Home Building Permits Jump 78% for Jan., Feb. : Construction: More than 1,100 permits for new single-family and multifamily housing units were issued during the first two months this year.

COSTA MESA — Signaling a welcome increase in activity after a long slump for local home builders, the number of residential construction permits issued in Orange County during January and February nearly doubled from the same period last year, according to figures released Thursday.

The Construction Industry Research Board, a statewide trade group in Burbank, found that 1,105 permits for new single-family and multifamily housing units were issued during the first two months this year, an increase of 78% from the 622 permits issued during January and February, 1993.

Building permits--which must be obtained months before construction actually starts--indicate a developer’s intent to modify or construct a structure of any kind, from hotels to houses to churches.

“Orange County stands out as an area of increased activity. Other counties, especially Los Angeles, are not showing this,” said Ben Bartolotto, research director with the board.

But Bartolotto said he does not think these kinds of gains in permit activity will continue throughout the year.

“The question that comes to my mind is whether this is just a good start or a sustainable level,” he said. “My sense is that this may not be sustainable for the whole year. I don’t think that in 1994 we’re going to double last year’s activity.”

In commercial and industrial real estate, the gains were not so dramatic. Permits were issued in January and February for the construction of $16.6 million in commercial space. That compared to $10.5 million for the same period last year. There were no permits issued for new industrial buildings, the construction research board found.

Altogether, non-residential building permits issued in January and February totaled $59.6 million, compared to $49 million for the same period last year, the board reported.

“The commercial and industrial sectors remain weak in Orange County,” Bartolotto said. “Industrial is basically nonexistent. That signals that there’s still not a lot of job growth.”

Building Momentum

Permits in Orange County for single-family and multifamily housing units increased 78% in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The jump ends a three-year lull that began in 1991 but remains 45% below the 2,015 permits issued in the peak period of January-February, 1988.

New housing permits Jan.-Feb. ‘94: 1,105

Dollar valuation (in millions) Jan.-Feb. ‘94: 187.8

Source: Construction Industry Research Board

Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times