Sioux Falls building activity starts year strong

Feb. 1, 2023

The temperatures didn’t reflect the building activity in Sioux Falls in January as the city reported its hottest first month of the year for permits in three years.

The city issued permits for $62.3 million in projects, up from $43.5 million last year and $59.9 million in 2021.

One noticeable change: single-family housing with permits for four new houses, compared with 28 last year and 42 the year before. Much of that activity can be impacted by weather. But remodeling was down too.

It totaled $3.2 million, compared with $5.7 million in January 2022 and $3.5 million in January 2021.

Commercial projects were stronger than ever, though.

New commercial permits totaled $29.1 million, compared with $18.4 million in 2022 and $35.1 million in 2021. Commercial additions and remodeling totaled $28.2 million, versus $12 million last year and $6.4 million two years ago.

The big driver behind that number: Dillard’s, which took out a $14 million permit for its new store in the former Younkers at The Empire Mall that includes putting on an addition.

The apartment market also held steady, with permits for 123 new units issued, compared with 100 in the same time last year and 238 in 2021.