

Single Family&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;Single Family&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;Avg. House &bsp;

House Permits&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;Const. Value&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; Value&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;

2009&bsp; &bsp; &bsp; 47&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; $9,341,990&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; $198,766

2008&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; 93&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; $20,637,451&bsp;&bsp;&bsp; $221,908

2007&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;162&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$34,922,793&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$215,573

2006&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;191&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$37,801,191&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$197,912

2005&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;163&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$26,374,504&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$161,807

2004&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;175&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$20,229,545&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$115,597

2003&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;218&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$22,289,921&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$102,247

2002&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;158&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$19,269,474&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$121,959

2001&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;140&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$19,290,383&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$137,788

2000&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;113&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$14,173,158&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$125,426

1999&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;136&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$12,912,232&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$94,943

1995&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;97&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$7,820,705&bsp;&bsp; &bsp;$80,626

* Note: The 2008 and 2009 numbers include building permits and values issued from the Town of Columbus and Polk County. Permits go through the end of November for 2009.