NWA residential building permits decline; Centerton bucking trend

Through the first nine months of 2022, single-family residential building permits are down significantly in the region’s four largest cities.

According to permit data from each city collected by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, 1,163 residential building permits were issued through September in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. That’s down 20.7% from the same period of 2021 (1,467 permits).

The permits through September this year have a combined value of $514.94 million, up 10% compared with $468.11 million last year.

Officials in Fayetteville issued the most permits through the first nine months with 461 ($184.4 million), but that’s down nearly 20% from the previous year of 573 ($154.33 million).

The report from the other cities through the first nine months was:

• Bentonville: 361 permits, $185.72 million (2022); 295 permits, $113.99 million.
• Rogers: 214 permits, $81.52 million (2022); 392 permits, $129.65 million.
• Springdale: 127 permits, $63.30 million (2022); 207 permits, $70.14 million.

Among other cities, Centerton has become a hot spot for residential activity. Building officials there have issued 678 single-family permits through the first nine months. That’s up 57% compared with 430 permits in the same period of 2021. The city does not separate values of single-family and multifamily permits.

Bella Vista officials issued 452 permits valued at $152.02 million through the first nine months. That’s flat compared with 454 permits and $131.86 million in the same period of 2021.

Officials in Farmington issued 111 permits valued at $38.97 million through September this year. That’s down from 350 permits and $91.17 million in the same period of 2021.