Builders in unincorporated Lee County pulled 20 permits for single-family houses in March, collectively valued at more than $5.6 million. That compares to 25 permits issued for the previous month and 42 issued in March 2008, according to Joan D. LaGuardia, communications manager with the Lee County Department of Community Development.

Also in March, permits were issued for 16 multi-family units, compared to eight the previous month and 24 in March 2008.

Commercial permitting was valued at more than $1.1 million for 4 permits in March, compared to $10.3 million the previous month and more than $6.4 million in March 2008, LaGuardia said.

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. Mary Gibbs is the director of Community Development.