Boundary News
Building Permits in Boundary County Plummet
May 13, 2008, 11:47

At least for now, the land grab and booming construction activity that rocketed through Boundary County like a Roman candle the last three years have almost fizzled out.

Statistics show that since 2006 - when the county issued 193 zoning certificates, the largest amount ever recorded - the number of certificates issued has plummeted to an all-time low.

To date, only 22 zoning certificates, which are equivalent to building permits, have been issued, a drop of nearly 90 percent. Unless there is a sudden turnaround before the end of the year, Boundary County is on track for issuing the lowest number of certificates in a decade when it recorded 33 in 2002.

Last year, 107 zoning certificates were purchased at $10 apiece.

"The number of zoning certificates really peaked and hit a high point right after the land boom here in 2005," said Boundary County zoning administrator Mike Weland. "Fourteen subdivisions were created along with 267 platted lots compared to just three subdivisions and 31 platted lots the previous year, which is a huge increase. Now it seems like there is very little activity."

"Little activity" in home construction also seems to be the buzzword throughout the state, which three years ago was so robust from Ada County to the tip of Idaho's Panhandle that it recorded 19,164 building permits, according to figures from Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

In 2007, only 9,551 permits were issued, a staggering 50 percent decline in two years.

Despite the downward spiral in building permits issued throughout Idaho, the city of Bonners Ferry has not experienced the same percentage drop. In 2007, 38 permits were issued, down from 48 the previous year.

Currently, only 13 building permits - which include applications for demolition and signage - have been issued.