Area homebuilding permits jump 10 percent

Single-family building permits rose 10 percent in the nine-county Indianapolis area in March, the ninth straight month of year-over-year increases, the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis announced Tuesday.

Builders filed 434 permits in March, compared with 395 during the same month a year ago. On a percentage basis, it was the largest year-over-year increase in March permits in 14 years, BAGI said.

Permit filings rose 8 percent in Marion County, from 63 to 68. Johnson County saw filings jump 54 percent, from 35 to 54.

Filings increased 6 percent in Hamilton County, to 157, and 24 percent in Boone County, to 46.

Year-to-date, area permits are up 26 percent over the first three months of 2012, with 1,103 filed so far this year.

Despite improvement, building activity is still well below pre-recession levels. More than 1,100 permits were filed in the area in March 2006.