January 20, 2021
St. Charles County, Missouri — Good news on the housing front is coming out of St. Charles County. Despite the pandemic, the County reports year-end totals for housing and commercial construction permits are well ahead of 2019. The estimated cost of construction exceeded last year in all categories as well.
“Last year was a tumultuous one as the economy sputtered through unprecedented conditions,” says St. Charles County Director of Community Development Mike Hurlbert, “but the growth continues to be strong in St. Charles County. In fact, our residential numbers are the best we have seen since the Great Recession.”
Hurlbert says compared to 2019, single-family detached and attached new construction was up 85 units, or approximately 5 percent, and multi-family construction finished ahead by 293 units, or 28 percent in 2020. Overall, the figures represent an increase of 376 residential units, or 13 percent. New commercial permits were up by 23, or 43 percent, over 2019. Construction costs in 2019 were $704,350,000 and in 2020, were $765,590,000; an increase of $61,240,000, Hurlbert says.
“The growth in housing and commercial construction coincides with the county’s continuing increase in population,” says St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “When final 2020 Census figures are released, it is expected that the county’s population will be more than 407,000. As this growth continues, County Government will continue to focus on the health and safety of our residents, as well as the infrastructure needed to meet these growth demands.”
The St. Charles County Master Plan – Envision 2030 – contains a set of recommendations to assist the County in achieving improved outcomes for jobs, housing, transportation, community facilities, land uses and the natural environment. The plan is updated every five years and was last revised and approved by the St. Charles County Council on Jan. 28, 2019. The plan anticipated the population growth to top 400,000 by 2020, and to reach 470,000 by 2030.
To review the Master Plan, visit the County website.
