Homebuilders extend streak with 23-percent surge in permits

Single-family building permits rose 23 percent in the nine-county Indianapolis area in May, the 11th straight month of year-over-year increases, the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis announced Tuesday.

Builders in the metro area filed 530 permits in May, compared with 431 during the same month a year ago.

Permit filings rose 14 percent in Marion County, from 66 to 75. Hamilton County saw filings slip 3 percent, from 193 to 188.

Filings increased 43 percent in Hendricks County, from 63 to 90, and 64 percent in Johnson County, from 42 to 69.

Year-to-date, area permits are up 29 percent over the first five months of 2013, with 2,129 filed so far this year.

Despite vast improvement, building activity is still well below pre-recession levels. Nearly 4,600 permits were filed in the area during the first five months of 2006.