Monthly report shows lowest April permit activity since 2012

April 2020 issued 5,383 units statewide, which is a 49% decrease compared to just two years prior and a 44% decrease from April of 2019.


The Construction Industry Research Board (CIRB Report) released the latest California Construction Review (CCR) with the lowest recorded monthly permit activity in April since 2012.

April 2018 reached a peak of 10,572 total housing units issued, while April 2020 issued 5,383 units statewide, which is a 49% decrease compared to just two years prior and a 44% decrease from April of 2019.

Though March 2020 revealed some positive trends in multifamily permit categories and single-family was strong in March throughout the U.S., the tide seems to have turned and COVID-19 restrictions are finally having a substantial impact on California building permits issued.

As you can see in the chart above. April has continued the trend of a gradual decline in 2020 monthly total housing units issued in California.

<<Download the FREE April 2020 Infographic here>>

A cumulative 11% decrease in year-to-date total housing units was reported in the ‘Construction Review,’ available for download here, and a whopping 55% decrease compared to the relatively high issuance in the month of December 2019.

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