Detached Single-family Dwellings 



In 1975-79, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties issued the greatest per- 

 centages of permits (23.8% and 23.5%, respectively) for detached single-family 

 dwellings in the ten county area (Table 3). The next largest contributors 

 were Sarasota County (13.9%), Pasco County (9.8%), and Lee County (8.8%). In 

 1975, 10,907 building permits were issued in Southwest Florida, but in 1977, 

 the number doubled to 25,169. Although the number of permits issued in 1979 

 was even greater than in 1977, the rate of increase was lower. 



Table 3. Number of single-family building permits issued and their percent 

 contribution among the counties of Southwest Florida in 1975, 1977, and 1979 

 (Thompson et al . 1976, 1978, 1980). 



Many people, especially retirees, seek low income housing. The mobile 

 home has become a popular answer to this need in much of Florida, especially 

 in Southwest Florida. In 1970. the ten counties accounted for 38% of the 

 mobile homes registered in the State. This was a slight increase over 35% in 

 1950. 



In 1970. the United States Census reported 129 mobile homes in the unin- 

 corporated (rural) areas of Calhoun County, whereas only 65 mobile homes were 

 listed on the tax rolls, an error of 50.3%. In a 1974 aerial photo survey. 

 293 mobile homes were identified, but only 145 (49%) were reported on in the 

 tax rolls (Hager and RuBino 1978). It is apparent that tax records usually 

 are a poor source of data, but records in the more urbanized counties probably 

 are more accurate than in rural counties. 



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