[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34982-34983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15761]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Report of 
Building or Zoning Permits Issued for New Privately-Owned Housing Units 
(Building Permits Survey)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed Erica Filipek, U.S. Census Bureau, Economic 
Indicators Division, CENHQ Room 7K057, 4600 Silver Hill Road, 
Washington, DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-5161 (or via the internet at 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request a three-year extension of Form 
C-404, ``Report of Building or Zoning Permits Issued for New Privately-
Owned Housing Units'', otherwise known as the Building Permits Survey. 
The Census Bureau uses this survey to produce statistics to monitor 
activity in the large and dynamic construction industry. For New 
Residential Construction (which includes Housing Units Authorized by 
Building Permits, Housing Starts, and Housing Completions), form C-404 
is used to collect the estimate for Housing Units Authorized by 
Building Permits. For New Residential Construction and Sales, the 
number of housing units authorized by building permits is a key 
component utilized in the estimation of housing units started, 
completed, and sold.
    These statistics help state and local governments, the Federal 
Government, and private industry, analyze the housing and construction 
industry sector of the economy. Building permits for new private 
housing units also are a component of The Conference Board's Leading 
Economic Index.
    The Census Bureau uses Form C-404 to collect information on changes 
to the geographic coverage of permit-issuing places, the number and 
valuation of new residential housing units authorized by building 
permits, and additional information on residential permits valued at $1 
million or more, including, but not limited to, site address and type 
of building. The Census Bureau uses these data to estimate the number 
of housing units started, the number of housing units completed, the 
number of single-family houses sold, and to select samples for the 
Census Bureau's demographic surveys. The Building Permits Survey is the 
only source of statistics on residential construction for states and 
smaller geographic areas. The Census Bureau uses the detailed 
geographic data collected from state and local officials on new 
residential construction authorized by building permits in the 
development of annual population estimates that are used by government 
agencies to allocate funding and other resources to local areas. 
Policymakers, planners, businesses, and others also use the detailed 
geographic data to monitor growth, plan for local services, and to 
develop production and marketing plans.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents may submit their data via internet or a mailed or faxed 
form. Some respondents choose to email proprietary electronic files or 
mail proprietary printouts of permit information in lieu of returning 
the form.
    The survey universe is comprised of approximately 20,325 local 
governments that issue building permits. Due to resource availability 
and the time required to complete the data review and analysis, the 
Census Bureau collects data from a sample of permit-issuing 
jurisdictions monthly, and the remainder of the jurisdictions annually. 
We collect this information monthly for about 7,850 permit-issuing 
jurisdictions who respond via internet or who mail or fax the provided 
form. Another 325 jurisdictions have established reporting arrangements 
that allow them to submit their responses monthly via proprietary 
electronic files or mailed printouts using their own file format. We 
collect this information annually for about 11,700 permit-issuing 
jurisdictions who respond via internet or who mail or fax the provided 
form. Another 450 jurisdictions have established reporting arrangements 
that allow them to submit their responses annually via proprietary 
electronic files or mailed printouts using their own file format.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0094.
    Form Number(s): C-404.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,325.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 minutes for monthly respondents who 
report via internet, mail or faxing the form, 23 minutes for annual 
respondents who report via internet, mail or faxing the form and 3 
minutes for monthly and annual respondents

[[Page 34983]]

who send electronic files or mail printouts.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17,263.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131 and 
182.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-15761 Filed 7-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P