Building Permits

Below are comparisons of building activity in Central Oregon relative to other metro areas in Oregon and other Western metros that compete on either a lifestyle or economic development basis. In the tri-county area of Central Oregon, building permit activity through 2007 was strongest in Deschutes County. 2008 and 2009 have experienced a marked decline in building permit activity, although not at a standstill.

Building Permits in Central Oregon
Area	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Thru Q2 2009
Deschutes County	1,980	2,140	2,268	2,268	3,366	4,002	3,137	1,613	682	179
- Bend	892	1,014	1,246	1,331	1,801	2,142	1,566	790	289	81
- Redmond	360	481	397	516	725	841	537	285	142	31
- Sisters	11	23	29	16	24	81	90	62	24	3
Crook County	203	203	172	219	289	341	356	169	71	NA
Jefferson County	207	176	97	111	122	235	117	42	35	NA
Tri-County Total	2,390	2,519	2,437	2,598	3,777	4,578	3,610	1,824	788	NA

Sources: US Census Bureau (Annual New Privately-Owned Residential Building Permits).In some instances, Census Bureau figures are lower
than what local county planning departments report but are used for comparability.  Crook and Jefferson Counties report annual numbers but
not monthly numbers to the Census Bureau.
 

Central Oregon Compared to Other Cities in Oregon     

Relative to other metro areas in Oregon, Central Oregon had the highest rate of building permits in 2007, on both an absolute basis as well as on a per-thousand-population basis.

Central Oregon Building Permits Compared to Other Areas in Oregon
Areas	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Thru Q2 2009
Central Oregon	2,275	2,382	2,441	2,466	3,618	4,346	3,323	1,824	788	197*
Hillsboro	649	545	708	785	697	882	1,065	574	199	88
Medford	289	369	453	711	625	604	443	370	107	74
Salem	538	556	659	679	702	867	633	581	283	83
Gresham	352	487	484	448	397	382	255	323	119	54
Beaverton	244	408	429	262	468	344	252	222	208	133
Portland	959	1,142	1,198	1,291	1,117	1,117	1,420	1,384	721	229
Eugene	643	656	693	578	624	812	557	327	193	63

Sources: US Census Bureau (Annual New Privately-Owned Residential Building Permits). In some instances, Census Bureau figures are
lower than what local county planning departments report but are used for comparability.
* Central Oregon number does not include not reporting areas - unincorporated Crook County or City of Madras in Jefferson County. 

Central Oregon Compared to Other western cities

Among other cities in the Western U.S., Central Oregon has had one of the highest levels of building activity.  Even though building permits have dropped off considerably from the peak in 2004, activity level in the tri-county area has outpaced other cities the region is frequently compared to.