Home building permits in Northwest Arkansas down 14% through May

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) 561 views 

Residential building activity among Northwest Arkansas’ four largest cities was down 14.4% through the first five months of the year.

According to data from each city, the combined number of residential permits issued in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale through May this year totaled 618, with a value of $175.97 million. That’s down from 722 permits with a value of $201.08 million in the year-ago period.

Fayetteville paced all four cities through May this year with 227 permits for a combined value of $66.17 million. That compares with 266 permits and $79.03 million in the first five months of 2019.

Rogers building officials issued 183 permits worth $45.04 million. That is slightly ahead of last year’s pace of 176 permits and $40 million.

The activity in Bentonville declined the most (-42%) among the four cities, from 193 permits worth $54.29 million through May last year to 111 permits and $40.34 million through May this year.

Springdale issued 97 permits worth $24.42 million in the first five months of 2020. That’s ahead of 87 permits and $27.76 million in the same period of 2019.

In Bella Vista, building activity is well ahead of last year’s pace. Building officials there issued 153 permits with a combined value of $38.87 million through May this year. That compares with 111 permits and $31.83 million in the same period of 2019.