Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Survey of Residential Building or Zoning Permit Systems(C-411)
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Census Bureau wants people to tell them if it's okay to keep asking about the rules for building houses. This helps them know how many houses are being built, which is important for counting how the country's doing money-wise.
Summary AI
The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking public comments on its request to extend the current approval for the "Survey of Residential Building or Zoning Permit Systems" (Form C-411) without any changes. This survey is crucial for collecting data needed to update information on places that issue building or zoning permits. These updates help create accurate statistics on construction activity, which informs key economic indicators and is used in calculations of the nation's GDP. The Census Bureau aims to ensure they have up-to-date coverage of permit-issuing jurisdictions, and public comments can be submitted online via reginfo.gov.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question is a notice from the U.S. Census Bureau regarding an information collection activity related to the "Survey of Residential Building or Zoning Permit Systems" (Form C-411). The main purpose of this survey is to gather data from jurisdictions that issue building or zoning permits. This data is then used to update and maintain a comprehensive list of permit-issuing locations, which is crucial for the Census Bureau's efforts to produce accurate statistics on construction activity in the United States.
General Summary
The Census Bureau is requesting public comments on its proposal to extend the authorization for using Form C-411 without making changes to the format of the survey. The survey's data is instrumental in informing various economic indicators and is significant for measuring the construction sector's size and health. These indicators are used by policymakers and economic institutions, including the Federal Reserve, to monitor economic trends and plan accordingly. The survey is conducted every five years, with additional follow-ups when necessary, aiming to capture any changes in the permit systems at the state or local level.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One notable issue in the document is the anticipated response rate of only 50% for the mailed C-411 forms. This lower engagement could potentially impact the accuracy and completeness of the data collected. The document does not elaborate on why such a low response rate is expected or what measures could be taken to improve it.
Another concern is whether conducting the survey every five years, with annual follow-ups as needed, is sufficient for maintaining accurate and current data. Construction activity can vary significantly over shorter periods, so more frequent data collection might be warranted to ensure up-to-date statistics.
The document also uses technical terms like "OMB Control Number," "BPS," and "SOC" without providing initial clarification, which might confuse readers unfamiliar with these terms. Furthermore, it is unclear whether there have been previous issues with the accuracy of the existing permit data, an area that this survey seeks to address.
Impact on the Public
For the public, especially those involved in the construction industry, the outcomes of this survey could have a broad impact. Accurate data on permit issuance and construction activity is crucial for industry stakeholders, investors, and policymakers. This data helps allocate resources efficiently and informs decisions on infrastructure and economic development.
Moreover, the collection and analysis of this data play a vital role in providing insights into housing trends, labor market conditions, and urban development patterns, which can affect housing affordability and availability.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Local and state governments are among the primary stakeholders affected by this document. The information collected helps these entities understand construction trends in their areas, plan infrastructure needs, and forecast growth. Additionally, accurate data can influence funding allocations and support requests, significantly impacting budget planning and community development efforts.
The construction industry and related businesses also heavily rely on such data to forecast demand, assess market conditions, and make investment decisions. Inaccurate data could lead to misallocation of resources or poor planning, which could be detrimental to these stakeholders.
In conclusion, while the document presents a routine notice for public comment on an existing survey, there are underlying issues concerning the survey's response rate and frequency that could impact the accuracy and reliability of construction data. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage in the commenting process to ensure any concerns are addressed and to aid in the enhancement of future data collection processes.
Issues
• The document does not provide a clear explanation of why the response rate to the C-411 form is expected to be only 50%.
• There may be concerns about whether the frequency of the survey (once every five years with annual follow-ups as needed) is sufficient to ensure the accuracy of the construction activity data.
• The document lacks detailed explanation on how the information collected would directly minimize public reporting burden.
• The use of technical terms such as 'OMB Control Number,' 'BPS,' and 'SOC' without initial clarification could be confusing for general readers.
• It is not clear whether there have been previous issues with accuracy in the sampling frame for the Report of Privately-Owned Residential Building or Zoning Permits Issued, which this survey aims to update.