Housing starts in north Fulton’s four cities did not top 20 permits in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The city of Alpharetta saw an increase in fourth quarter residential building permits with 20 in 2009 over 2008’s 11.

But the city saw a decrease in commercial starts with three permits issued in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 15 a year earlier.

In Roswell, there were 16 single family resident starts in the fourth quarter of 2009, up from seven in the fourth quarter of 2008, but city Building Official Allen Amick said the numbers do not indicate an improving economy.

“I would like to be optimistic, but I think it was random,” he said. “That’s not terribly a lot compared to what we’ve seen in past years.”

Amick said the city was fortunate to have issued the 16 permits, but he said the increase from 2008 was due to the coinciding timing of housing developments by Peachtree Builders and John Weiland Homes and Neighborhoods.

Permits for new commercial buildings for the fourth quarter of 2009 are down to four from 2008’s seven.

However, commercial renovation building permits in Roswell were up to 24 in the fourth quarter of 2009 from 15 in the fourth quarter of 2008.

“We’re permitting a lot, but most of them aren’t starts,” said Amick. “We’re seeing that people are improving instead of moving.”

Johns Creek issued 12 new residential building permits in the fourth quarter, down from 2008’s 22.

The city did not issue any commercial building permits in the fourth quarter of 2008 but issued 20 in the fourth quarter of 2009.

According to Johns Creek’s Chief Building Official Tim Inglis, that number includes new commercial tenants in existing shopping centers.

During the fourth quarter of 2009 Milton’s building department issued four new housing starts, and in the fourth quarter of 2008 eight were issued.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the city issued 13 tenant finish commercial building permits for the various shell buildings throughout the city. A year earlier, 24 were issued.