During the month of August, contractors pulled 37 permits to build single-family houses collectively valued at $10.2 million in unincorporated Lee County. That compares to 29 permits issued in July and 17 issued in August 2010, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.

Permits were issued for 18 multi-family units three duplexes and three four-plexes compared to four units in July. No permits for multi-family units were issued in August 2010.

Permits for 11 new commercial structures were valued at nearly $10.8 million in August, pushing the year-to-date total over $103 million. That’s the first time since 2007 that commercial permitting in unincorporated Lee County has exceeded $100 million. This year’s total is due mostly to construction of the new Boston Red Sox ball park and training facility. Commercial permitting was valued at $4.4 million in July and $4.6 million in August 2010.

A total of 2,748 permits of all kinds were issued during August, and more than 20,850 have been issued so far in 2011. That includes permits for 272 single family homes.

Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, development and building services, environmental review, building inspection, and code enforcement for the unincorporated areas of Lee County.

To learn more about the department and its services, visit

www.lee-county.com/dcd/.