Fairfield County leads Connecticut in new housing permits

New housing permits in Connecticut rose by 14 percent in 2015 over 2014, according to the latest revised data released by the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Fairfield County outperformed all others, with 2,598 approved permits ”” more than twice that of runner-up New Haven County’s 1,161 approved permits.

All told, there were 6,077 new housing units approved by the state in 2015, up from 5,329 permits in 2014.

Stamford and Danbury led the entire state in new housing permits, with 639 and 551, respectively. Norwalk placed third with 350, followed by Shelton (191), Greenwich (138), Bridgeport (119) and Bethel (118).

According to the DECD’s data, the state authorized 1,230 demolished residential units last year, resulting in a net gain for 2015 of 4,847 units. Fairfield County also led the state in demolitions, with 602, making for a net gain of 1,996 units. Following were New Haven County’s 184 demolitions, which gave it a net gain of 977 units, and Hartford County, whose 201 demolitions resulted in a net gain of 691 units.

New housing permit data for April is due from the DECD at the end of this month.