The City of Auburn issued fewer building permits during 2011 than in recent years and the estimated value of the projects is lower than average when compared to most recent figures.

Last year there were 104 permits written worth $2,414,757. This compares to 2010 when there were 120 permits written with a value of $9,988,511.13
There were three new house permits written in 2011 with a value of $1,025,000. 2010 saw two permits with a value of $355,000 issued for new homes.
In 2011, there were three new business/commercial permits valued at $117,784 issued. These included $90,635 for Rich Wilson for a new water reclaim system for his car wash, $29,784 for Auburn Elevator for a new grain bin, and $28,000 for a mini storage building. This compares to 2010 when there were six new business/commercial permits valued at $5,889,185 issued, with most of it for an addition to Nemaha County Hospital and about a $1 million for the then-new Orscheln store. In 2009, there were three new business/commercial permits issued for $5,021,539 with over $4.9 million being for the BPW’s new water treatment plant.
2011 business/commercial remodelings numbered eight with a value of $301,000. This compares to seven in 2010 valued at $2,354,700 with $2,100,000 of that being at Nemaha County Hospital and $239,000 for Ariens Company-Auburn Operations.

Other Permits by Type
Other major categories in 2011 included the issuance of 16 concrete permits valued at $176,545 and 27 house remodelings with an estimated value of $505,624.  
2010 saw the issuance of 16 concrete permits valued at $502,400 and 19 home remodeling permits valued at $91,000 issued.
There was no permits issued for a non-profit organizations in 2011. That compares to one in 2010 in the amount of $150,000 for an open-air building on the fairgrounds. Non-profit organizations by far made the largest dollar amount of improvements in 2009 at $9,452,847.
There were five fence permits valued at $5,250 issued last year, compared to 24 permits worth $21,080 written in 2010.
The clerk’s office wrote three permits in 2011 for new garages worth $12,000. This compares to six permits with a value of $24,401.13 in 2010.
There was one garage remodeling permit worth $200 written last year, compared to five worth $12,750 issued in 2010.  
Miscellaneous permits written in 2011 numbered seven worth $50,000. These were for such projects as a small wooden deck, four irrigation systems, the removal and mounting of an antennae, and the drilling of geothermal holes. This compares to five worth $11,900 in 2010.
The clerk’s office issued one warehouse/large storage building permit valued at $115,000 last year.  
The city wrote 15 shed permits worth $83,651 last year, compared to eight totalling $6,580 in 2010.
There were five sign permits valued at $12,603 written in 2011. This compares to 10 sign permits worth $57,815 issued in 2010.
The city issued one special electric permit valued at $2,500 last year, compared to three such permits worth $8,000 written in 2010.
There was one special plumbing permit worth $4,000 issued in 2011. This compares to four such plumbing permits valued at $2,600 written in 2010.
The city also wrote one special HVAC permit worth $3,500 last year.
There were seven housing/building demolition permits written in 2011 with a value of $100. This compares to two in 2010 worth $1,100. Some of these demolition projects were part of an ongoing effort by the Keep Auburn Beautiful committee to clean up unsightly properties in Auburn. When possible, the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department hones its fire-fighting skills by conducting controlled burns on some of these structures.

Permits Issued by Month
January 2011: 2 for $4,500
February:     4 for $120,500
March:     8 for $552,135
April:     4 for $17,850
May:         17 for $380,375
June:     14 for $670,560
July:         11 for $238,369
August:     10 for $63,970
September:     12 for $234,000
October:     7 for $36,120
November:     10 for $58,177
December:     5 for $38,201
Totals from Previous Years
2010: 210 for $9,988,511.13.
2009: 102 for $16,822,104.60
2008: 127 for $2,507,359
2007: 149 for $4,029,595
2006: 165 for $3,613,390
2005: 156 for $5,773,048
2004: 160 for $3,512,583
2003: 134 for $2,536,747
2002: 137 for $1,572,657
2001: 161 for $2,432,870
2000: 114 for $6,043,000
1999: 182 for $7,895,924
1998: 141 for $2,524,271
1997: 170 for $2,367,290
1996: 147 for $2,199,994
1995: 171 for $1,952,825
1994: 171 for $5,299,898
1993: 172 for $2,550,293
Glen Hogue is the City of Auburn’s Building Inspector.